(from left) Gil L. Robertson, Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, T.J. Holmes, Lolis Eric Elie, Tim McNeal, Cheryl Pearson-McNeil took part in the “Putting Your Journalism Skills to Work in Hollywood ” panel at NABJ 2012.
Presenters:
- T.J. Holmes, Host, Don’t Sleep, BET
- Lolis Eric Elie, Writer, Treme, HBO
- Tim McNeal, Vice President, Talent Development & Diversity, ABC Television Group & Disney
- Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, Vice President, Diversity & Communications, CBS
- Gil L. Robertson, Co-Founder & President, African American Film Critics Association
- Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Government Relations, The Nielsen Company
Highlights/quotes
According to Elie, since there are more channels, successful shows can be targeted to smaller groups. Also there are more opportunities for African-Americans in the industry but there’s not the explosion of jobs that people think.
There are few black men in the industry on the corporate side.
When about about transitioning from journalism Elie said that it is a different skill set and there are people with more experience ahead of you. He also mentioned that his case was not a typical one and his experience working in New Orleans helped.
Elie also mentioned that it’s not an easy transition because it’s a “different skill set and there are people with more experience ahead of you.” Despite this, journalists who want to change shouldn’t be discouraged because they are “storytellers.”
If you want to get a job in entertainment, Tim Mcneal recommends that you are were the entertainment jobs are (Los Angeles, etc.)
According to Neilsen company, the top five African-American themed movies to date (with a predominantly African-American casts)
- Pursuit of Happiness
- Bad Boys II
- The Nutty Professor
- Coming to America
- Nutty Professor II