FUTURE NOW kicked off 2023 with a Leadership Talk with Melanie Washington, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Contract Advisory at MediaLink. Nicknamed the “contract whisperer," she leads the company’s Contract Optimization and Risk Evaluation (CORE) advisory practice and counsels global chief legal officers at brands and agencies through legal challenges around data compliance, risk mitigation, and quality assurance. In 2020, she negotiated a whopping $8 billion in contracts for clients such as Nissan, Disney, and Mattel. Washington graduated with a degree in communications and media studies from Northwestern University. After spending a decade in the marketing industry post-graduation, she enrolled in law school with the hopes of better understanding the legal complexities of the advertising industry. “Contracts are the most important part of the entertainment industry…. We’re no longer in the age of handshake deals or verbal agreements,” Washington explained. With hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, she believes it is crucial that marketing leads and Chief Marketing Officers understand the ins and outs of contracts and that fostering a culture of collaboration across different departments can ensure a company’s overall efficiency and performance. “Restructuring business goals and integrating them into global contracts is a lucrative practice for driving growth and incentivizing agency partners while holding them accountable.” This conviction is how Washington came to develop her current role at MediaLink. “I now work on both sides of the business: on the brand side, advising media businesses on how they’re structured, as well as on the legal affairs side, providing counsel on how new agreements are drafted through the lens of operational efficiency.” According to Washington, creating this new business at her firm is her greatest career achievement thus far. She had only been with the company a few months when she pitched the idea to the executive team, articulating the concrete ways in which this new venture would help optimize operations and drive company growth. To convince people to take a chance on her, Washington was relentless yet humble, admitting that she didn’t have all the answers but was willing to learn, and she demonstrated the value she could bring to the company. MediaLink under the leadership of its Founder and CEO, Michael Kassan, has always encouraged an entrepreneurial mindset, creative thinking, and a culture of innovation. For Washington, it has been a place where she has thrived, surrounded by some of the smartest people in the business. Washington shared with listeners that being an entrepreneur isn’t just about starting your own business; you can be an intrapreneur, an employee who channels that same creativity and innovation to find new revenue streams and identify ways to expand the business for an employer. The entrepreneurial mindset is having the courage to put yourself out there even if there is no blueprint to follow. The leadership talk came to a close with a question from the audience: “What is the best thing we can do as students or alumni given everything that’s going on in the economy, entertainment industry, and the world?” Washington gave three responses. The first was to “find a way to differentiate yourself.” With an overwhelming number of candidates competing for the same jobs, she encouraged the audience to consider what they bring to the table and how they will contribute to the companies. Washington’s second tip was to “just ask; the worst answer that you can get is a no.” People are often so afraid of asking questions that they miss out on opportunities. Whether it be going back to past employers for job inquiries or asking your mentor to reach out to someone on your behalf, remember that people will try to help if you ask. You have to take a chance on yourself in order for them to take a chance on you. Lastly, Washington suggested “speaking dreams into existence.” Presenting your goals with the spirit of success can help turn your aspirations into reality. You also don’t have to keep your dreams a secret. In fact, the more you talk about it, the more you will be held accountable for it. So, say it out loud. Be intentional about how you talk about your goals and get excited about the future. She attributes much of her success to her mentors and colleagues. Though she didn't know exactly what she wanted to do post-graduation, she was very intentional about the people she surrounded herself with. Being in the presence of ambitious, proactive, and talented minds opened up networks, fueled new ideas, and led her in the right direction. But, the greatest influence on her life? “I’ve engaged with many inspiring people throughout my career, but I have to say it all started with my mom.” Raised by a single parent, Washington says she saw her mother work tirelessly to give her and her sister the best education. “Although my time with her was cut short, I learned so much by watching her. She taught me to always champion and uplift others.” And, Washington does that in a myriad of ways, not the least of which is through her service as a board member of the FUTURE NOW Media Foundation and as a mentor to future leaders.

Streaming has revolutionized how viewers consume media and how advertisers promote their products, and Allison Levin, VP of Ad Sales & Strategy at Roku, has been one of the leaders in the forefront of this transformation. She sat with FUTURE NOW’s Founder & CEO, Peggy Kim, for a recent Leadership Talk. Levin was the first ever ad sales hire at Roku eight years ago, and she has gone from leading a team of 1 to a team of over 500. Today, Roku is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico based on hours streamed, and closed out 2022 with over 70 million active accounts globally. She has pioneered upfront deals with some of the largest ad agencies and holding groups and has been instrumental in growing Roku’s portfolio of clients. She and her team are responsible for driving new products and go-to-market strategy for the overall advertising business. Levin explains that since Roku is an engineering and product-first company, it requires a lot of translation. She has three main areas of focus: working internally to prioritize and determine what products are going to be the most interesting for advertisers; how they can best serve their consumers; and what partnerships will be the most strategic for the future. When it comes to partnerships, data and metrics are key. Levin says, “When an advertiser can measure the success of their campaigns can actually see the data and the insights, they're much more likely to come back to continue to spend to grow with us in the platform.” “What I love the most is helping to solve challenges for marketers with building new stuff. And you know, this, we’re still in the early innings of streaming TV. And so, there's still just so much we're building that's happening. And that's very, very exciting.” The clarity of Levin’s interests and passion for sales strategy and marketing has come with time, experience, and the guidance of mentors. A skilled debater in high school, Levin initially thought she would become a lawyer. But she changed her mind when she got into Boston University, where she majored in communications with a focus on public relations and then marketing. “I think, for me, the passion was always selling, telling stories, and helping to tell a story to a market that's backed by data and insights. And over time, you know, I had a boss who helped me to understand to see really, that my power was standing in front of those marketing programs and in front of those stories. And that sales is probably a good place for me to start.” During her conversation with Kim, Levin stressed the importance of curiosity and how it fosters innovation and growth. “My dad runs his own business, and he told me from an early age, ‘If you are going to be the chef, you better pick your own ingredients.’ For me, anything I do, I want to understand the components of it, I want to fully know the details. I do not necessarily need to be a part of all the details, but I at least need to understand it to be successful at it….You need to understand the ‘why and what’ behind it.” In an industry that is constantly changing and as Levin and her team continue to build and innovate, she points to the value of fearlessness. “Every day we wake up and think about how we can make the best TV streaming ad platforms for marketers and consumers. We reimagine what TV could be. All because TV was this way for 50-60 years on the linear side does not mean that experience has to be recreated for streaming.” Levin and her team continue to push the boundaries when it comes to the future of streaming. Innovation only moves forward when people are brave enough to think outside the box and dare to fail. Levin posits, “What’s the worst that can happen?”

Syler Hand, Cross Platform Optimization Coordinator at Nickelodeon Oh, what a year-and-a-half it has been! From graduating from Pace University to starting my first full-time job at Nickelodeon in New York City as a Cross Platform Optimization Coordinator, life has felt surreal. I always knew I wanted to work in the media and entertainment industry, especially after interning on the Social Media and Digital teams at Food Network and TLC in college. But landing a full-time job? On the coattails of a pandemic? That’s where things can get tricky. But thanks to a plethora of connections that I made through FUTURE NOW, that process was a lot less challenging (and scary). If you have told me I would be working on slime-filled, kid-tacular Digital projects three years ago, I would have been highly doubtful. Pandemic-related hiring freezes and general uncertainty shook the industry. So, I knew getting a job was going to be even more difficult. When I heard about the FUTURE NOW conference in March 2020, I knew I had to apply. This seemed like a great way to put myself out there (virtually, mind you) to expand my network and knowledge. Throughout the conference, I had the opportunity to speak with so many talented industry experts from countless companies and organizations. I made wonderful connections with attendees and speakers alike. I left the conference feeling so hopeful and inspired that I decided to apply to the Mentoring Program. After receiving my acceptance letter (another pinch me moment), I spent 9 months building a genuine personal and professional relationship with a highly skilled industry expert. I learned and grew so much during my time with her, and she even played an instrumental role in helping me during my job search at the end of my senior year of college (thank you, Lisa!). A year later, I got to interview her on ‘stage’ eat the Conference about our time together. The main takeaway from these experiences? Network, network, network. People want to see you succeed, even in times that may seem hopeless. Thanks to FUTURE NOW and all of its incredible opportunities, I not only ended up in my favorite industry, but I work at a company that was a major part of my childhood.

Brendan Dewley, Production Assistant at Late Night with Seth Meyers My name is Brendan Dewley, and I’m a recent alum of the University of Michigan. I’ve been a Production Intern and Production Assistant at Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBCUniversal) since August 2022, where I will be through the end of January! I moved out to NYC to write and perform comedy last fall so working at Late Night has been a dream come true for me and I love working at 30 Rock. I applied to the late-night comedy internships every year at school, but this past year I connected with alumni at NBCU and asked for advice. I worked a remote internship early 2022, applied the night applications went live for the internship, and went through two rounds of interviews before I got the call from my recruiter telling me that I had gotten the gig! FUTURE NOW helped me learn how to take the initiative and follow up with people on LinkedIn and via email even after brief interactions like at the FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference. I still keep in touch with a few of the mentors I met through the program.

Claretta Bellamy, Digital Reporter at NBCBLK I currently work as a digital reporter under NBCBLK through the NBCU Academy Embed Program. While working under this two-year fellowship program, I’ve written stories about Black history, culture, entertainment, and health. I've also had the opportunity to travel to Selma, Alabama, and Buffalo, New York to report on-camera for NBC’s series about racial healing. I really enjoy working here because I’ve interviewed so many fascinating people making positive changes in their communities and have learned so much while speaking with experts about topics I care about. Applying to this program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my early career. FUTURE NOW was a critical component to my success. Through the program, I really understood the importance of networking and had many opportunities to engage with others. FUTURE NOW also provided me with a valuable mentor, Raquelle Zuzarte, who really guided me when I was applying for jobs and keeping track of positions. FUTURE NOW was an important stepping stone that helped form me into the individual that I am now, and I am so thankful that the program exists.

For most people, being in the room with their favorite artist only happens at a concert. But, for Parul Chokshi, it’s something that happens almost every day. She’s worked with some of the biggest names in music and most recently with rapper, Glorilla, whose song became viral on TikTok and earned her a record deal. FUTURE NOW Founder and CEO, Peggy Kim, spoke with Chokshi in a recent Leadership Talk about how she got her break in the music industry to eventually become the Senior Director of Talent Booking at Vevo. Chokshi’s passion for music started at a very young age, but she never dreamed that she could have a career in the music industry. Instead, she pursued another more viable dream of becoming a lawyer. “I really liked the idea of being able to argue something and being able to have something to back it up,” she said. She went to law school and eventually got a job at a law firm. But she discovered that “[It] wasn’t fulfilling me 100%.” While working at the law firm, Chokshi continued going to concerts and started networking with artist’s managers to see how she could get into the industry. She was strategic in her approach and discovered that the managers were often standing alone and willing to talk to her. “Usually, the artists that I would go to were at smaller shows, smaller venues. And they’re usually trying to do a meet-and-greet afterwards.” Chokshi's background in law helped her when networking with the artist’s managers. They took her more seriously. However, her legal experience didn’t exactly open the floodgates of opportunity. She knew she had to prove herself. “I was willing to start over,” she says “Unless I wanted to come in as an entertainment lawyer, I needed to learn a new industry. I can’t just assume that I can jump into being a manager somewhere.” Chokshi had a detailed approach and strategy to land a job in the industry. “What I did was made a list of all the music labels, all of the music companies, publicity companies, agencies—I made a list of all of them… I had over 100 contacts, and I would constantly call them,” she said. Her big break came from a person from Sony Music who remembered her and contacted her about an opportunity in music licensing for commercials and television shows. She jumped at the chance and as the saying goes—the rest is history. Chokshi’s story reflects that there’s no one way to break into the music or entertainment industry, but persistence and preparation are critical to success. She encourages emerging leaders to be active in the music scene by liking and following up-and-coming artists on social media. On the soft skills side, “I think… that interpersonal vibe and personality, and the fact that you connect and can click is really key.” A résumé reflects what someone can do but being conversational is a skill crucial in an industry where people are constantly connecting. For introverts, this might sound daunting. Chokshi admits that she can be an introvert at times, but that it’s important to put yourself out there and talk to people. Chokshi is passionate about helping the next gen break into the music industry. She says the industry is more open to younger applicants. “I think that the people in power have learned that the future of music is the youth,” she said. She encourages future leaders to show how they're staying informed and active in the music community. How are you finding out about new artists? Where do you discover new music? How do you show your passion for music? On a final note of the talk, Chokshi reflected on leadership and shared, “Recognize that you may not know everything. As a leader, you’re there for the team…[and] don’t feel as if you look less than if you admit that you make a mistake. You will never know everything, and there is something to learned from everybody.”

After two years of limited in-person screenings, the Toronto International Film Festival returned in full force in September. With the mask mandate lifted, the theaters were near full capacity and the clamorous crowds were reminiscent of pre-pandemic times. While the Festival has historically featured smaller, independent films, this year’s comeback was led by Hollywood studios, red carpet fashion, after parties, and celebrity entourages. Headlining on the red carpet was Taylor Swift, who arrived in a gold sequin dress for the showcase of her 10-minute film, “All Too Well: The Short Film.” Harry Styles created quite the buzz going all green in Gucci for the premiere of his upcoming gay period romance, “My Policeman.” Though the film received mixed reviews, Styles managed to stay in the media spotlight with the recent release of his other acting turn in the film “Don’t Worry Darling” and the co-star drama that surrounded its production. Multiple sources alleged on-set conflict between director Olivia Wilde and lead actress Florence Pugh. Pugh was initially dissatisfied with Wilde’s controversial decision to cast Shia LeBeouf as the lead actor, despite multiple abuse allegations against him. Tensions between Wilde and Pugh reportedly escalated when Wilde started a romantic relationship with the pop star she cast to replace LeBeouf, Harry Styles. While the rumors are mostly speculation, the social media frenzy aided film promotion, making “Don’t Worry Darling” the third highest-grossing movie of the month. One of the more positive highlights of the Festival included Brendan Fraser’s speech accepting the TIFF Tribute Award for his outstanding performance in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale.” Fraser tearfully thanked his fans for continuing to support him after his disappearance from the public eye. Fraser described his new movie as a “redemption story” about Charlie, a 600 lb. man and social outcast who brings out the good in others who can’t see it in themselves. “I am a firm believer that we need a little bit more of that in this world,” Fraser said. This recognition comes on the heels of his receiving a six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. Fraser’s feel-good comeback with his strong performance in “The Whale” has made him a top candidate for an Oscar nomination.. Another film featured at TIFF that’s sure to command attention as the awards season ramps up is “The Fablemans,” which received the TIFF People’s Choice Award. Directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans” is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama told through the fictional character of Sammy Fabelman, a young aspiring filmmaker. Spielberg has called the film his most personal and emotional yet. (It is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on November 11.) The first runner-up prize for the TIFF People’s Choice Award was given to “Women Talking.” The all-star ensemble cast includes Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Wishaw, and Frances McDormand. Directed by Sarah Polley, the film is an adaptation of Miriam Toews’ novel about sexual abuse in a Mennonite society. Though media discussion around #MeToo has quieted, discussion of sexual assault in Hollywood and around the world has continued, and representation has become even more important. This year’s film lineup largely focused on films by women about women like “Emily,” directed by Frances O’Connor; “Saint Omer,” directed by Alice Diop; “The Eternal Daughter,” directed by Joanna Hogg; and others, reflecting increased representation of women in film, both on-screen and off. It will be interesting to see whether any of these films will breakthrough at the Academy Awards, which have historically been dominated by men. “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” directed by Rian Johnson, took home the second runner-up prize for the People’s Choice Award. This murder mystery film distributed by Netflix is a follow-up to “Knives Out,” released in 2019, and the sequel has proven to be just as juicy as the first, dazzling audiences and critics alike. The first “Knives Out” was a box office smash, and while “Glass Onion” has a limited theatrical release before it comes out on Netflix, it’s likely to hit in a way that a movie like “Women Talking” might not. Will “Glass Onion” follow its predecessor’s Oscar nominations? With the year winding to a close, the frontrunners for Oscar glory are beginning to materialize, and TIFF gives attendees a sneak peak. This year’s festival was memorable for its stars and films, and their performance here may indicate their awards trajectory. While things may be bleak for Harry Styles on that front, there are plenty of other things to keep us occupied in the meantime. The 15-film Oscar shortlist will be announced on December 21, with the five final nominees to be announced on January 24, 2023.

Despite being a competitive piano player growing up, Christine Yoo never imagined a career in the arts, especially with her parents encouraging her to be a doctor or lawyer. All that changed, however, when some college friends asked her to help out on a short film. She had no experience, but she agreed and it changed her life. Yoo discovered a love for storytelling, and decided to transfer to the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Upon graduation, Yoo did not find her initial success in Hollywood, but in Korea when her thesis film at USC got into the Busan Film Festival. Yoo stayed in Korea and started teaching editing at the Korean National Film Academy and also worked for a production company. When she returned to the U.S., she did everything from editing to writing for “KoreAm,” a print magazine aimed at Korean Americans. “As a freelancer, I’m not really in a position to turn work down,” Yoo laughed. “I like to work as much as possible.” Eventually, Yoo was able to make her first feature film, Wedding Palace, a Romcom with an all-Asian cast. And she did it without Hollywood. “Hollywood, as we know, is not necessarily set up for people who look like me in positions of leadership,” said Yoo. “I had to create those opportunities and ultimately learn how to become an entrepreneur.” With one feature under her belt, more opportunities began to come Yoo’s way. She even became a showrunner for “The Story of God With Morgan Freeman” under Freeman’s production company. What exactly does a showrunner do? “It’s kind of a writer-producer-director type of role. You are helping to shape the story [and] find [the] story,” Yoo explained. As a showrunner for a nonfiction series, Yoo had to learn how to operate differently than she did on narrative sets. According to Yoo, things aren’t as set in stone because the script is more fluid, and thus “a lot of discovery happens in the field,” something she enjoys. The titles mean different things in the nonfiction world than they do in narrative filmmaking; the roles and responsibilities are different. “Being a director [on a nonfiction project] is about being a storyteller, not necessarily being organized,” she said. The organizational and operational responsibilities belong to production managers. “There’s a lot more opportunities [in nonfiction] for people who are just starting out in the industry to get their foot in the door,” Yoo said. Still, personal tenacity is critical. Yoo admitted that “the situation for female directors is pretty bleak…no matter what, you kind of have to create your own opportunities.” And, Yoo has developed the muscle for it. She also has good storytelling instincts. A friend shared a GQ article, “Inside the San Quentin Marathon” about inmates finding hope and second chances by training for the prison marathon. Yoo was intrigued and emailed the coach and set up a time to talk. She quickly learned that she wasn’t the only one with the idea to make a film out of this story—Condé Nast was also interested. “It confirmed my belief that this was a great story I found,” Yoo joked. When pitching the coach, Yoo emphasized her more personal approach to the story. She posited that Condé Nast is a big company and wouldn’t give the level of attention to the story that she would. The subject was also personal to Yoo as she had a friend who was serving time. “I wanted to tell this story,” she said. The coach gave Yoo the story, and she was soon on her own journey to becoming a first-time documentary filmmaker. Initially, she planned to make a narrative film, but as she spent more and more time at the prison, she decided that “people really need to hear this story from the people who experienced it, not me.” Her film titled 26.2 to Life (trailer) focuses on three men convicted of murder and their quest to run this marathon. “I wanted to organically bring out other issues, like mandatory sentencing, what is it like to be a father or a husband from prison, what happens to a family when you are locked up for long periods of time,” Yoo explained. With a no cell phone rule in the prison, “you get into intimate discussions very quickly,” Yoo said. “The first contact showed me how much I had dehumanized people who are behind bars [due to] the usual media portrayals that we get.” Since filming, Yoo has become a regular volunteer at the media center in the prison, where inmates are able to access film equipment and make stories. In a very impressive feat, 26.2 to Life recently had its world premiere at the DOC NYC film festival. It is moments like this that inspire Yoo to keep pursuing film even during the tough times. “It’s about finding stories that you love… [with people who] will lift your soul up,” she said. “[This is] a story I’ve been carrying now for five years,” and soon the rest of the world will be able to experience it, too. “26.2 to Life” is available to screen virtually at this link until Sunday, November 27.

According to Sowon Sawyer, VP of Program Planning for Kids & Family Content at Warner Bros. Discovery, you never know what type of show is going to connect with younger audiences. It’s hard, she says, to predict “what [stories are] going to hit in two to three years,” the time it usually takes for an animated project to air after it’s been green-lit by a network and goes into production. Sawyer recently spoke at a FUTURE NOW Leadership Talk, and shared that facing uncertainty is something that she’s had to do throughout her career. She majored in German Language and Literature at Wellesley College and had no particular designs on pursuing a career in media. “I really didn’t know what the possibilities were, to be honest,” she confessed, explaining that as a first-generation Asian-American woman she had no obvious role models working in the industry. After a summer interning at a small animation studio, Sawyer decided to follow that path forward, working initially in sales at a production company before networking her way into a dual role at Nickelodeon in program strategy and acquisitions, which she found more interesting. Eventually, she transitioned over to the programming team, staying at Nickelodeon for eleven years before working at AMC Networks and her current position at Warner Bros. Discovery. Another key part of Sawyer’s career has been the work she’s done around diversity, equity, and inclusion. At AMC Networks, she was the Founding Chair of DEI. She started organizing efforts within the company after she noticed the lack of support for employees of color, saying that “they didn’t have a place to get together, to talk about common shared experiences, and I wanted to have that for myself.” Building nine Employee Resource Groups and a reverse executive mentorship program at AMC helped to change the internal conversations within the company, something Sawyer is particularly proud of. Now, as she looks ahead, Sawyer acknowledges the challenges of the unknown, in particular the recent merger of Warner Media and Discovery. “Things are happening very, very quickly, ” she noted, in particular highlighting the shifting priorities of the new company. Yet, Sawyer emphasized optimism and focus on the job at hand as key to moving through tough transitions such as this one. “Once all of this is done, and all the dust has settled, what people will remember about you is how you handled yourself in that crisis.” Such thinking has been helpful to her throughout her career. Speaking to the audience of students and recent graduates, Sawyer recalled advice that she once got from a mentor about uncertainty: “Whatever you do…keep your eyes open, keep learning, and aim for ultimately where you want to end up, and head in that direction.” Words to live by, especially in an ever-evolving industry….