Whether you’re a writer, director, cinematographer, editor, or another exciting piece of the creative puzzle, you can’t wait to make your mark on Hollywood! All you need is an agent or a manager, right? But what does that mean? How does one go about it? Geared towards seniors, but open to all, come learn about the world of labs and fellowships!

A panel of representatives will let you in on: 

• The exciting programs and opportunities that their organizations offer 
• The application process and how to make yourself stand out as a candidate 
• What labs and fellowships can do for you

Panelists:

JESS JU, Director of Programs and Operations (CAPE)

DEA VAZQUEZ, Project Involve Senior Manager (Film Independent)

LIZ KELLY, Senior Manager of Creative Talent Development & Inclusion (Disney General Entertainment Content)

EMERLYNN LAMPITOC, Vice President of Creative Talent & Content, Film (NBCUniversal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion)

RSVP ON LEO: https://leo.lmu.edu/event/7783315

Jess Ju is the Director of Programs and Operations at CAPE, a non-profit organization that champions diversity by connecting, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander artists and leaders in entertainment and media. At CAPE, she oversees pillar programs such as the CAPE New Writers Fellowship and the CAPE Leaders Fellowship and has helped build out the organization’d consulting and training programs. Raised in the San Gabriel Valley , Ju has worked with numerous non-profit organizations in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a double major in Theatre and Performance Studies and Media Studies. Prior to CAPE, Ju was the Assistant Company Manager at American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco’s largest non-profit theater, and spent several summers interning with East West Players. As the Director of Programs and Operations, she has overseen and expanded pillar programs such as the CAPE New Writers Fellowship and CAPE Leaders Fellowship. Ju is also a co-founder and producer of BAD Repertory Theater, an Asian American sketch comedy and improv group based in the Bay Area. In her spare time, she enjoys watching Shondaland shows with her mother, attempting and failing at propagating sourdough starter, and giving unsolicited podcast suggestions to her friends. 

Dea Vazquez joined Film Independent in 2014 and currently serves as Project Involve Senior Manager, overseeing Film Independent’s signature mentoring program that fosters the future generations of visual storytellers from underrepresented communities with the goal of a more inclusive industry. Prior to her role with Project Involve she was the Film Independent Artist Development Associate where she coordinated day-to-day operations for the Artist Development labs and programs. Dea has served on juries for various organizations including Women in Film and the Shift Film Fund. Before joining Film Independent, Dea was the Coordinator at The Murtha Skouras Agency, a top Below-the-Line talent agency, and prior to that, she was the in-house Production Coordinator at Colibri Films, a commercial production company for the Hispanic Market. She holds a BA in English Literature from Boston University.

Liz Kelly is Senior Manager of Creative Talent Development & Inclusion at Disney General Entertainment Content.  In this role, she works with Disney’s networks, studios, and streaming platforms to staff writers, directors, and BTL crew across ABC, ABC Signature, Freeform, Disney Channel, FX, 20th, Nat Geo, Disney+ and Hulu’s scripted television shows.  She manages the industry-leading Disney Writing Program, Disney Directing Program, and Disney PA Program.  She has staffed talent on THE GOOD DOCTOR, THE ROOKIE, STATION 19, A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, MOTHERLAND, THE GOLDBERGS, THE CONNERS, SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, HOW I MET YOUR FATHER, FOR LIFE, RAVEN’S HOME, and BLACK-ISH, among other scripted series.  Prior to Disney, Kelly worked for 6 years at Fox, most recently as Associate Director of Production and Development Labs – Film & TV, for 21CF Global Inclusion.  Kelly staffed writers and directors on FOX's scripted television shows, including THE GIFTED, THE COOL KIDS, LUCIFER, LAST MAN ON EARTH, THE EXORCIST, THE RESIDENT, and LETHAL WEAPON, among others.  She managed the Fox Writers Lab, Fox Directors Lab, Fox DP Lab, and Fox Filmmakers Lab, tracked and maintained network diversity statistics regarding on-air and behind-the-camera creative talent, and managed the department’s partnerships and sponsorships with non-profits and film and TV festivals. Kelly has been a judge, script reader, or panelist for numerous film and TV festivals across the country, including the Tribeca Film Festival, New York Television Festival, Austin Film Festival, ATX Television Festival, SeriesFest Denver, CAAMFest San Francisco, San Diego Latino Film Festival, NALIP Media Summit, LA Skins Fest, Outfest, BlackStar Philadelphia Film Festival, and Humanitas New Voices.  In 2017, she was invited to be part of Creative Artists Agency’s “Amplify: Next Gen” group of up-and-coming entertainment artists, agents, and executives. Kelly is a member of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society.  She has a BA from UCLA and is a graduate of UCLA School of Theater Film & Television’s graduate-level Professional Program in Screenwriting.

Emerlynn Lampitoc is Vice President of Creative Talent & Content, Film at NBCUniversal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion. Reporting directly to Janine Jones-Clark, Executive Vice President of Inclusion – Talent & Content, she works closely on the development and implementation of strategies to increase both creative and work culture inclusion within NBCUniversal’s film division, television divisions and entertainment and streaming businesses. Lampitoc joined Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s (UFEG) Global Talent Development & Inclusion department at its inception in 2017, overseeing the day-to-day execution of the department’s creative pipeline efforts, including the Universal Writers Program, Universal Animation Writers Program, Universal Directors Initiative and Universal Composers Initiative.  Prior to joining Universal, she was Manager of Creative Talent Development & Inclusion for Disney ABC Television where she was instrumental in staffing writers and securing episodic directing assignments for female and diverse talent on ABC, Freeform, and Disney Channel. Lampitoc’s varied background also includes unscripted television development and production; studio drama development positions at 20th Century Fox and Paramount; and publicity positions at NBC and ABC. Raised in Honolulu, HI, Lampitoc received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and a minor in Creative Writing from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA.