If your only glimpse into the entertainment industry is through the boob tube with the likes of The Hills, then you’ve missed out on the panel to the window of the real biz. And by boob tube, I’m not suggesting any part of Heidi Montag.
The Asian Professionals Exchange (APEX) hosted its Career Symposium to help members maximize their career and realize their potential at the Wilshire Grand Hotel on Saturday.
To add to the festivities, a Korean wedding reception was also taking place in the same ballroom, which is a predecessor of the Asian invasion.
I got to attend the last panel I Can’t Act, I Can’t Write, But I Want to Work in Entertainment, which was moderated byAngry Asian Man Phil Yu. The panelists were: Jamie Lai (Teddy Zee Productions),
Melissa Sun (Stan Rosenfield & Associates), David Kang (David Kang Casting)
and Nesa Khajehali (The Hub and Discovery/Hasbro Joint Venture Children’s Network).
Even though some started off in a different field; Jamie was a lawyer and David was a marine, the lure of the entertainment industry is draconian
They dispelled the notion that the entertainment industry is glamorous as they discussed the long and demanding hours that make work a way of life in the fast-paced industry.
They also highlighted that it’s all about marketing yourself and maintaining relations– getting one’s foot in the door with networking with the PIC (people in charge) and taking clients out for coffee is a must if you want to brew your career.
When asked to sell themselves with a single word: Jamie chose hardworking, Melissa chose aggressive, David chose edgy and Nessa chose authentic. Approach-approach conflict is the solution!
The Hills only realistically portrays the catty competition, which reflects Darwinism in the entertainment biz. If you want to reign supreme or at least secure yourself in the industry, then strategize.
