Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Simpson.
Paige, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I majored in Biology, pre-med at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. During my senior year, I realized that medicine was not my passion. I remembered when I was younger and on set and how happy that made me. I moved back home to LA and started to take acting classes.
I began working with Twinkie Byrd and Michelle Adams at BET. We casted Being Mary Jane and The Start-Up. I also worked on Fruitvale Station, The Annoying Orange, and Robot Chicken. After working in casting, I decided that I wanted to really to get into development and production.
I began working for Viola Davis where I stayed for two years until an opportunity at Showtime Networks was presented to me. I worked for the Senior Vice President of Original Programming. I am currently the Manager of Scripted Television for Will Packer Media.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road for me. I have had many ups and downs. I had goals of being a doctor, and when I realized my true passion was for entertainment, that was very scary. I didn’t have any experience or a degree to back up what I wanted to do.
Everyday I had to prove myself worthy of the positions I was in. Finally one day I woke up and said I am enough just because I exist and my life has forever been changed by that.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Will Packer Media – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I currently work for Will Packer Media. Will Packer is most known for his box office features. The goal is to translate that box office success to television. I read scripts, hear pitches, meet with writers and directors, all for the goal of finding great content.
I am most proud of giving writers and directors of color a chance to thrive in an environment where most successful people don’t look like us.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We have a few great projects in the works. My plans for the future are to continue to develop and push out content that actively shows the change we want to see in the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://willpackermedia.com/
- Instagram: willpackermedia and TheScriptedPaige
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