We were lucky to catch up with Diana Keeler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Diana, appreciate you joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
We’re dedicated to going the extra mile in developing our clients and creating a supportive community within the entertainment industry. Our team has evolved from a production company to a management company and finally to a talent agency, while retaining the best elements from each stage. Our unique ability to handle various aspects of self-promotion in-house, such as headshots, websites, and reels, without any cost to our clients, sets us apart. By taking care of these essential materials, we allow our actors to focus on honing their craft while ensuring that their promotional materials are of high quality and aligned with our agency’s standards.
This past year, we rented a studio and did a headshot day, shooting two looks each for 16 actors that were then retouched by our team. We also did a reel day where our actors wrote scenes together and had an opportunity to showcase a character that they would love to play. It was a crazy but fun shoot at Nvisionate Studios – we shot 10 scenes in 12 hours, and I was the cinematographer for 9/10 of them.
We followed that up at a theater as an event for our clients to network, see their scenes on a big screen, and build our community. We have a very hands-on approach, and we’re always looking for ways we can offer our actors opportunities to collaborate, grow, and showcase their talents.
Diana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
We’re a SAG-AFTRA franchised talent agency based in Los Angeles, California composed of an awesome team of incredible humans. We provide our clients with guidance and support and connect them with relevant opportunities, helping them secure auditions, negotiate contracts, and navigate the complex landscape of the entertainment industry.
Both our employees and our clients bring so much to the table, and we’re all about collaboration. We have a Slack channel so that our actors can get to know each other and our team, and we hold events and workshops to skill share. One of our actors recently did a stunt workshop in a park, another held a VO lesson on Zoom, and another shared social media tips with templates. I’m very proud of the community that we’ve built, and it makes the whole journey exciting and worthwhile.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Communication is key! Creating an environment where both my clients and employees feel comfortable reaching out to me is crucial for building strong relationships and fostering collaboration. My day-to-day has a healthy mix of phone calls, Slack messages, emails, text messages, Zoom calls, and in-person meetings. I know that not everyone communicates the same way, so being clear about options and availability is important.
Our team is also big on sharing accomplishments and events with each other, from callbacks to class showcases. Recognizing milestones helps us stay motivated, inspired, and reminds us of the progress we’re making along our journey in an industry that can be challenging and demanding. It also allows everyone to see the bigger picture and reinforces the idea that we’re a part of a community where we can lean on each other and draw inspiration from our peers.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Referrals! We’re a very hands-on agency and how you approach your work is more important to us than where you are in your career. We’re not currently accepting new clients, but we will be again in early 2024.
Contact Info:
- Website: pandiumfusion.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pandiumfusion/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PandiumFusion
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pandium-fusion
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PandiumFusion
Image Credits
Zachary Galen Sofiia Sveshnikova Vaughndio Forbes