Breaking Into New Hollywood: A Career Guide to a Changing Industry

ABOUT THE EVENT: 

Join Humanitas Industry 101 and PROOF Film Festival for a look inside Breaking Into New Hollywood: A Career Guide to a Changing Industry, the new book from The Los Angeles Times and journalists Ada Tseng and Jon Healey!

Co-authors Ada and Jon will be joined by working filmmakers to discuss various career paths within the entertainment industry across departments and how films actually get made. During the event, Ada and Jon will open the floor for questions from the audience and will stay to sign books and chat!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

For the millions seeking to pursue their Hollywood dreams, this is the definitive guide to breaking into the entertainment industry that explores and demystifies dozens of careers from acting to post-production, and also takes into account changes brought by the rise of streaming and AI.

Learn more about the book on the Simon & Schuster website.

ABOUT THE MODERATORS:

Ada Tseng

Author, Journalist, and Podcast Host

A former editor at the Los Angeles Times, Ada Tseng is the co-author of Breaking Into New Hollywood: A Career Guide to a Changing Industry, with Jon Healey. She co-hosts the Asian American pop culture history podcast, Saturday School, with Brian Hu, and she’s running the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon in November to raise money for the Asian American Journalism Association.

Jon Healey

Journalist and Author

Jon Healey worked as a journalist for four decades, retiring in December after a 24-year stint as a reporter and editor for the Los Angeles Times. He specialized in explanatory journalism, helping readers understand complex issues and tackle problems — including those faced by would-be Hollywood professionals. His side hustle is editing board game rulebooks, which is even more fun than you’d think it would be.

PANELISTS INCLUDE:

Kayla Robinson

Director and Filmmaker

Kayla Robinson is an accomplished director and storyteller from San Antonio, TX. Her work centers character-driven stories that explore marginalized perspectives across identity, grief and connection. Her short film “Ball is Ball” received high praise for its honest portrayal of the lasting effects of PTSD on trauma survivors, and was recently acquired by AspireTV. In documentary, she has screened at several Academy Award-qualifying festivals including Austin, New Orleans and Hot Springs International. “Quilted Education” was acquired by and made its national broadcast premiere on PBS’ award-winning series Reel South and was shortlisted at the 2024 Sony Future Filmmaker Awards. She expanded the project by developing programming at the Smithsonian-affiliated Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture and launching the eight-part miniseries “Quilted Stories with Ms. Karen” in partnership with PBS KLCS, bringing Black history to life through animation for the LA-Unified School District. In 2023, she was named a PBS Wyncote Fellow in recognition of her work. Previously a career ad-woman, Kayla brings a deep understanding of the commercial landscape and the delicate balance between creativity and marketing. She has lent her creative prowess to major brands like Apple, Google and P&G, racking up millions of views and earning industry recognition from Cannes Lions, Clio, D&AD and The One Show.

Sujata Day

Actor and Filmmaker

Pittsburgh native Sujata Day is an NAACP Image Award-nominated director for her debut feature film, DEFINITION PLEASE, which she also wrote, produced and starred in. Boasting a 95% fresh Rotten Tomatoes score and multiple film festival awards, Sujata’s heartwarming hometown dramedy was EP-ed by Mindy Kaling, then acquired by Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY and Netflix. Sujata is best known for her starring role as CeCe in Issa Rae’s THE MISADVENTURES OF AWKWARD BLACK GIRL. She’s recurred for four seasons on HBO’s Insecure. Sujata’s notable credits include I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE WITH TIM ROBINSON and BROOKLYN NINE-NINE. She honed her improv comedy skills at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and performs in UCB’s hit Asian AF show. On the unscripted side, Sujata hosts the Dungeons & Dragons culinary Amazon series HEROES’ FEAST. Sujata developed and wrote a new installment of Universal’s popular comedy film franchise, AMERICAN PIE, based on her original pitch. She has also created projects with WBD, 20th Television, UCP, Lionsgate, eOne, MACRO, Hoorae, Get Lifted and JuVee. She’s a Sundance Lab fellow, HBO Visionaries Ambassador and Ryan Murphy Half Initiative alum. Next up for Sujata is horror anthology feature film DEEPEST DARKEST, for which she’s writing and directing, in addition to starring alongside Rosario Dawson and Ernie Hudson.

Kevin Noel

SVP, Creative, Sony Pictures Animation

As senior vice president of creative for Sony Pictures Animation, Kevin Noel is responsible for helping shepherd both feature and series projects through the creative and production pipelines, from development, through pre-production, production and post. In addition to his executive duties, Noel also served as Executive Producer on Sony Pictures Animation’s first-ever adult animated series, AGENT ELVIS, which premiered on Netflix in March 2023. Noel was one of the first staff members at Sony Pictures Animation as the assistant to the producers of the studio’s first CG feature, OPEN SEASON. He followed that by working in various production roles on films for both Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Some of his credits include titles in the HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS and the SMURFS series. After a stint at Mattel where he produced original content for some of the toy giant’s most lucrative brands, Noel returned to Sony Pictures Animation in 2016 in a new role as a studio executive. Noel began his career as an executive assistant at the management and production company 3 Arts Entertainment. He is a graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in Cinema.