The Asian American and Pacific Islander Film and TV Panel provided students and community members with the opportunity to listen to and speak with panelists in the entertainment field on April 24.
Producer, Studio Executive, and Co-Founder of Center for Intersectional Media and Entertainment Munika Lay, Actor and Director Chris Tashima, and previous Head of Human Resources for Warner Brothers Television Ada Yeh, were the panelists.
โWe have a very diverse group of people that have been working for independent filming, or also for big companies and corporations, global corporate corporations,โ Communication and Events Manager for the Office of Talent, Culture and Diversity Dulce Gallardo said. โSo this is something very diverse and not only in terms of cultural heritage, but also in terms of the roles of the speakers. And I think thatโs very enriching for students.โ
The event was free and included food and beverages and an opportunity for attendees to meet and take photos with the panelists.ย ย
Yeh said she was grateful to speak at the event and her goal for students is to find their voice and place where they can.
โI think anything that we can do to help students get in their head in terms of what they might want to do to generate curiosity and to generate some interest in a particular field is worth your time and worth your effort. So I figured anything that I can pass on that Iโve experienced, Iโm more than happy to share,โ Yeh said.
Tashima gave advice related to individuality involving film and TV students and their creative works in film.
โReally encouraging filmmakers to just be true to themselves and work their own individual stories, and not try to copycat this film or that filmโฆ itโs really originality that catches peopleโs eye and what the audience ends up wanting. Each student is completely unique,โ Tashima said.
Tashima surprised everybody and presented his Oscar Academy Award for the live-action short film โVisas and Virtueโ.
โI just want to make sure this is going to be the most memorable panel youโve ever had,โ Tashima said.
Other film and TV panels held this semester have been The Latinx Film and TV Panel, The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Film and TV Panel and The Middle Eastern Film and TV Panel.
Gallardo said students have made connections that could potentially lead to great opportunities by attending these panels.ย
