Essence Returns To LA For The Fifth Annual Hollywood House
Photo Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE
Los Angeles, California, March 8, 2024 - ESSENCE Hollywood House returned to Los Angeles for its fifth annual event, which featured some of the industry's most well-known names and executives in film and television. Skye Townsend hosted the event, which aimed to provide the community with the tools and resources needed to address some of the industry's most pressing challenges.
The day offered attendees a variety of opportunities to break into the entertainment industry, including a free mini-makeover and headshot session, a 30-second elevator pitch booth, a mock film set, and more. Panel discussions, fireside chats, and speed mentoring sessions focused on key issues for film and television enthusiasts and professionals. Let’s get into the tea that got spilled all day!
Photo Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE
During the Fireside chat with Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) and Mikki Taylor, former ESSENCE editor and author, discussed the highs and lows of the entertainment industry and how to stay authentically true to yourself.
Nandi Howard (Vice President of Content & Senior Content Director, Essence Ventures) moderated the Partner in Prime discussion with Grace Africa (2022 TikTok Trailblazer) and Elsa Majimbo (Comedian) regarding the way sisterhood impacts their lives and success in the entertainment industry.
For an exciting dose of tea on Fashion x Film: Careers in Fashion Design: Dominique Dawson (Actress Origin) and Tanja Caldwell (Usher's 2024 Super Bowl halftime performance) share insights into the creative process that drives the art of costume design.
Black on Screen: A Global Dialogue: Barkue Tubman-Zawolo (Chief of Staff, Diasporic & Talent Engagement, ESSENCE Ventures), Phylicia Pearl Mpasi (Actress, The Color Purple), Osas Ighodaro (Actress, Man of God), and Ozi Menakaya (Film & TV Agent at Creative Artists Agency) discuss maintaining authenticity in front and behind the camera during the Black on Screen: A Global Dialogue panel.
Hosted by Rechelle Dennis, Da'Vinchi (STARZ BMF), and Layla DeLeon Hayes (The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster), we gained insight into what it is like to be a Fresh Face of Black Hollywood today.
Olivia Charmaine (Morris) Bernardez (Netflix animated feature films) and Korin D. Williams (Kronicle Media) led the Producers Lane: The Ins and Outs of Production at Every Level panel, which dug deeply into the world of production and the work that goes into each title.
In Cast Talkback with Diarra From Detroit Stephanie Dunivan (Vice President of Branded Content & Video, ESSENCE Ventures) led a profound discussion with Diarra Kilpatrick (BET's Diarra From Detroit), DomiNque Perry (Actress, Insecure), and Claudia Logan (Actress, The Equalizer), offering a sneak peek of their upcoming BET+ series, Diarra From Detroit, which premieres on March 21st.
You can always count on essence to capture the essence that it is to be black and Hollywood.
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