02:00 AM Jun. 13, 2005 PT
by Cyrus Farivar
In Hollywood, where everyone’s a freelancer and career networking veers between art and warfare, a new weapon is emerging as champion: instant messaging.
Movie producers, directors, actors and crew workers bouncing from one job to the next have traditionally relied on agents and Rolodexes for finding their next gigs. But these days, many are discovering it’s easier to post their job availability on IM.
Instead of displaying simple “away from my computer” messages, Hollywood buddy lists now overflow with come-ons, from “need work” to “wrapping up shoot.” Producers hiring for a new production can tell at a glance who’s available now, who’s not and who might be free in the near future.
“Ninety percent of my work is given to me through a pop-up (chat window) on my desktop,” said Simon Foster, 32, a freelance production coordinator living in Santa Monica, California.
