Bio

Working in television, film, and entertainment was a side interest of mine for most of my life, but when I was 18 I ignored it. At the time, it seemed impossible to access the entertainment industry, so I took a safer path and went into construction-related fields. All of my 20s and most of my 30s were spent studying, working, or writing about architecture, construction, and design. Suddenly, as I was closing in on 40, I wanted something different. So I got a part-time job at a bookstore while I figured things out.

Simultaneously, I kept writing, only this time rather than writing about buildings, I wrote about everyday people doing amazing things in their communities. Getting people to share their stories with me, and then writing something that made them proud was refreshing because it was something different. By then I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment industry, but I wasn’t sure how nor what. That’s when I began to notice educational programs making the entertainment business more accessible (*thanks Google and Instagram algorithms*).

Before enrolling, I started networking right away with recent grads of the program that I found interesting. I wanted to get a sense of the state of the industry before taking the plunge. Even after I enrolled in the Executive Production in Creative Industries program at McGill, I continued to network with producers, screenwriters, filmmakers, event planners, event coordinators, and sports entertainment consultants. I listened to podcasts about the industry, and used my employee discount at the bookstore to read books on events, entertainment, film producing, television, historical fiction, cultural conversations, creativity, food, sports, and business.

While doing all of that, a few other professionals helped me with personal development as I prepared myself for this career change. They pushed, challenged, and encouraged me, giving me a deeper understanding of myself. By volunteering at C2, Nuits d’Afrique, Just For Laughs and the Montreal International Black Film Festival, I met a lot of people and demonstrated that I wanted to grow. I got my foot in the door with a short-term contract for Groupe CH working in client experience one summer at Osheaga, ÎleSoniq, and Lasso. Shortly after that, I landed a 6-month contract with Vues d’Afrique as their Head of volunteers, transportation and hospitality. Currently, I work full-time at Yulism as an events coordinator, working on cool projects that make Montreal a better city.

The wisdom I received and continue to receive each day is a blessing. Now I’m working to help other people tell their own stories through events and media.

Email: show (at) philroberts.ca