Meet Thomas Bellezza

We recently connected with Thomas Bellezza and have shared our conversation below.

Thomas, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity came from growing up with constant opposition. When we’re young, we’re guided by hearing the word “no.” My first big “no” happened in fourth grade. The teacher asked the room of students what we all wanted to be when we grew up. Each student before me answered with “fireman,” “police officer,” and the popular “astronaut.” When it got to me, I told her that I dreamed of being a writer. The idea of telling stories, creating worlds, and bringing fantasy to life was a passion that fueled my imagination.

Before class ended that day, she pulled me aside and suggested I consider a trade over writing. She explained that writing would be difficult for someone like me who had a mild case of dyslexia.

As my career in the entertainment industry grew, I continued to hear “no” often. First in the music industry with my metal band, TENEbRAE. No one wanted to give us a chance, and why should they? We were unknown, unproven, and starting out. After that, the stand-up comedy scene had no interest in some metalhead they’d never heard of getting a spot to perform. When I began a career in acting, it was all the same answer: “no.” “No, that part isn’t right for you.” “No, you wouldn’t make a good Hamlet; you’re too funny.”

In each situation, I found ways to develop my own “yes” in life. I knew the only way I would find success in entertainment was to develop myself as a brand and, more importantly, develop relationships with people.

In music, I developed the ability to produce my own shows and create a crowd, build and cultivate relationships that led to festival performances, and do what I could to get involved when and where I would be needed to help others. When it came to my stand-up and acting careers, I did the same thing. I found my “yes” in life. I made things happen by making things happen. All this led me back to my first passion: becoming a writer. I loved the feeling of finding solutions that came from creating my own opportunities.

Little did I know that in the background, I was building buzz for being proactive. One thing led to another, and people asked me how I did what I did and was doing what I was doing.

In a career that began with a sole focus on me, I found myself helping others and getting them on the right path to success. I’ve been in the entertainment industry since 1997. And over the years I’ve found myself more involved with getting people out of their prisons of “no” and finding ways to develop their “yes” in life. There was a deep, fulfilling truth to mentoring others and showing them the way around the walls of inaction. I went from a career of “look at me” to a life where I could show people what I’ve learned through many mistakes.

It was less about where my generosity came from and more about how I found it by naturally listening to my heart. The first time I helped someone think differently and adjust their way of approaching things, the more I truly felt myself.

This is why I started the “Team Rise Together” nonprofit movement, why I opened a playhouse theater, and why I mentor people. We must become the change we want to see in the world to make a difference in one another. I’m grateful for all the mentors I had growing up in the industry, and I’m grateful to see those I’ve mentored turn into people who give back to others themselves. I will always live by the mentality that we must work together to grow together, so we may rise together. Life is too short to keep the doors closed for those willing to work for it.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I have several professional pursuits where I split my time between my passions. A majority of my time right now goes to writing. Followed by giving my time to consulting individuals on their careers in the entertainment industry. The one thing I have a deep passion for is the “Team Rise Together” nonprofit I developed. Due to the pandemic, I had to relocate from Brooklyn, New York, to more of the Midwest. A few others and myself are in the process of maintaining the development of the nonprofit, which began with a mission statement to bring people together. Now we are working to elevate it to the next stage and prepare it for launch when I get back to New York.

To break down these three careers I live in daily, I should start with my writing career. I find myself often being hired to help other writers and authors with their stories. Being a developmental editor is a fantastic experience that delves into the creative process the most. I love outlining stories, building on characters, and getting the writer to where they want to go with the story they see in their heads. What I’ve noticed is that screenwriters and authors go through the same process. A story is a story; the format is all that changes. And I love what goes into the collaboration of it all. And I’ll never say no to doing what I can to help a writer create their new worlds.

Outside of being a developmental editor, I get to write my own work. Something I learned a long time ago is that a finished product doesn’t always sell in a pitch meeting. I consistently split my writing time between writing treatments for television, film, and novels. This helps me maintain my writing and creative chops as a developer. Which makes me more efficient when I work with my clients or am asked to join the writing rooms of other projects. There’s a saying I tell my clients; “Don’t only write when you’re writing.” It’s important to practice our skills in general, and when I’m working with a team or a client, I shouldn’t be using that time to practice how to do what I do.

“Team Rise Together” nonprofit is a mission that is designed to bring people together so they can work, grow, and rise together in an inclusive and encouraging environment. It began as a small group of people working on short films, writing together, and the big push was networking. A Team Rise Together networking event brought so many people together to build and cultivate relationships. We wanted to create a pool of talent where people can find like minded individuals to work with them. Everyone has a desire to create something from nothing and when you find others all working for the same thing, you can move mountains.

One of the things I find most exciting about my job as a developmental editor is getting a chance to see the creative process differently through the minds of others. I love that I get to meet new and interesting people through the Team Rise Together nonprofit. And as a consultant I am constantly inspired to help others when I see that moment when the lightbulb goes on for a client. It’s one of the reasons I don’t charge a lot for my services and why the future goal of the TRT nonprofit is to make it an all free resource for people in the entertainment industry. There is beauty when we all connect and create together.

Something that guides me and my choices is the idea behind the two mindsets: the “me mentality” and the “we mentality.” If what I’m about to do feels more like the “me mentality,” I reevaluate the choice. Life is not about me; it’s about the people around me. Just like life is not about “you,” it’s about the people around you. Remember, everything we do must affect everything we do. This means that if you approach anything with the “me mentality,” you’ve forgotten about all the people you need to get you to the top and help you maintain it. The people around you are the ones that define the world you live in. And if it is all about ourselves, no one wants to work with that mentality.

This is why I tell people to live with the mindset to go out and build and cultivate relationships within their industry. Get involved when and where you can to help others. Being involved gives you a chance to prove your worth, “value sets” and ability to lead, follow, or advise at the tables you join. While you’re there working with others you can learn first hand through practical application how things work within your industry. At the end of the day, giving to others leads to others giving to you when you find the right people for your circle of influence. Remember, a circle of influence is not there to influence your career but to influence better stronger habits that help you be proactive.

New Developments and upcoming projects:

I’m authoring a self-help book that is filled with everything I’ve learned over the years. At this point, I want my knowledge to be available for others to read and refer to as a guide. I truly hope it helps them find success in their lives, create longevity from that success, and ultimately fuel their purpose.

Following that nonfiction book will be my first epic fantasy novel, “The Maven Wars,” which will be a series of books chronicling, you guessed it, the Maven Wars. This series has been a dream of mine since I was a young child. Now I am an older, bigger child who loves the world of fantasy!

One of the true gifts of life has been to help others and be available for those who need it. “The Write Mindset” is a YouTube channel dedicated to educating and inspiring writers, sharing my knowledge and techniques while also analyzing films and books to gain insights into the craft.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that changed the way I approached my career and life are the following:

1. Be nice to everyone; you never know who someone is or knows.
2. Your success is not about you; it’s about the people around you.
3. A “thing” doesn’t sell itself; create a demand that needs to be supplied.

I learned early on that no matter how amazing, awesome, or unique I believed I was, it didn’t matter. No one cares about something until they care about it. In music, I thought if I recorded an album, people would buy it. Why would they buy music from someone who was a complete stranger? I believed that if the album was great, it would sell itself, but how does a stranger know it’s great until they listen to it? And then I realized no one buys things because they’re great. They buy things for emotional reasons when they connect with ideas, brands, people, movements, and missions.

This is when I turned my life around. I began looking at my career through two different brains: the “artist brain” and the “business brain.” When I created, I let my “artist brain” run wild. Once I was finished creating something, I shut that brain off and let the “business brain” take over. The secret was to never let either brain influence the other. They are two separate mindsets with specific purposes. The “artist brain” was meant to create for me through the passions and ideas that moved me, and through my creative voice, one day an audience will connect with it.

The “business brain,” well, that was a different story. The business brain taught me that I needed to network, market, and practice. It showed me how to manage my time, money, and the people around me. It gave me insight into thinking outside the box in a proactive way. When it came to my talent, it was about my “value sets” and what I brought beyond my “craft” to the tables I joined. My talent was there to help me lead, follow, or advise. My business brain showed me how to organize my money so I could protect myself, invest in myself, and reward myself.

For anyone starting their career journey or those who have been doing it for a while but have not seen the results they desire, I give you this advice: The “3 Needs of Success” are network, market, and practice. Networking is about building and cultivating relationships to develop a strong circle of influence. Marketing is about designing a brand to build awareness, which creates interest that will ultimately generate sales for audiences who buy into your brand’s message emotionally. And practice is about knowing your personal strengths and weaknesses and how to utilize them.

Relationships lead to opportunities; the impression you (your brand) leave on people adds value to those relationships; and the more you understand your strengths and weaknesses, the greater your value as an asset to the people you get involved with becomes. All together, none of this matters if you’re not trying to get involved in your industry. Getting involved doesn’t always mean you get to do the thing you love doing. You might want to be the lead in a project, or your band might get a chance to play on a show. But that’s not getting involved; that’s being rewarded.

Getting involved means helping those around you. Working within your industry as an assistant, learning under others (mentors), and elevating the missions of the tables you join. As you build a reputation within the industry, people will begin to see your value and take chances on you. Just because you think you’re awesome doesn’t mean they should either. At least, not until they see that you are awesome for themselves by how you selflessly get involved to work with others. A great leader knows how to follow as much as a follower knows how to advise with options.

In short, it comes down to these things: relationships, impressions, and self-awareness.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
“Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi

This book explores the power of relationships, referring people, and building your circle of influence. When I first started my career in entertainment, I was an arrogant musician. I walked around like my band was competing against all the other bands. When we did a show, it was about us blowing away the audience so they’d forget about the other bands. What I wasn’t realizing was that those other bands were opportunities for collaboration.

Think about it. A band has a minimum of three people in it. I was in a metal band, which meant other bands usually had four people minimum. Three bands working together could invest time, money, and resources into tours, press, major events, and marketing. A team of twelve people all working toward the same thing. Now try four bands, five bands, or six bands! Six bands with four members each have twenty-four musicians. What if each of those musicians invested $1,000 in one of those ideas? That’s $24,000 to invest in opportunities.

My point is that relationships create opportunities. And what “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi really taught me was the power of relationships and the levels therein. And a nugget of wisdom explored in that book was how no one was worth less than the other. A C.E.O was just as important as their assistant, as the assistant was just as important as the secretary, etc. Every person has a job and a responsibility for that job. Gatekeepers are not one person. They are a collection of people that lead to the very top of the mountain.

You need to know how to build relationships so you can lead yourself to the people at the top. But it all starts with the people at the bottom. And the ones on the bottom are just as important as everyone in between. The problem with most people is that they try to get in touch with the highest person on the mountain first. You have to earn the right to speak with people. You don’t have the right to speak with anyone just because you are you. You have to earn it. That is why we get involved in the industry we love, so we can grow those relationships.

I hear about actors who want to work with Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Denzel Washington, and the list goes on. What actors starting out don’t realize is that they are in a position to be near the “next” Tom Hanks, and so on. This goes for all fields of entertainment. Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro started their careers as some random new director and a kid trying to act. We don’t start off amazing, awesome, or unique. We have to work to reach that level. And just like Scorsese and De Niro built their personal and working relationships, so can you with the next level of talent out there.

And the greatest gift a relationship can give you is the value it brings with it. When you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who can get something, you’re a person of value. Why? You can now connect people and bring people together. That’s a resource that sells itself. People are more valuable than a paycheck. Why? Because people make things happen. Yes, you need cash, but if you’re in the film industry, a “person” needs to sign off on that budget. Publishers for your new novel might give you a cash advance, but who gave it to you? A person.

Let your energy be spent on building valuable relationships, not to “use” people but to get to know them. And a valuable relationship will be one you put time and effort into. An established rapport is the value you’re building. Learn what they need and how you can provide for them even when you personally can’t. Remember, you know a person who knows a person. Introductions and solving problems for people by getting the right people to them are going to be the “value sets” that pay you back in dividends. Relationships make things possible.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
– David Genik (headshots) – Bill Wadman (Black and white) – Robert Capriotti (outside shot) – BBR Productions (for Logos)

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