Episode Details

Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in?

Have you ever struggled to find role models that looked like you and had similar life experiences?

If you’re a person of color in Hollywood (specifically post-production), the likelihood is extremely high you know these issues all too well...like a likelihood of roughly 99% (as I discussed in a previous episode with seasoned editor and mentor Monty Degraff).

Furthermore, if you are a POC who’s a college student or recent grad, you might be concerned about how the color of your skin could affect the chances of you succeeding in the industry (and if it’s even worth trying), no?

In today’s conversation, I discuss these issues and more with two recent grads and one senior from Temple University in Philadelphia, all of whom are black. Ariel Brown is a senior in the Film and Media Arts Program. Mirra Watkins graduated from Temple 3 years ago and has since moved to Los Angeles and is working as an AE and Editor in unscripted television and digital media. And last but not least, Isaiah Carey is a 2018 Temple graduate now working in the video production world as a cameraman and editor in Philadelphia.

All three of these amazing, talented, intelligent, and hard-working individuals have navigated their way as minorities in a white-dominant industry and have learned some valuable lessons along the way that they have been courageous enough to share with you. Each of them have adopted the unique perspective to turn their struggles into their greatest assets. And each of them has learned that the adversity they face has made them stronger and more capable in their jobs and in life, and ultimately nothing will deter them from achieving their dreams.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• Ariel’s deep desire to pursue her passion of the arts through filmmaking.
• Isaiah's love of learning and how that led him into post production.
• How Mirra began building her editing skills as a kid who loved to read.
• Why Mirra hopes to one day be the next Shonda Rhimes and her passion to tell “real s@#! to people” through films and stories.
• KEY TAKE AWAY: Being specific and vocal about your desires and goals will open up the right doors and opportunities to get you where you want to go.
• Isaiah’s dream is to be in a Post Production finishing facility working as a colorist and being part of a team environment.
• Ariel’s favorite stories show that anyone can do anything they can put their minds to and those are the stories she wants to tell.
• Mirra’s experience in high school trying to get into the band and the difficulty she had being accepted in a mostly white school.
• What it’s like to fight for every opportunity including the classes you want to take despite being qualified in every way.
• Even in Philadelphia at Temple University, the number of black students in post production is less than 1%.
• Isaiah’s experience with being treated unfairly on his college thesis project and how he handled it.
• KEY TAKE AWAY: Persistence and perseverance will help you find the right people and places to get the opportunities you want.
• The problem of gentrification for minorities negatively and the lack of awareness among whites.
• Ariel is the first in her family to go to college and graduate and she will not let the color of her skin stand in the way of achieving her dreams.
• KEY TAKE AWAY: Don’t be afraid to sell yourself and use your stories of adversity to demonstrate your value.
• Mirra is not looking for a handout based on her race and wants to be hired for her s