Chioma Umeala Is Putting In Work To #OpenUpTheIndustry
Actor Chioma Umeala in partnership with Starbucks, recently hosted an event for young women who aspire to become actors, and pursue careers in film and television. The event which was attended by aspiring actresses, some familiar faces in television, and media took place on Saturday, 9 April 2021 at Starbucks in Melrose Arch.
With so many conversations on social media about opening up the industry, this initiative by Chioma Umeala and Starbucks South Africa was focused on empowering young women who have dreams of becoming actors with practical information on how they can maneuver into the industry.
The event opened with captivating poetry from Vaal The Poet, who delivered a dynamic poem celebrating the power of women. Guests then embarked on an informative coffee journey with Baristas Lebo and Cynthia from Starbucks Melrose Arch who walked them through the history of Starbucks and coffee, before treating them to a unique coffee pairing, and delicious tall beverages in the signature Starbucks cup with each guests’ name on it.
Chioma Umeala then went on to share her journey to becoming an actress and tips on how aspiring actresses can also kick start their careers in film and television, and how they can improve their skills in order to better improve their chances of being considered for roles.
When one attendee asked the Isono actress what her experience was like in the film industry, Chioma said “when it comes to this industry you will receive more no’s than yes’s so you need to always hold your opinion of yourself above everyone else’s. That self-worth and positive attitude will carry you to your best self. Sometimes the no is not even about you. You would have done the best you could in an audition but the character you auditioned for wasn’t the best fit for you. But if you did your best, the casting director will remember you for future roles.”
During the event the likes of Tendai Chitima, an award-winning actor from Netflix’s Cook Off film also shared her advice to the young aspiring women, adding that “It’s all about what value do you, as a person, want to put out to the world. You have your passions, gifts, and talents then packaging it in a way that aligns with what you value.”
The event was also attended by Chioma Umeala’s mother Elsie who also shared on how it is not always easy to support your child when they aspire to pursue careers in film and television because you want to protect them from all the disappointments that come with it, but once you see that it is their passion, you have to be there for them and support them all the way. Some of the aspiring actresses attended the event with their parents, so this then led to a conversation on how parents can support their children and help them to future-proof their talent and earning potential in an ever-changing industry.
