“Ghostbusters” director Paul Feig had some simple advice for college graduates hoping to break into Hollywood: “Don’t be an a–hole.”
That wasn’t the only piece of advice Feig offered while speaking at the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ commencement ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Friday. His other advice included nuggets like “Don’t be a control freak,” “Don’t try to win awards” and “Love your actors.”
“You want to make something great, but be cool while you are doing it so people will hire you again,” the director told the school’s 2016 class of graduates. “Because if you screw up and you’re an a–hole, they won’t hire you again.
“But if you’re nice and you screw up, then they’re like ‘let’s give him another shot,’” Feig said, prompting laughter from the audience. “It will buy you one free pass,” he added.
Other rules to surviving in the entertainment industry that Feig told the graduates included “love your actors,” as they are “in a hard place.”
For both the cast and crew, “You have to create an environment where people can thrive, be open, have ideas and be part of the process,” he said. “People aren’t good under tension.”
Another tip was “love the audience” and don’t judge them. “There are no stupid people liking stupid things … people like what they like, just try to entertain them.”
Feig’s career guidance is probably worth taking. The writer, director and producer has had plenty of success in the entertainment industry since graduating from USC himself in 1984.
He boasts a track record that includes hits like 2011’s “Bridesmaids,” 2013’s “The Heat” and last year’s “Spy,” as well as the all-female “Ghostbusters” reboot set to hit theaters in July.
Earlier in his career, he also earned multiple Emmy nominations for his work on TV series like “The Office,” “Nurse Jackie” and the cult hit “Freaks and Geeks.”
Born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, Feig spent a year at Wayne State University before transferring to USC.
See video of Feig’s speech below.