My First Time As A Special Guest Speaker - at Long Beach Acting and Film Association's Asian In Showbiz Panel Series

As many panels I've attended and after seven panels I've created and produced since 2015, last week I was asked to partake as a special guest panelist.

I was asked in 2017 to be one of the guest panelists about Film Distribution, but my plate was full at the time.  This year, I accepted the invitation at the Long Beach Acting and Film Association's themed guest panel discussion, "Asian in Showbiz" last week Sunday, May 27 at Forbidden City in Long Beach, CA.

My entire career flashed before my eyes at first look of the other guest panelists on the card.  And, this was before I spoke.  Some of them I have worked with before in various capacities while another handful were of mutual friends we've known for years.

I was the last one up and decided to speak the truth.  My first time as a guest speaker who has gone thru the trenches for more than twenty-five years, the intent was to have all those listening (including some of the panelists) to be alert and to be prepared.  Because there are "sheeps in wolves' clothings" out there.  No one is immune from the negatives the Hollywood industry seem to attract, unfortunately.   

I was about to write what my speech was about but, I remembered I was rambling on near the end .. like as I did three times while typing this sentence and deleting it three more times.  I think it is best for me (and to my readers) to expand more about my speech in greater detail on future blogs (under Beyond The 4th Wall category) from here on out.  So much has happened since; each with defined increments of hindsight, perspective and outlook.

It's Friday today and I have a busy week ahead of me.  I want to spend this weekend to not think of serious things.

Although, the one thing I was reminded of before and after my guest speaking engagement as well as networking with the attendees just starting out -- as I try to expel my knowledge to them without rambling -- was that I am not comfortable being me on stage.  I am very comfortable playing and portraying characters in front of the camera (it is the actor in me) and very comfortable playing an exaggerated extension of myself on stage (it is the improvisor / comedian in me).  

But, being real?  I had my MTV: The Real World moment last week.  I was real with battle scars and war stories at LBAFA.  I was honored to have been asked to participate and to share my experiences.