Fred Rubin – Family Matters

Posted by admin on March 23rd, 2009 filed in Personal

On Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of meeting and attending a lecture by Fred Rubin. Fred Rubin graduated from the University of Illinois in 1972 with a BFA in directing and playwriting. After graduating Fred Rubin spent a couple years in Chicago as a social worker, columnist, stand-up comedian and jingle writer. Fred Rubin moved to Los Angeles in 1976 and began working full time in network television.

Since 1977 Fred Rubin has served as a writer on fifteen network series and has been the producer of such shows as, “Different Strokes,” “Archie Bunker’s Place,” “Mama’s Family,” “Webster,” “Night Court,” “Family Matters,” “Step by Step” and “Two of A Kind.” His career has included writing sixty episodes of prime time TV, ten pilots and two made-for-TV movies. Fred Rubin’s lecture entitled, “Navigating & Succeeding in Hollywood” was geared more towards TV writers but he still made good points that can relate to any industry. Here are some key points I took away from Fred Rubin:

(1) Compare your skills with people around you, and with professionals

(2) Focus your skills and know what you do best

(3) Networking is everything, and be prepared to be helped (by pre-work)

(4) Have realistic expectations, everything takes longer than you think

(5) Work for FREE and always do more then is necessary