Bringing Industry to TMU at Asian Media Access!

Transmedia Zone staff member and RTA alum Jessie Lee started this event with one big goal—helping students find representation and opportunities in the media industry after graduation. After working in the industry herself, she realized a lot of students had no idea about the amazing Toronto-based organizations that champion diversity. So, she took matters into her own hands! She brought in industry professionals from Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, OMNI TV, and ACTRA Toronto to shine a spotlight on their work and help students make the connections they need to break into the industry.

Christine and Samir from Reel Asian brought amazing energy to the event, connecting with students and sharing all the ways they can get involved with the festival. As Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival® is all about showcasing Asian stories from Canada, the U.S., Asia, and beyond. Since its start in 1997, it’s grown into a huge annual event packed with screenings, galas, workshops, and more—plus, it’s a non-profit that actively advocates for Asian representation in media arts. Christine and Samir’s passion for uplifting diverse voices was truly inspiring, and they left students excited about the possibilities of getting involved in this thriving creative community!

OMNI TV came back to Asian Media Access with a fantastic crew of reporters, ready to meet and mingle with students. As Canada’s only multilingual and multicultural broadcaster, OMNI Television brings news, current affairs, and entertainment in over 40 languages, including Arabic, Cantonese, Filipino, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Punjabi. They were also there to talk about the OMNI TV Scholarship Program, which offers 10 scholarships valued at $2,000 each for students interested in journalism—especially those focused on ethnic and third-language reporting. With OMNI reaching millions of households across Canada, their team gave students an exciting peek into the world of multilingual media and all the cool opportunities it offers!

This year, we were super excited to have Luisa, Roy, and Louisa from ACTRA Toronto's Diversity and Inclusion Committee joined us for the first time at Asian Media Access! As the largest branch of ACTRA, representing over 15,000 of Canada’s 28,000 professional performers, ACTRA Toronto is a powerhouse in the world of recorded media. Since 1943, they’ve been fighting for the rights and respect of performers, and this team brought that passion to the event. They shared tons of tips and insights with students interested in acting, giving them the lowdown on breaking into the industry and making their mark. It was an amazing opportunity for aspiring actors to connect with the people who are working hard to make the entertainment world more diverse and inclusive!