Today we're Weighing In on Erica A. Hart's Way In w/ Maureen Aladin. Casting directors decide who gets in the room. Erica A. Hart has spent her career being that person.Erica is an Artios Award-winning casting director with credits on Black Mirror and A Black Lady Sketch Show. She started at NYU and built her way into one of the most quietly powerful jobs in the industry - the one that shapes who you actually see on screen.In this episode, we explore:• Getting Noticed: How to truly get on a top casting director’s radar (hint: it’s not what you think).• The Casting Room: What happens behind closed doors and how Erica helps actors feel comfortable enough to do their best work.• Industry Evolution: How technology and self-tapes have changed the game, and why "inclusion is a choice."• Career Resilience: Erica’s journey through development deals, winning awards, and the importance of "harmony" over balance.Whether you're an actor looking for your big break or a creator interested in the chemistry of casting - this episode is for you!

She moved to LA with no car, no job, and a couch to sleep on. Ten years an assistant later, Erin Smithey became a Vice President of Television under an overall deal at 20th Television/Disney.Nobody hands you a map to a career in television. Erin built hers the hard way, and in this episode she pulls back the curtain on how the business actually works from the inside.In this episode, Erin breaks down:• What a career in TV development actually looks like day to day• How shows really get pitched and sold to studios and networks• Why the climb from PA to executive is almost never a straight line• The salary ranges nobody talks about, and the spreadsheet that changed what she asked for• How to negotiate like you mean it, and why women can't take pennies for their worth• The imposter syndrome that followed her all the way to VP• The offhand line from a coworker that finally made her make the jumpIf you want to understand the real way in, not the highlight reel, this one is for you.You've told yourself "one day" about something. What's the one you keep putting off? Tell me in the comments.Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode.

In this episode we're weighing in on Sandra Lena's way in! Sandra Lena has worked on some of the most talked-about shows in television, including The White Lotus, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Dopesick. But her journey didn’t start in Hollywood—it began in Spain, where she first fell in love with storytelling through editing.In this episode of Weighing In on the Way In, Sandra opens up about:*Moving across countries to pursue a career in entertainment*Breaking into the post-production world and working on high-profile projects*Balancing a fast-paced career with motherhood*How staying curious and saying “yes” to opportunities shaped her pathSandra’s story is proof that passion, resilience, and adaptability can take you far.

In this episode we're weighing in on Yazmin Ramos' way in! Being bold and brave has taken Yazmin Ramos to places she never imagined. From working with BET, The Wendy Williams Show, and Essence Communications to producing iconic cultural events like AfroPunk and The Essence Festival, she has built an inspiring career in media and production. Yazmin shares how she carved her own path, why networking is key, and the lessons she learned as a producer. Whether you're an aspiring creative, producer, or entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with gems.

In this episode we're weighing in on Toni P.'s way in! We're diving deep with powerhouse Post Production Story/Archival Producer Toni P, founder of Queens of Production. From her early days as an executive assistant at Pilgrim Studios to producing standout content for MAX, BET, and Macro/Roku, Toni shares the raw truths behind navigating Hollywood, finding her lane in post, and creating a production hub for women and creatives of color. If you've ever wondered how to carve your space in this ever-evolving industry, this one’s for you.

In this episode we're weighing in on Chazeen Pemberton's way in!
CHAZEEN is a New York-based creative best known for her contributions to broadcast television and digital media. Collaborating with Music Choice, Complex, BET, and Samsung as a producer, speaker and host has positioned her to work on projects featuring the likes of Cardi B., DJ Khaled, Selena Gomez, Lecrae, Carrie Underwood, J Balvin and much more. Often known in social circles for her rich resourcefulness and easygoing insights, Chazeen recently developed CHAZ CHATS - a quarterly event series where she and guest panelists discuss fun facts on professionalism, fitness and faith from the POV of a Millennial mindset.

On this episode of the podcast, we're weighing in on Diamonde Williamson's way in.

On this episode of the podcast, we're weighing in on Kanyessa McMahon's way in.

Today we're weighing in on Fab Roc's way in.

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