The way to the top in the entertainment business is, “Somehow”, according to Norman Aladjem of the Paradigm Agency, “There’s no one path to success.”Approximately 80 people, including students and those already in the entertainment industry, gathered in the Law School Building to hear Aladjem talk about his experience.
Torie Stevenson, a theater major, thought that the talk had an encouraging tone. In her experience, people in the business usually focus on the struggle and on how hard it is to break into that arena.
Aladjem gave real world success stories, like that of John Apatow. He mentioned Apatow’s failed attempts at becoming a stand up comedian, failed TV shows, including “Freaks and Geeks”, and his several failed movies. Apatow’s success came with “40 Year Old Virgin” and has gone on to include “Knocked Up” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.
Aladjem also dropped names like Katherine Heigel, The Black Eyed Peas, and Hadjii, a University of Georgia graduate, all of whom his agency represents.
A career in entertainment law, a management company he co-owned, politics, and a grassroots marketing campaign for the World Cup, all preceded Aladjem’s work as an agent.
Aladjem told the audience to start from the bottom up in order to break into the industry. The difference in being in the business and not being in the business comes down to: are you working in the business?
He gave the advice to be a student of the industry you want to be in, to have tenacity, and to not accept rejection. He made the point that rejection often has nothing to do with you, but the state of the business at the time.
Meagan Kelley, a Grady hopeful, was one of the students who asked a question. She felt Aladjem’s talk was positive.
“From most people, like my dad, all I hear is its impossible, it’s one in a million,” said Kelley, in regards to her ambitions in the entertainment industry.
She also felt that it might be hard for some people to hear that there is no step-by-step road to success.
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