Things I’ve Learned as a Moviemaker: Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore is the descendant of Hollywood royalty, but has spent her career carving out a unique and distinguished path of her own.

Barrymore has racked up acting, directing, producing, and even soundtrack credits over the course of her career, which first caught fire at six in E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. Her latest film is 50 First Dates, a romantic comedy of memory loss and tropical trysts, co-starring Adam Sandler. MovieMaker sat down with the California girl to get her 10 L.A. tips on making it big in the biz.

1. Be original.

2. You don’t have to live in LA.

3. If you can’t tell your story to a stranger and entertain them, something’s wrong.

4. The European way of making movies is lot more sane.

5. The American system can be sane, too—until a movie star gets involved.

6. In LA, three right turns can be faster than a left.

7. If you’re in LA doing business, three meetings a day is the maximum you should attempt.

8. To break in, get your scripts to producers, not agents.

9. Long walks on the beach or in the mountains trigger great ideas.

10. Ten things I’ve learned? I haven’t had time to learn 10 things yet! MM

Image of Barrymore in 50 First Dates courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment, in Scream, courtesy Miramax.