for $2.2 million dollars (a lot
of money for an independent
film at the time). In addition
to writing, Clawson also
served as assistant director
and postproduction supervi-
sor. He was just 21 at the
time. He went on to write a
couple more scripts for Hong,
but they were unable to get
money to make them. Clawson
continued to write screenplays,
thinking it was his calling.
His next lucky break came
from answering another Daily
Variety ad. London-based
music video company
Limelight was expanding into
the United States and needed a
production manager. When
Clawson was offered the job,
he was promised that he
would have down time
between projects to write or
work on other projects. "I
thought it was a great idea for
me to make a little money and
continue to write. From the
day I joined them, I didn't
have a day off for the next five
years." Then in the heyday of
music videos, the company
was responsible for producing
many landmark productions
such as Peter Gabriel's "Sledge
Hammer," Aha's "Take On
Me," Dire Strait's "Money for
Nothing," and many of
Madonna's and Prince's early
videos.
Clawson next went to work
as head of production for
Propaganda Films-Hollywood,
"In film produc-
tion, there is nothing
that can replace
experience. That's
what I used to call
`mileage.'"--Tim Clawson
"There's a great quote I've seen attrib-
uted to a number of different people, but I'll
attribute it to Earl Weaver, the manager of
the Baltimore Orioles. He said, `It's what you
learn after you know it all that counts.' I
think that applies to physical production.
Just when you think you know it all, you're
in a place where you really start to learn. I
still learn something every day about the
business and how it works. Keeping that
kind of attitude and an open mind towards
what I do, helped me take on whatever chal-
lenges come my way."--Tim Clawson
"The business tends to be fairly infor-
mal, but I don't think anyone should let that
fool them. You should still approach everything
as a professional and give 110%. Even though
you see people showing up to work in shorts,
T-shirts, and sneakers, it doesn't mean that
they are casual about their work. Anything
you are asked to do, as menial as it might be,
do it 110%. Because what tends to happen in
our business is: those who do well for others
get the opportunities."--Tim Clawson
"Keep your head down, work hard,
keep your ears open, and learn as much as
you possibly can; never stop learning, and
never stop listening. When you don't know
something, ask. Most people love to talk
about what they know. If you ever ask a
question and they get grumpy with you,
there is only one of two reasons why: you've
asked them at the wrong time, or that person
doesn't know the answer and they're intimi-
dated by your question."--Tim Clawson
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