CONTRIBUTORS
Shareece Jackson
Authentic Talent & Literary Management
Journalist, Op-Ed Writer
"Tribeca in Review: Creativity, Relationships and Business Through the Lens of Diversity" - July 2024​
Shareece Jackson is an assistant at Authentic Talent & Literary Management with aspirations to become a talent manager. A career transplant with a degree in Psychology, she worked in education before making a transition to entertainment. Outside of work she serves on the JHRTS board since 2023 and is a loving mom of two beautiful girls. Her passion for storytelling and propelling others drives her professional career but her passion for providing representation and inspiration to underserved communities is what drives her personally.
Emily Reece
Paradigm Talent Agency
Interviewer
"Ask a Former Assistant" Interview with Lindsay Samakow - August 2024
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"Ask a Former Assistant" Interview with Todd Eisner - July 2024
Emily Reece is an aspiring agent and assistant in Talent-Speakers crossover at Paradigm. A Raleigh NC native and NC State sociology graduate, she split her time between scooping ice cream at Wanderlust Creamery and a working as Set PA before realizing her passion for the representation business. She is thrilled to optimize this pivotal moment in Hollywood history.
Don Rutledge
Universal Studios
Op-Ed Writer, Interviewer
"Where's Our Union?" Op-Ed - July 2023
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"Ask a Former Assistant" Interview with Diego Nájera - May 2023
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"Ask a Former Assistant" Interview with Christopher Callison - April 2023
Don Rutledge is a stand-up comedian and writer. He currently works as a Locations & Production Coordinator at Universal Studios Hollywood and was previously an Executive Assistant at Participant and Lionsgate.
Connor Seaman
Paramount
Op-Ed Writer
"A Homonormative Hollywood" - July 2024
Connor Seaman began his professional career in entertainment when a quarter-life crisis drove him away from the discomfort of Corporate America and into the loving arms of unpaid freelance work on Craigslist. From there, he built up his resume and connections in hopes that he can one day turn his original idea into an animated show. With a background assisting start-up CEOs and reality stars like Madina Milana, Connor now works at Paramount as an Executive Assistant. He handles Creative Operations for Consumer Products and Studio Franchise Strategy, but in his spare time he still likes to let his imagination run loose by writing comics and scripts.
Dani Coronado
Op-Ed Writer
"Navigating the International Career Journey in Hollywood" - June 2024
Danielle (Dani) Coronado is a Filipino-Canadian Emmy-award-watching emerging creative professional currently working as a Development Coordinator. She is extremely passionate about Family and YA content, especially musicals. Dani has previously worked at Hello Sunshine, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and served as the assistant to director Anya Adams. Her diverse background as an internationally traveling dancer, aspiring nun in a convent, and student at NYU Tisch fuels her fascination with the "what ifs" of life and coming-of-age themes. These experiences inspire her to connect with others, listen to their stories, and help them be heard.
Natia Compton
Film Office Nonprofit
Interviewer
"Ask an Assistant" Interview with Grace King - August 2024
Natia Compton is screenwriter of science fiction, situational comedy, and satire based in Missouri. She currently works as a script reader for a film office nonprofit in Washington and after graduating with her MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College has worked for companies including Key Talent Management, Katch, and Alta Global Media. Her TV pilot Timeax was a semifinalist winner in the Spring 2024 ScreenCraft Virtual Pitch Competition. While she aspires to become a comedy writers assistant she is currently developing one of the first ever TV, film, and entertainment media literary magazines called Screenwright Magazine.
Lavanya Aggarwal
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Journalist, Op-Ed Writer
"Tribeca in Review: Creativity, Relationships and Business Through the Lens of Diversity" - July 2024​
Lavanya is an actor, producer, and musician, primarily in film and TV. She has worked across many different facets of the business, including development, distribution and in representation at WME. Currently working towards launching her own company, she also serves on the board of JHRTS, and is represented by DDO and Metropolis Artists Agency. In her free time, Lavanya can be found scouting great books, writing music, or traveling!
Nicholas Viscounty
Walt Disney Pictures
Op-Ed Writer, Podcast Guest
Podcast Guest - March 2024
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"An Alternative Approach to the 'Black Hole' Hiring Portal" Op-Ed - January 2024
Nicholas Viscounty has worked for an array of entertainment companies such as New Line Cinema, Warner Bros., HBO and currently works for Walt Disney Pictures in Legal Production. His writing debut, Starting In Showbiz, aims to help every wide-eyed dreamer get their first job in Hollywood.
Matt Guernier
Stage Door Network
Interviewer
"Ask A Former Assistant" Interview with
Ian Joselow - June 2024
Straddling the performance and administrative realms of “the biz,” Matt Guernier is a performer and connector based out of New York City. In addition to serving on the board of JHRTS, he’s currently connecting artists to opportunities through his work with Stage Door Network, a theatrical search engine and database service for the professional theatre community. Previously, he’s served organizations such as A3 Artists Agency, Broadway Across America, Broadway World, and TEDxUF. BFA & Master’s in Business Management | University of Florida.
Rachel Keller
How to Write Funny
Op-Ed Writer
"The Disabled Assistant" Op-Ed - May 2024
Rachel Rose Keller is a screenwriter specializing in dark comedy. She currently works for Scott Dikkers, founder of The Onion and creator of the How to Write Funny program, as his executive assistant. Rachel is a graduate of NYU's program for Dramatic Writing, where she received the Chair's Award for excellence in craft. Her satire and humor writing has been featured in McSweeney's Internet Tendency and Reductress, among other publications. She is a member of the GOLD Comedy team Sketch Therapy and BoogieManja sketch collective team EZ Pass, and has had her videos featured in festivals such as NYC SketchFest. She was a 2022 recipient of a St. Nell's Comedy Residency for women and nonbinary writers, a finalist for the Respectability Entertainment Lab, and an alum of the DAF/The Onion Satire Workshop. Rachel currently has several scripted and unscripted projects in development.
Caleb Ewing
Framework Studio
Interviewer
"Ask A Former Assistant" Interview with
Mara Huberman - May 2024
Caleb works as the Post Production/Finishing Coordinator at Framework Studio, where he oversees the finishing pipeline for TV show and movies Ads and Featurettes for WB, Disney, Focus Features, and Amazon, among others. Caleb previously worked as a freelance Production Coordinator on projects across the Midwest with ESPN College Gameday, Snap, and Fueled by Ramen. In his free time, Caleb enjoys working on his own writing—in script, tweet, or article form—and finding new, good books at the library, just to turn around and listen to the audiobook version instead.
Michelle Greene
THE MRKT
Interviewer
"Ask an Assistant" Interview with Gabrielle Estey - September 2023
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"Ask a Former Assistant" Interview with Chanel Watson - August 2023
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"Ask a Former Assistant" Interview with Allison Leffingwell - June 2023
Michelle Greene is a PR & marketing professional with a deep-rooted passion for the entertainment industry. After graduating with her Master's from Azusa Pacific University, she worked as a Page at NBCUniversal where she learned the important in's and out's of the industry. Since then, Michelle has had the opportunity to work as a publicist on projects like The Marvels, Genius:MLK/X, Marvel Studios’ Echo and more.
Gabriela Rosati
ACE Content
Interviewer
"Ask a Former Assistant" Interview with Gabriel Strick - January 2024
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"Ask a Former Assistant" Interview with Kayla Greenberg - October 2023
Born in New York City and raised in Bermuda, Gabriela Rosati began her entertainment career as a Creative Development intern in Los Angeles. She’s worked at companies such as Perfect Storm Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, and most recently, she completed a year and a half as a Motion Picture Talent assistant at CAA. Gabriela is now an Executive Assistant at ACE Content. Outside of Hollywood, Gabriela loves to fill her time by traveling, crafting, and flamenco dancing.
Kiara Prager
Alcon Entertainment
Op-Ed Writer
"Pivoting to Find My Path" - March 2024
Kiara (Kiki) Prager is an experienced entertainment professional and C-Suite Executive Assistant working at Alcon Entertainment, an independent production company, where she reports to the COO, manages social media marketing, and is currently building the company’s new website. After graduating with a dual degree in Psychology and Digital Media Production, Kiki has worked at Verve Talent and Literary Agency, A3 Artists Agency, Anonymous Content, and more. In her free time, she produces and markets a monthly comedy show event in LA, writes, acts, edits, works on short film sets, and develops and produces independent films and TV series.
Jose Cabrera
20th Century Fox
Op-Ed Writer
"Per My Last Email: Lessons Learned
Over Two Decades Working a Desk"
- August 2023
A native Angeleno, Jose Cabrera always loved movies and TV and willed his way into making it a career spanning 20 years. He loves to play beach volleyball and kickball. He lives in View Heights with his wife and their dog.
Alexandra Pica
Scout Productions
Interviewer
"Ask a Former Assistant" Interview with Vince Calvi - April 2024
Alexandra Pica works as Development Coordinator for Scout Productions in Los Angeles. She likes to stay busy and pursue her many avenues of passion as an actor, producer and writer. She is currently working on writing her first novel, among many other development projects.
Sean Robbins
The J-POP Exchange
Op-Ed Writer
"Soap Opera: The Little Known Answer to Hollywood's Prayers" Op-Ed - Nov 2023
Sean Robbins, creator and host of The J-Pop Exchange Radio Show, curates and showcases great music and has interviewed numerous anime composers and Japanese musical artists. Sean is also an experienced web developer and game developer.
Maxwell Barnes
Op-Ed Writer
"TV For the Next Generation: What Are Kids Watching?" Op-Ed - June 2023
Maxwell Barnes is an experienced entertainment assistant who most recently worked in the Talent division at A3 Artists Agency. He intends to pursue a career in Kids/Family television development. In his free time you can usually find him doing improv comedy, watching the New York Knicks, or eating fast food alone in his car.
Beatrice Lovett
MGMT Entertainment
Interviewee
"Ask an Assistant," Interviewed by
Cathy Campo - February 2024
Beatrice is currently an assistant to a Talent Manager and a Digital Talent Manager at MGMT Entertainment. Prior to that she graduated from Pepperdine University in 2016 with her BA in Theatre and Media Production, and later in 2020 with her MFA in Screenwriting.
Drew Cortopassi
Jason Bateman's Aggregate Entertainment
Interviewee
"Ask an Assistant," Interviewed by
Cathy Campo - March 2024
Drew Cortopassi is an executive assistant and coordinator at Jason Bateman's Aggregate Films, where he contributes to all stages of the development pipeline, seeking out material, building pitch decks, sizzles, and other creative materials, connecting with filmmakers and producers, and pitching to studios.
Luke Canavan
Jax Media
Interviewee, Podcast Guest
Podcast Guest - February 2024
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"Ask an Assistant," Interviewed by
Cathy Campo - January 2024
Luke Canavan is currently an assistant at Jax Media & Imagine Entertainment. He has previous experience at The Tonight Show, Innovative Artists, and Comedy Central.
Lauryn McCollum
Bunim-Murray Productions
Interviewee, Podcast Guest
Podcast Guest - January 2024
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"Ask an Assistant," Interviewed by
Cathy Campo - December 2023
Lauryn McCollum is a TV/Film Producer, Actress and Host currently working at Emmy Award Winning Bunim/Murray Productions. Along with helping curate some of the world’s favorite unscripted series, she also produces scripted short films/digital content with friends and peers under her prod co, LMC Media.
Ingrid Nin
3Arts Entertainment
Interviewee
"Ask an Assistant," Interviewed by
Laine Margulies - April 2024
Ingrid Nin is an assistant to a Literary Manager / Producer at 3 Arts, and an aspiring producer. A City College of New York (CUNY) alumni, she is the host of the Entertainx Podcast– focusing on Latinxs working in entertainment.
Alyssa Tumale
The Drew Barrymore Show
Interviewee
"Ask an Assistant," Interviewed by
Cathy Campo - May 2023
Alyssa Tumale is the post-production assistant-turned-coordinator at The Drew Barrymore Show. She has previously worked for Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Al Roker Entertainment.
Elise Dadourian
Blueprint Pictures
Interviewee
"Ask an Assistant," Interviewed by
Cathy Campo - April 2023
Elise Dadourian is the assistant to Oscar-nomated producers Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin at Blueprint Pictures, a London-based production company. After graduating from Brown University with an Honors BA in Environmental Studies, she moved to the UK and earned a Masters with Distinction in Producing from the Metfilm School of London.
Chautauqua Ordway
The Walt Disney Company
Interviewee
"Ask an Assistant," Interviewed by
Cathy Campo - June 2023
Chautauqua Ordway is writer/performer in Los Angeles. He was a Showrunner’s Assistant on Everything’s Trash on Freeform and currently works as a development assistant at ABC Signature. He performed his solo show “Chautauqua Ordway’s Big Time Celebrity Slammajamma” and his variety show “Feelings Circle” at the Elysian Theater.
Alix Winschel
20th TV
Interviewee
"Ask an Assistant," Interviewed by Cathy Campo - February 2023
Alix is a writer & photographer from Los Angeles who specializes in 35mm film photography and comedy writing. She recently transitioned from her role as a TV Scripted assistant at CAA to become a showrunner's assistant for a Hulu show.