Anyone who’s interested in breaking into the behemoth entertainment industry knows the phrase, “It’s not about what you know, but who you know.”
While such a tidy aphorism is easier said than done, students who are considering a career in “the industry” have the opportunity to work on the “who” aspect with USAC’s Elite Entertainment Panel tonight in the Broad Art Center.
Those slated to appear on the question-and-answer panel include Charles Roven (producer of “The Dark Knight”), John Hamburg (writer and director of “I Love You, Man”), Dan Jinks (producer for “Milk” and “American Beauty”) and Donald De Line, who produced “Observe and Report.”
Fourth-year political science student and USAC general representative Devin Blase, who organized the panel, said that she and the committee chose speakers who had had particularly successful years, and who could provide helpful answers to students with questions on how to “make it.”
“There’s no set path (to success) in this industry,” Blase said.
“So to hear these people who have made it to elite positions that are winning the Oscars every year, is a very rare opportunity. We choose the best, and they have a large audience.”
The competitive nature of the entertainment industry makes it difficult for people with aspirations to work in the field to actually meet the people they might want to work for.
This thick red tape that makes up the web of Hollywood connections prevents young people who may have the necessarily passion, skills and experience from even getting the chance to succeed in this field ““ especially in Los Angeles.
“Part of why I did this is, there are some people I would shed blood to talk to,” Blase said.
“There’s no way I’d get within 100 feet of these people … but if I contact these people through the panel, they’ll get to enlighten over 300-plus students, and I still get to hear what they have to say and get the questions answered that I want, too.”
Blase started organizing the entertainment panels three years ago after the USAC embezzlement scandal led to a new influx of staff, and the opportunity for additional career-oriented panels increased.
Having worked 15 entertainment-industry related internships, Blase said that she was motivated to start the “elite entertainment”-themed panels after being constantly frustrated with how impossible it seemed to personally meet the people or places she wanted to work for.
“What I realized from my internships is that what’s most important in this industry is who you know,” Blase said. “I realized I couldn’t just meet these people on my own.”
While organizations like the Student Alumni Association have industry networking nights, the USAC panel discussion is unique in its more specific divvying up of careers within the entertainment industry.
At the beginning of the panel’s creation, the several facets of the industry were included together ““ lumping agents, publicists, directors, producers, and cinematographers into a single panel.
Tonight’s session focuses on producing and directing, while an earlier panel centered on careers within television.
Blase said that this specification is important because many students might only be interested in one particular area.
Ben Harris is the manager and a lecturer in the producers master’s program within the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
“A lot of people will want to know what a producer actually does,” he said. “How do you become a producer? What is the entry training?”
In addition to having questions answered by experts with diverse career paths and life backgrounds, students will also have the opportunity to personally meet the industry panel speakers and submit a cover letter and resume to them.
Blase said that such an opportunity is incredibly valuable, even if you have had previous interning experience.
“That would never happen in real life,” Blase said. “Once you get into (the field) of theater and film, you recognize what a rare opportunity this is.”
But while Harris acknowledged that having personal ties to people and positions directly in the industry is extremely helpful, the best way to establish these ties in the first place is by bringing enthusiasm and personality into internships, no matter how unglamorous the job might be.
“It’s not necessarily who you know, but who knows you,” he said.
“It’s not about what you know, or your prior job qualifications, but it’s your personality, and if you’re the type of person that’s fun to be around. Knowing someone really helps make people comfortable in hiring you in the end.”