Author: Laura Hunter Drago

As an actress-turned-producer, there are many times where I feel like I’m playing catch up in learning all the ins and outs of my own job, as well as everyone else’s on a set. I very much believe in learning through experience, but it can sometimes be overwhelming. However, there are a number of areas where my acting background gives me a unique perspective as a producer. This series of Ms. in the Biz articles will focus on these tips! When we filled our crew positions for To the New Girl last year, I was in a major time crunch.…

I find myself having the same conversation with friends, and most especially friends who are in the entertainment industry, over and over. It is a conversation that makes me a little uncomfortable, because I’m not a huge fan of giving out advice. (Mostly because I don’t think people generally want advice!) However, it has to do with an area that I’m quite well-versed in personally, and thus I feel responsible to give my two cents on it when it comes up. It is what I call the “getting unfrozen” conversation. Here’s how it goes: A friend feels stuck. They grew…

Recent headlines regarding women in entertainment can be disheartening but focusing on how we can make this industry a better place for women and minorities is the key positive spin on all the negative headlines. The stats for women in positions of power on set are still shockingly low, and one of the lowest is for female cinematographers. In addition to being well-trained and kind, Emilia has a lot of great ideas about the current state of her field for women, how up-and-coming Cinematographers can best move their careers forward, and why becoming a teacher has helped her further her…

Recent headlines regarding women in entertainment can be disheartening, but focusing on how we can make this industry a better place for women and minorities is the key positive spin on all the negative headlines. The stats for women in positions of power on set are still shockingly low, and one of the lowest is for female cinematographers. In addition to being well-trained, smart and kind, Emilia Mendieta has a lot of great ideas about the current state of her field for women, how up-and-coming Cinematographers can best move their careers forward, and why becoming a teacher has helped her…

When I heard that Ms. In the Biz was coming out of hiatus, I was incredibly excited. This community of women has always inspired me, has given me a wonderful community of friends and collaborators, and I love being the Assistant Editor-in-Chief of this site. Additionally, headlines from the past year and a half have proven more than ever how important it is for women in entertainment (and all industries) to band together in support of each other. I can’t wait to read all of our contributors’ pieces moving forward, we are at a fascinating and important time in history…

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” ― Coco Chanel As the blogging portion of Ms. in the Biz comes to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot about what a beautiful archive of writing that we (and most especially the wonderful Helenna Santos) have built together. I’ve also been thinking a lot about what it means to put your voice–whether in writing, performance, or through any other work of art–out there for the world to see and react to. Using our voices in any capacity requires a certain amount of bravery. There was (and in…

Sometimes things are hard. We all go through emotional ups and downs, for a variety of reasons. Occasionally it is harder to pull ourselves out of the hole. I’ve certainly been there myself. Here’s a few tips on how to boost your spirit when it needs some extra TLC: Create art. I believe most people become artists because we know art is a healing and educational tool. To create something is powerful. It gives you a sense of control, fulfillment, and can have far-reaching positive impact on others, too. See art. Whether it is on your Netflix account (suggestion: the “San Junipero” episode of Netflix’s Black Mirror)…

Cassidy Gard has been working as an entertainment reporter for a number of years, her mega-watt smile making frequent appearances on red carpets and press junkets in Hollywood. She’s also a social media maven, sharing her experiences behind the scenes in the industry with over 400,000 followers on a daily basis. This year, she took a big leap and created her own platform, CiGi TV. I sat down with Cassidy to discuss her experiences on the red carpet, her advice for aspiring reporters, and what she thinks makes for a great interview! You’re an entertainment reporter, and I know you’ve been working red carpets…

There are a lot of great things about pursuing a creative career and lifestyle. A flexible schedule, the freedom to come up with new ideas and chase them, the frequent ability to sleep in past 9am on weekdays. One of the drawbacks that I’ve found, though, is that when you’re a multi-hyphenate you almost always have too much on your plate. A typical day for me is spent on any number of projects: 5-8 hours spent doing day job work for various clients (I work from home as a marketing consultant), 2-3 hours doing things for my acting career, another handful…

About a year ago, a former teacher got in touch with me to ask if I would have lunch with two young ladies who were considering a move to Los Angeles. They’d been involved in school theatre and, of course, were bit by the acting bug. I wasn’t entirely sure how to advise them. Being an actor has influenced every inch of my life. All of the best things that have happened to me have been because of acting, but so have all of the worst. Some of the worst has been much, much worse than I anticipated. Some of…

If you’re an actor and you’ve been in New York or Los Angeles for a bit, odds are you’ve either taken a class about marketing yourself as an actor or you’ve heard enough about it to feel like you have. You know, where the advice centers around coming up with a quippy signature for your daily postcard mailings and pushing your “type” in every piece of marketing and every conversation that you have. I’m so totally sure that works for some people, and this is not meant to knock that method or those classes. (Though I guess this is as…

I find that spring is a great time to pick up new habits that can serve as a “reset” button on both your career and life. Sometimes we need a reason to motivate positive change, and I’ve always thought that longer days and sunnier weather (not that it is ever truly unsunny in Los Angeles for long…) are a great excuse to take care of yourself. Here are four things I like to do every spring to boost my personal and professional life: Get in an exercise routine. Ideally, this would stick year-round… but I think we all fall off…

I was a participant in a game show recently… except the show didn’t take place on a Hollywood soundstage, but rather in a small theatre space at the Atwater Village Theatre. Judgement of Fools is one of the first projects of the newly formed Ammunition Theatre Company. If this production is any indication, future productions from Ammunition will be innovative and exciting and should put this company on your personal watch list where Los Angeles theatre is concerned. Judgement of Fools didn’t have a 4th wall at all, instead utilizing the audience members as the driving force behind the show.…

When the story of Raphael Schumacher–the Italian actor who accidentally hung himself during a stage performance–showed up on my newsfeed early last month, it sent a chill down my spine. Reading the reports on this tragedy broke my heart for his family and loved ones. It also made me think of Sarah Jones, who was killed on a film set two years ago as a result of irresponsible safety decisions made by people she was working for on that film. I did not know Sarah Jones personally, but I have thought about her many, many times over the past two…