Los Angeles, California – March 8,2024 – ESSENCE Hollywood House returned to Los Angeles for its fifth annual event featuring some of the industry’s most notable names and executives from film and television. Hosted by Skye Townsend, the event focused on equipping the community with the tools and resources needed to tackle some of the industry’s biggest challenges.
The day provided attendees a range of ways to enter into the entertainment industry including a free mini-makeover and headshot session, a 30-second elevator pitch booth, a mock film set and much more. Panel discussions, fireside chats and speed mentoring sessions focused on key topics for film and television enthusiasts and professionals including:
Fireside Chat with Da’Vine Joy Randolph: A peek inside the highs and lows of the entertainment industry and how to stay authentically true to yourself with Oscar-nominee and Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA award winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) and former ESSENCE editor & author Mikki Taylor. Partner in Prime: A talk moderated by Nandi Howard (Vice President of Content & Senior Content Director, Essence Ventures) with Grace Africa (2022 TikTok Trailblazer) and Elsa Majimbo (Comedian) on how sisterhood plays an important role in their lives and success in the entertainment industry. Fashion x Film: Careers in Fashion Design: A look inside the creative process that drives the art of costume design with Dominique Dawson (Actressm Origin) and Tanja Caldwell (Usher’s 2024 Super Bowl halftime performance). Black on Screen: A Global Dialogue: A conversation about maintaining authenticity both in front of and behind the camera with 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). Slated to Shine: Fresh Faces of Black Hollywood: The truth about the life and times of being young, Black, and gifted in Hollywood Today with Co-Fonder of ESSENCE Girls United Rechelle Dennis, Da’Vinchi (STARZ BMF) and Layla DeLeon Hayes (The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster). Producers Lane: The Ins and Outs of Production at Every Level: A deep dive into the world of production and the work behind every title with Olivia Charmaine (Morris) Bernardez (Netflix animated feature films) and Korin D. Williams (Kronicle Media) . Cast Talkback Diarra From Detroit: Stephanie Dunivan (Vice President of Branded Content & Video, ESSENCE Ventures) leads a profound discussion with Diarra Kilpatrick (BET's Diarra From Detroit), DomiNque Perry (Actress, Insecure), and Claudia Logan (Actress, The Equalizer) offering a sneak peak of their upcoming BET+ series, Diarra From Detroit, debuting on March 21st.
Other notable celebrities, influencers and special guests in attendance included, but not limited to:
Marley Dias (Author, Marley Dias Gets it Done And So Can You) Official Minks (Influencer, Actor) Erika Bryant (Showrunner, Secrets & Sisterhood: The Sozahdahs) Courtney Burrell (Tyler Perry's A Madea Family Funeral) Zane Hubbard (Emmy-winning Producer, Director, and Writer)
To catch all of the exciting moments and highlights from this year’s event, please check out the video-on-demand of the 2024 ESSENCE Hollywood House on ESSENCE.com HERE.
Posted By: Tanisha Grant
Monday, March 11th 2024 at 7:10PM
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