[Watch the video interview on Youtube here]
Film Courage: Kaia, if someone has been on one career path or has had one life calling and they decide they want to change course, what’s your advice to them?
Kaia Alexander, CEO/founder of the Entertainment Business School/Podcast Host/ Author: We saw so many people in the pandemic realize life is short and you’ve got to follow your passion, you’ve got to do what you love, you’ve got to do what lights you up. A lot of folks have circled back to What is my calling? What was in my heart when I was a teenager and in my 20s, maybe I gave up that path? Then certainly the young people who maybe feel even more ambitious than ever about I don’t want to compromise. I want to go after what really is important to me. My best advice is to take every advantage that you can give yourself going into the entertainment business, going into Hollywood.
My own personal regret being Oh, I wish I went to law school. I was a development exec, but oh my gosh, had I gone to law school and had some comprehension of contracts going in, I would have been so much better positioned. Those types of decisions Okay, this is my calling. I really want to work above the line writer, director, showrunner, producer. How could you arm yourself? What advantages could you give yourself?
Living in Los Angeles is an advantage. Living in New York is an advantage. Making sure you have a great Wi-Fi connection in your house so that your Zoom calls don’t drop off if you’re taking meetings outside the business because we have opened up virtually now to folks who are not living in the major epicenters of the industry. Looking at your life that way. How could I give myself more advantages?
One of the biggest advantages you can think about giving yourself is what I call finding your WolfPack. Who are the others who could partner with you who you love to breathe their air, they excite you creatively? Maybe you admire their writing or you admire they’re filmmaking or just somebody that makes you laugh and you get along with them and…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).
About:
Kaia Alexander is the CEO/founder of the Entertainment Business School, and host of the Hollywood Wolfpack podcast. She was a development executive on many feature films including JUST FRIENDS (with Ryan Reynolds), PEACEFUL WARRIOR (with Nick Nolte), THE GOOD NIGHT (Gwyneth Paltrow & Penelope Cruz), and HACHI: A DOG’S TALE (with Richard Gere). She was mentored by comedian Garry Shandling. A lifelong history nerd, she’s an award-winning novelist for her book about the burning of the Great Library of Alexandria, Written in the Ashes (Harper Collins). As a writer/producer brand is badass, adventurous women. She’s a passionate advocate for New Hollywood diversity, parity and inclusion. If you ever corner her at a party, be sure to ask her about her passion for surfing. She’s proud to be the BQ in LGBTQ.
MORE VIDEOS WITH KAIA ALEXANDER
ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS SCHOOL
Entertainmentbusinessleague.com
CONNECT WITH KAIA ALEXANDER
Entertainmentbusinessleague.com
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