Bringing Industry to 果酱视频 at Asian Media Access!
We just wrapped up the second year of Asian Media Access, and what a fantastic event it was! This year, we had some amazing special guests from Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, OMNI TV, and ACTRA Toronto鈥檚 Diversity & Inclusion Committee join us at the Student Learning Centre. They shared their insights, connected with students, and helped open doors to industry opportunities and scholarships.
It was incredible to see so many students get inspired, make connections, and take steps toward their future in media. As the hosts, the Transmedia Zone team couldn鈥檛 be prouder of how everything came together. This event keeps growing, and we鈥檙e so excited to keep building a space where diverse voices in media can shine. Can鈥檛 wait for next year!
More on Asian Media Access
Transmedia Zone staff member and RTA alum Jessie Lee started this event with one big goal鈥攈elping 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.
Special Guests: Reel Asian Film Festival, OMNI TV, and ACTRA Toronto
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival庐
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鈥檚 largest pan-Asian film festival, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival庐 is all about showcasing Asian stories from Canada, the U.S., Asia, and beyond. Since its start in 1997, it鈥檚 grown into a huge annual event packed with screenings, galas, workshops, and more鈥攑lus, it鈥檚 a non-profit that actively advocates for Asian representation in media arts. Christine and Samir鈥檚 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
OMNI TV came back to Asian Media Access with a fantastic crew of reporters, ready to meet and mingle with students. As Canada鈥檚 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鈥攅specially 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!
ACTRA Toronto
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鈥檚 28,000 professional performers, ACTRA Toronto is a powerhouse in the world of recorded media. Since 1943, they鈥檝e 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!
A huge thank you to all the volunteers, special guests, and SLC staff who helped make this event such a success. And, of course, a big shoutout to all the students who joined us and made it an unforgettable experience. We can't wait to do this again next year!