Tribeca in Review: Creativity, Relationships and Business Through the Lens of Diversity

By Lavanya Aggarwal (JHRTS-NY Board Member, Formerly WME)

& Shareece Williams (JHRTS-NY Board Member, Formerly BET)

Lavanya:

As Tribeca held its 22nd annual festival this year in New York City, Shareece and I were fortunate to attend several panels specifically centering around diversity. As two women of color from different communities, both of whom want to work in different parts of the industry  (I worked in representation as an assistant wanting to be a creative, and Shareece wants to be in representation but worked at a network), our interest was piqued. Would the panels be insightful? Would they offer gems of wisdom that we could both apply despite our vastly different backgrounds? And most importantly, would they help push us in the direction of where we really want to work? To find out, we did some sleuthing (and heavy listening!) 

Shareece:

While the events we attended served different purposes, ranging from highlighting content by diverse creators to exploring ways to increase representation, they all underscored Tribeca’s core festival slate of stories that are politically, culturally and socially relevant. 

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Panels Attended Included:

• From Fiction to Change, which discussed the power TV and theater have for transforming stories about BIPOC experiences, as well as transforming lives. 

• The Value of One, which discussed the Asian American creative experience, and different organizations AAPI members can take advantage of to further their careers. 

• Masterclass, Future of Representation, which covered approaches to representation from BIPOC talent executives and how they guide the careers of their BIPOC clients. 

• Easterseals Disability Services: An Industry Cocktail Reception, which united individuals with an array of disabilities to a rooftop bar for networking and community

• Indeed: Rising Voices, a Hillman Grad and 571 Films collaboration showcased ten rising filmmakers through short films.

• Kerry Washington and Nicole Avant: Legacy and Impact in Storytelling, which discussed how and why stories of marginalized communities matter, and what makes a film so good. 

• + an interview with Trey Witter, a speaker on the Diversity in Representation Panel and a brilliant manager at 3 Arts who also represented two filmmakers in the Rising Voices showcase

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Lavanya:

For me, attending these panels gave way to insights about the nonlinear path every single person in this business has. I found it to be a great reminder and reality check on just how many successful industry members have had to push their way through the weeds to get to their goals. In the From Fiction to Change panel, Found Showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll detailed the crazy ways in which she made short films every single weekend while balancing a job at the Federal Reserve before landing her first industry job as a staff writer. In the same panel, Tony-nominated playwright and actress Jocelyn Bioh revealed how Jaja’s African Hair Braiding became her first play to reach Broadway after years of rejection. 

Shareece:

Like many, I have been affected by the entertainment industry’s shift. As a result, I often question my purpose and next steps as the job market continues to be difficult to navigate and projects that many are passionate about continue to get shelved. 

When Jade Bryan, the first black deaf award-winning filmmaker, asked about resistance to an untapped community in the Diversity Masterclass Q&A, panelist Binta Brown’s response was “I think sometimes we forget what our parents, grandparents have been through in order that any of us can have the privilege to be in conversation with each other here today – the tendency that I sometimes see for us to give into despair or hopelessness about whether or not we can get our art into the marketplace. We have to let that go and keep focus – a lot has been sacrificed for us, and a lot has been gained.” This really resonated with me. 

My entertainment career has not been linear. My own parents are retired government employees who support my non-traditional career path, but it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the sacrifices they made for me to follow this path. My mother dreamt of being a cartoonist, and my father, a steel worker, never had an opportunity to dream. Though this is my story, it is not unique to others trying to make a way. At all of the events I attended, I’ve met and heard from people with similar stories, no familial network but passion and drive, and a strong desire to open doors for others while grinding from the ground up, something that is very important to me. While job opportunities may be scarce and projects are met with resistance, it is important that we all remember our internal and external purposes while supporting and growing the community we have around us.

Lavanya:

In the From Fiction to Change panel, Carroll further stressed the importance of finding, and building community in the industry to support your work.

But as assistants, our workdays are commonly loaded with the priorities of our bosses and struggling to push ourselves into the role we want, having to face fierce competition to get there. How do we find community, especially within underrepresented groups where grabbing an  opportunity becomes even more competitive? That’s like looking for a needle in a haystack! 

In our interview, Trey Witter addressed these concerns:  “We all tend to have this thing where we think there can only be one. And that’s not true,” he explained. 

He also elaborated on how to seize opportunities in such a competitive environment:

“[Although] everything is secular when it comes to content, there has to be a project that kicks the door down. There are reasons shows like Beef and Insecure resonate with everyone. So get ready.” 

Similarly, The Value of One panelists Rohi Pandaya (Box Office Media, South Asian House Founder SXSW, and Sue Obeidi (Muslim Public Affairs Counsel), and Legacy Impact in Storytelling panelists, Kerry Washington and Nicole Avant, stressed the importance of devoting time to your craft regardless of the circumstances. They also discussed how crucial it is to make the most of your resources - whether that be crowdfunding from your local community, convincing a friend in finance to invest, or seeking grants. 

My takeaway from these panels and our conversation with Trey is that often, after incredible amounts of hard work, things start to fall into place. For me, this signaled that one of the best things I can do at the assistant level is to find ways to keep on creating - because one day, the project which opens up the door for my project is going to get made, and when that happens, I’ll be ready. 

Shareece:

One of my biggest takeaways from the panels we attended and our interview with Trey was how much of an effect hard work has on the outcome of your goal, and that being proactive and creating opportunities for yourself is one way for us assistants to grow in an industry that is so uncertain at the moment. 

I was particularly inspired by Trey Witter’s advice for assistants who want to work in representation: “Be sure and trust your taste. If you worked at a studio, start finding people in your network who are like-minded – there is no other way for you to get promoted. It should be a fear that if you don’t hip pocket [potential clients] they will get gobbled up because they are just that good.”

Lavanya:

My ultimate takeaway from this year’s festival is that for any assistant out there, building your community is crucial. 

For all of us out there that aren’t in the assistant gig we really want, we get to make it a priority to befriend those who are. Then, we get to work. Creating, scouting, etc. Eventually, our community will give way to some of the results we hope for. 

As Trey Witter put it, “Assistants have more power than they think.” 

So get out there and network! Find your purpose and your people. It’s showtime. Lights, camera, and action!