Hollywood Legends on Facing and Overcoming Rejection During Their Careers
Posted on: Sep 26, 2024
Photo Credit: DFree // ShutterstockIt doesn’t matter your level of fame or fortune—if you work in the entertainment industry, there are two words you’re likely very familiar with: “crafty” and “rejection.” Rejection is such a ubiquitous part of the industry that it’s easy to overlook how taxing it can be on your psyche. No one likes to hear “no”—unless you’re a masochist or a New York Jets fan.
Let’s switch gears from breaking down the practical side of the industry and dive into the personal.
Famous Rejection Stories
If there’s one takeaway from this article, let it be this: everyone, and I mean everyone in the entertainment industry has experienced rejection. A simple Google search for “famous rejection stories” will immediately reveal profound setbacks faced by some of the biggest names in business, movies, TV, books and music. Not to mention the literal thousands of rejection stories that are never talked about. Let’s explore a few.
Everyone knows the famous story of Michael Jordan being cut from his high school basketball team, but what about Jack Ma, the famous Chinese billionaire? Ma was rejected by Harvard 10 times! He then applied for a job at KFC, and out of a pool of 24 applicants, they hired 23. Guess who didn’t make the cut? Ma is now the co-founder of the Alibaba Group and is worth over $25 billion.
Early in his career, Kevin Hart was told to quit comedy—and not just by a random audience member, but by a prominent comedy club owner who had discovered Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler. When Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan were attempting to sell Chappelle’s Show, HBO listened to their pitch and said, “Why would we want you when we already have Chris Rock?” They then went to Comedy Central, and the rest is history.
J.K. Rowling spent six years as a single mother on unemployment benefits and was rejected by 12 publishers before finally getting a “yes.” She’s now a billionaire. Elvis Presley was told by the music manager of the Grand Ole Opry that “he’s not going anywhere and should go back to driving a truck.” Walt Disney was turned down by 300 bankers because his animation ideas were perceived as too outlandish. Joe Pesci had fully quit acting and returned to work at a restaurant when Robert De Niro called him at work and asked him to read for Raging Bull.
These stories just scratch the surface of the rejections millions have faced. While they serve as inspiring reminders, they’re also cautionary tales. None of their successes would have come to fruition if they had given in to rejection. What if Walt Disney had put down his pencil after the 299th rejection, or if Kevin Hart had dropped the mic because he was told to consider another career?
Coping Strategies
We all know the obvious answer here: drinking. Just kidding. There are many healthy ways to deal with rejection, and if all else fails, screaming into a pillow is a tried-and-true classic. The first technique I’d suggest is something I call “reframing.” This simple, yet powerful method allows you to re-examine how you view rejection. For example, if you apply for a writing job and get a response saying they’re moving on to other candidates, you can reframe it as: “That job wasn’t for me; I’m one step closer to my dream job.”
I’m a huge fan of the phrase “this or something better” as a mantra for anytime I put something creative out into the universe that requires a response. While I don’t always follow my own advice, it’s crucial to adopt an attitude of positive expectation whenever possible. Another effective technique is something I call “doubling down.” For example, if you get rejected from a writing competition, double down by writing an even better pilot. Didn’t book that commercial callback? Double down by taking a commercial acting class. Bombed an interview? Double down by talking to a career coach.
Another great strategy is to find another outlet or angle—this is also known as pivoting. Thanks to the internet, there are almost limitless ways to get your work out there. This technique doesn’t mean giving up on your dream; it just means trying a different approach. Let’s say you’re a DP struggling to get a job on-set. You could link up with a writer or director, shoot something independently and post it on social media. If your coaching course isn’t selling, start making YouTube videos showing all the value you can bring to the world.
Summary: You’re Good
The truth is, as long as you hold yourself in high esteem and deeply believe in the quality of your work, you’re never rejected. There is no team of people hell-bent on saying “no” to you, and the only person who can say you’re rejected, is you. Always remember, you are just one “yes” away from living the life of your dreams.
Brendan Fitzgibbons is a comedy writer and actor living in Los Angeles. He’s written for Comedy Central, The Onion, NBC, HuffPost and Bravo. As an actor, he’s appeared on Comedy Central, MTV and “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.” His podcast, “Spiritual As****e” was named a Top Indie Podcast by Stitcher.
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