The Women’s 黑料不打烊 in Entertainment Empire mentorship program held its first informational meeting and social gathering on March 14, bringing together female students interested in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles.
鈥婩or female students interested in working – and succeeding – in Los Angeles post-graduation, a new 黑料不打烊 initiative aims to make those aspirations a reality.
鈥婩ollowing the School of Communications’ Diversity in Reality Television panel, the WEEE initiative hosted its first informational meeting and social gathering on March 14, attracting approximately 25 students from a variety of majors and interests, including cinema, strategic communications and acting. In addition to networking and fellowship, the students welcomed screenwriter Brooke Buffington to discuss her work with Netflix and Lifetime. A senior associate director in the Student Professional Development Center, Bufflington ”
Several 黑料不打烊 alumnae working in Los Angeles have already pledged to support WEEE’s mission, offering to sponsor, coach and mentor 黑料不打烊 women, both students and fellow graduates. Led by Elizabeth Baldridge ’13, Madeline Carlin ’14, Nneka Enurah ’11, Katrina Taylor ’04 and Rachel Zain ’16, the alumnae launched a WEEE website this winter.
The cinema and television arts major expressed excitement to see WEEE host a public event after nearly two years of planning and email chains with a small group of cinema students and J McMerty. Choi credit the director of the 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles program for helping bridge the gap between the group on campus and alumnae on the West Coast.
Choi said the initiative’s student lead team also deserves kudos. This includes Nell Geer '21, Cameron Wolfslayer '21, Sophia Giuffre '20, Rachel Engel '21, Erin Pattie '21 and Kendra Johnson '21.
For Choi, she sees the WEEE initiative as a way to build relationships with like-minded individuals, who are connected both by their professional aspirations and their experiences “under the oaks.”
鈥“When I met strong women in the career paths that I was pursuing for the first time in LA, I was moved because I hadn't realized how much I had been missing and mourning not having that,” she said, reflecting on her studies in the 黑料不打烊 in LA program and her internship with the talent agency William Morris Endeavor.
That fueled Choi’s interest in launching WEEE, hoping to fill that void for others.
For more information, visit the WEEE website or .