Ask a Former Assistant: Joshua Finn (Paradigm)

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Joshua Finn

Talent Agent, Paradigm

Interviewed by Lucy Stover, Coordinator at More/Medavoy Management and THA's Co-Editor-in-Chief

Hi Josh, I always love an excuse to hang out with fellow Syracuse alumni so thank you for indulging me with this interview. Why don’t we start with who you are, where you came from, and why you’re here in this industry?

I am more than happy to do so. Well, my name’s Joshua Finn. I am from Newton, Mass. As you said, I went to Syracuse, where I majored in theatre and minored in business management. I moved out here to be an actor, which lasted all of two months. Enough people told me that I had such a love for TV and film that I would do “something” in the business. It wouldn’t necessarily be acting, but it would be something!

After my first internship at Code Entertainment, I fell in love with production and representation and what goes on behind-the-camera—or actually, before-the-camera. People told me that if you’re gonna succeed in this industry, you have to work at a major agency.

And you listened?

And I listened. And after a short stint elsewhere, I have been at Paradigm ever since.

What is your favorite Boston-centered film or series?

I have four: The Departed, The Fighter (where I stood in for Mark Wahlberg for one day), The Town, and, of course, City on a Hill.

Mine’s Manchester by the Sea because I love crying, obviously. Do you still feel connected to your New England roots out here in LA?

1000%. I feel like, to be successful in Hollywood, you can’t blend in—you need to stand out and maintain where you come from. I am very proud of my East Coast heritage. It gave me the work ethic, perseverance, strength, and fortitude that I believe it takes to make it in this industry. Also, I just have an affinity for anything Boston, which is one of the many reasons why I wanted to sign Super Bowl-winning first overall draft pick, former New England Patriots quarterback, Drew Bledsoe.

How did attending Syracuse affect your career path? Do you find it’s true, what they say about the so-called ‘Cuse Mafia in LA?

A teacher at Syracuse told me that they never liked my work as an actor, but I would be successful in this business somehow. Syracuse helped me mature as a person, as a neophyte entering the business, and gave me the tools necessary to build both a career and network that would support my future endeavors.

And, yes, the Syracuse Mafia is real. One of my first lunches in LA was with a Fox Marketing Exec who went to Syracuse. One of my first jobs in LA was working for a Syracuse alum who had his own management company. I truly believe now in paying it forward, so whenever Syracuse alumni reach out to me, I try to be helpful. And I encourage any Syracuse alumni reading this to reach out to me for a cup of coffee.

What’s something you learned as an assistant that you will not soon forget?

Three things: Read everything, because information is power; meet everyone, because the bigger your network, the stronger your support system; and if you screw something up, it’s better to be upfront with your boss about it than to sweep it under the rug.

Cards on the table, what’s a mistake you made as an assistant that you wish you could forget?

Be very careful who you share information with because, years ago, I had discovered a very high-level project. I got all the info, the script, and this was under lock and key, as they say. I shared it with a superior (who is no longer at the company) who then emailed it out to the entire company without a single iota of credit or thank you to me.

There’s been a lot of talk in my circles recently about making mistakes and how to recover from them at work. I’m sure things look a little different now, but how do you mitigate misunderstanding or accidents as an agent?

When you’re an assistant, it’s like your boss is your first client. So things don’t really change once you get promoted—you just have a lot more clients. Be honest, upfront, and remorseful. That’s all you can do. And then try to take the steps to remedy whatever went wrong. It’s tough, and it sucks, but it’s better to admit my mistake than be a liar.

It’s not super common for 20-somethings to dream of being agents. Why do you think that is?

Funny, it’s not super common anymore. When I was your age, it was all me and my friends could think about. We ate, lived, slept, and breathed trying to be agents.

I think the pandemic—not to use COVID as an excuse for everything—but office culture and switching to Zoom meant people didn’t get to see the pure fun & thrills being an agent could bring. We’re seen as the “bad guys” in a lot of ways. But what’s been solidified in my head by many amazing mentors is that it’s very possible to be both a good person and a very successful agent.

Do you think more people should pursue the agency path? Why or why not?

Yes. Anyone working in Hollywood should have at least two years of agency experience. Working at an agency trains you for whatever you want to do in this business, outside of acting.

Years ago now, when I was working at a movie studio, I had lunch with an agent. He had more emails sent to him during that lunch than I had both sent & received the entire day. It’s a level of intensity I think everyone should have experience navigating.

Agents vs Managers. How would you explain the difference to someone new to the industry?

An agent is responsible for getting the client their next job and providing the building blocks that will construct the client’s career. The manager oversees the whole architectural project.

You have to collaborate with managers all day long. As someone who works at a management company, I’m dying to know, what qualities do you think make a good manager?

True collaboration. Managers that can fill in the blanks where there may be some, highlight connections I may not know about, and promote synergy and teamwork are the best.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I love this job. I really do. There are always going to be daily stresses, headaches, and fires to put out. But I am very, very blessed that I get to wake up with a smile on my face and do what I do with people I love both inside and outside the company.