Member Panels & Events
UPCOMING HIFILM EVENTS
Bridging the Gap: What Filmmakers Need to Know About Managers in Today’s Industry
Breaking into the film and television industry can be overwhelming—especially if you’re outside major hubs like Los Angeles. This panel is tailored for emerging creatives from smaller markets (i.e. Hawai‘i) or international backgrounds who want to better understand the role of a manager in launching, navigating, and sustaining a career in the industry. Hear directly from working managers as they break down what they do, how their role is evolving in a post-strike, post-streaming-boom era, and how remote talent can secure meaningful representation and opportunities through managers. Whether you’re just getting started, preparing to find your first manager, or considering changing managers, this session will demystify the process and provide actionable strategies to help you build a successful career—no matter where you’re based. There will be opportunities for direct questions to our manager panelists during the Q&A portion of the panel.
All HIFILM members are invited to attend this virtual event moderated by HIFF Artistic Director, Anderson Le and featuring the following panelists:
Tuesday, June 17th, 2025
4-6pm Hawai‘i Standard Time
Raquelle David
Lit Manager //Authentic Talent & Literary Management
Raquelle David is a producer and literary manager at Authentic Talent & Literary Management in Los Angeles, California. Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Raquelle has a career spanning production, development, and literary management. An advocate for underrepresented voices who hails from Australia, she began her journey as an independent producer and production executive, with her films earning accolades such as nominations for the Short Film Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the AACTA Awards, and the Screen Producers Australia Awards. She reps a roster of writers and filmmakers, including Amos Mac (Gossip Girl), Aisling Chin-Yee (The Rest of Us), Sean King O’Grady (The Mill), Dani Parker (Midnight Mass), Johnny Ma (Cannes film To Live to Sing) and Jenny Yang (The Brothers Sun).
Andrew Ooi
CEO, Founder // Echelon Talent Management
Andrew Ooi started Echelon Talent Management in 1994. He has managed some of the top Asian actors in film and television, including, 2 time Golden Horse winner and International Emmy Award nominee Yeo Yann Yann (WET SEASON, AMERICAN BORN CHINESE), China’s “Living Treasure” and 3 time Golden Horse winner Lisa Lu (JOY LUCK CLUB, CRAZY RICH ASIANS) who just received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; Tzi Ma (THE FAREWELL, MULAN), Byron Mann (THE BIG SHORT, WU ASSASSINS), Ludi Lin (MORTAL KOMBAT, POWER RANGERS), Chin Han (THE DARK KNIGHT, MORTAL KOMBAT), K-POP stars Henry Lau and Nichkhun etc. In 2021, with his support, Youn Yuh Jung won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress For her role in MINARI.
Michael Krell
Manager // 3 Arts Entertainment
Michael Krell, based in Los Angeles, is a Manager at 3 Arts Entertainment, a leading management and production company with offices in Beverly Hills, New York City and Atlanta. 3 Arts produces the Golden Globe and Emmy-winning HACKS and has also backed numerous hit Netflix projects, from BLUE EYE SAMURAI to RUNNING POINT and NOBODY WANTS THIS, while managing a high-profile client roster. The company has a substantial legacy in comedy, having previously backed projects like THE OFFICE, PARKS & RECREATION, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, THE MINDY PROJECT and the Oscar-winning AMERICAN FICTION. Krell brings experience from previous roles at ICM Partners, NBCUniversal, Inc. and Resolution.
RECENT HIFILM Panels
