We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angela White a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Angela, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Embracing risks is a fundamental aspect of the filmmaking journey. Every day, we stand on the precipice of uncertainty, pitching our narratives and laying bare our creativity in hopes of securing investments, sales, or collaborations. It’s a daunting realm to navigate, yet an indispensable part of the entertainment industry. The path is often strewn with rejections, testing our resilience at every juncture. However, it’s a stark reality that without venturing into the abyss of risks, rewards remain elusive in our field.
With every pitch and project, we expose a piece of ourselves to the world, risking financial resources and investing endless hours that often encroach into our personal lives. The industry demands a relentless pursuit, which often unfolds in solitude, transcending the standard nine-to-five routine into an incessant endeavor to manifest our vision on screen. While the journey may not always be laden with immediate gratification, the act of risking it all is an inherent part of the process, a necessity to inch closer to eventual success and recognition.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Angela White is a distinguished graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Rutgers University. Moreover, she holds a Juris Doctorate from New York Law School. However, instead of pursuing a conventional legal career, Angela carved a niche for herself in the entertainment industry. With a strong foundation in education, she’s well-equipped to navigate the complexities of Hollywood in ways that benefit her clients directly. Rather than being a lawyer, she found her passion in managing prominent comedic talents, such as JB Smoove.
Her endeavors include founding Silver Lining Entertainment, a family-run entertainment company in Los Angeles, California. Furthermore, Angela established “Backstage Pass to the Movie Industry,” a digital online educational platform for creatives in arts, entertainment, and media. Keeping in line with her philanthropic spirit, she initiated Dreamers with Purpose, a charitable organization aimed at supporting marginalized groups in achieving their dreams.
Angela holds the distinction of being the first African American woman to produce and own a production company that released a faith-based theatrical film, “A Question of Faith,” starring Kim Fields and Richard T. Jones. Moving from talent management to film production, Angela has worked on an array of projects featuring Hollywood’s elites, such as “4Play” with Tiffany Haddish, “The Last Letter” with Omari Hardwick, and “The Sin Seer” with Isaiah Washington, to name a few. Additionally, she’s produced TV productions like “Pump,” “Laugh Tonight with Damon Williams,” “Lace” and “A La Carte.”
In her recent ventures, Angela stepped into the realms of screenplay writing and direction, making her mark with “Transgress” and the acclaimed “Hands Up.” She’s also delved into international filmmaking with “Nine,” a feature film shot in Accra, Ghana. Angela remains a force to be reckoned with, ever eager to share diverse stories from around the globe.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Being an artist or creative bestows the profound ability to effect change. Through our art, we communicate with the world, using our content as a medium of self-expression. This content profoundly influences others, leading to transformative experiences. Such transformations not only influence the audience but also catalyze personal growth for the creator. The journey of creating art or content pushes us beyond our boundaries, fostering individual development. With its lasting influence, our work becomes our legacy, enduring even in our absence. The real magic lies in crafting content that touches the soul, altering perceptions and emotions. For a filmmaker, the pinnacle of success is in evoking such powerful shifts in the minds and hearts of the audience. The reward is that we can change the world and must use that honor responsibly. It’s a blessing to do this for a living.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Navigating my journey in the entertainment industry, I initially set foot as a talent manager armed with a legal degree. However, when the worlds of film and television opened up to me, I quickly realized that the traditional rules of law didn’t seamlessly mesh with the dynamics of the film industry. Transitioning into a film producer without the formal foundation of film school was no easy task. It demanded shedding previously held beliefs and adapting to new perspectives.
My structured mindset, molded by rigorous academic and legal training, had to be softened and reshaped. Pivoting, while challenging, is a testament to one’s commitment to evolution. Even with advanced degrees in tow, I found myself starting all over again, unlearning preconceived notions and fully immersing myself in the intricacies of film and television production.
Film is a team sport that requires collaboration. Embracing a collaborative spirit, celebrating collective triumphs, and bearing group setbacks became integral. Perhaps the most profound shift was transplanting myself from New Jersey to the vibrant state of California. The move wasn’t merely geographical—it represented a dive into unfamiliar business terrains and cultural nuances. This monumental pivot taught me the essence of adaptability and the value of continuous learning. You must learn to pivot in order to find your purpose in life, and that will be uncomfortable but necessary.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.msangelawhite.com
- Instagram: @msangelawhite
- Facebook: @msangelawhite
- Linkedin: @msangelawhite
- Twitter: @msangelawhite
- Youtube: @msangelawhite
- Other: www.asilverliningentertainment.com www.backstagepasstothemovieindustry.com
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