Hollywood Redefined: Winning The Streaming Era Of Entertainment

Key Concepts:

• Hollywood career journeys
• Early career starts vs. later breakthroughs
• Impact of COVID-19 on auditions (self-tapes)
• Social media's role in an actor's career (authenticity, pressure, branding)
• Streaming services' influence on the entertainment industry (opportunities, content diversity)
• AI in Hollywood (concerns about job displacement, potential benefits)
• Importance of openness, observation, and authenticity in acting
• Diversity and representation in Hollywood

1. Introduction and Background

• Alex, an editor of the Under 30 List, introduces Marissa, Kayla, and Anna, highlighting their successful years in Hollywood.
• Marissa starred in "Wicked," the highest-grossing musical adaptation.
• Kayla's show, "The Studio," won multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series.
• Anna stars in "ExoKitty," which was number one on Netflix.
• The discussion starts by asking where each panelist was 12 months prior to their recent successes.

2. Where They Were a Year Ago

• Anna: Was attending UBC in Vancouver, anticipating the release of "ExoKitty" Season 2, and stressing about midterms.
• Kayla: Was in Mexico shooting for the first time in a different country.
• Marissa: Was "chilling" and doing artwork to stay busy before the release of "Wicked."

3. Entry into Hollywood

• Anna:
  • Started acting at 12 in a PBS kids show called "Odd Squad" after a whirlwind audition process.
  • Her family's support was crucial, especially her mother taking a leave from work to accompany her to Toronto for filming.
  • Highlights the importance of learning on set and the privilege of being able to make mistakes as a child actor.
  • "Acting is such a weird like weird weird job in so many ways. And you can't really like learn all of the steps that you need necessarily until you're on set."
• Kayla:
  • Didn't find success until later in her career, around age 24.
  • Worked as a barber in her family's business while pursuing acting.
  • The pandemic and the shift to self-tapes provided her with more audition opportunities.
  • Her big break was on "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
• Marissa:
  • Started in local community theater in Wisconsin for fun.
  • Became serious about acting in high school and attended performing arts college.
  • Auditioned for "Wicked" after graduating, with callbacks being virtual.

4. Lessons Learned from Industry Professionals

• Marissa (from "Wicked"):
  • Found it intimidating working with talented co-stars like Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
  • Cynthia Erivo advised her to "just be" and take deep breaths to manage her anxiety.
• Kayla (from comedy sets):
  • Learned through observation rather than direct advice.
  • Noticed the importance of openness and allowing the scene to take shape, especially in improv comedy.
  • "Especially in comedy, I think when you're doing improv and all of these things, there has to be a level of openness truly to be able to allow the scene to go anywhere."
• Anna (from Jenny Han and "To All the Boys" franchise):
  • Felt grateful to still be in the same universe.
  • Revisiting the character of Kitty was like meeting an old friend and rediscovering who she is now.
  • The original cast of "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" provided a comfortable and supportive environment during a pivotal time in her life.

5. Impact of Streaming, Social Media, and AI

• Social Media:
  • Marissa: Uses Instagram for sharing resources and mutual aid, and TikTok for connecting with fans in a "silly goofy" way.
  • Kayla: Initially faced bullying online and was hesitant to use social media. Now sees it as a privilege to have things to post about and is trying to find a way to be authentic.
  • Anna: Feels pressure to be active on social media and sees it as a way to control her personal brand and show who she is.
  • Anna: "I'm like putting up a billboard. Like I'm I'm a company. I'm a business and I'm I'm putting up a billboard and that would normally take like many days I assume and like meetings and drafts and people you would talk to versus like I'm alone in my room being like does this photo represent everything I want in my career which is a lot"
• Streaming:
  • Anna: Believes streaming has changed the landscape by reaching more people and allowing for more diverse content. It has also blurred the lines of how something can become popular.
  • Kayla: Was not working before streaming became prominent and is grateful for the increased opportunities it provides.
  • Anna: "I also think it's like changing the rules like there's kind of no rule book anymore. like there's so many different ways you can enter our industry and like how something can go viral or get big is like it's not just you have to be a blockbuster for it to be seen by a lot of people and that's like really cool and really exciting but I also think we are losing some some of the magic of like going to a theater all the time"
• AI:
  • Marissa: Expresses concerns about AI taking away jobs from real actors and the use of AI actresses.

6. Excitement for the Future

• Anna: Is intrigued and excited to see what the future holds, as she believes it's impossible to predict what will happen in the next five years.
• Kayla: Hopes to still be working and finding out what the future holds, acknowledging the constant shifts in the industry.
• Marissa: Is hopeful for more diversity within the industry, particularly seeing more disabled actors on screen, and for more stories that challenge viewpoints and promote challenging conversations.

7. Conclusion

• The panelists share their experiences and perspectives on navigating the entertainment industry, highlighting the importance of adaptability, authenticity, and embracing change. They express both excitement and concerns about the future of Hollywood, particularly regarding the impact of streaming, social media, and AI. The conversation emphasizes the value of diverse representation and thought-provoking storytelling.