I managed a third run in that job, crazy enough, despite swearing Round Two to be the last, and how I somehow even scored a brief stint on radio (“Surprise! The talent provider’s now the talent!”). That one felt like a fun spinoff. Think Bird of Prey to Suicide Squad, or even Bumblebee to Transformers, as a former colleague put it. It was the more light-hearted entry in an otherwise heavy-handed series. At the time, it was the proudest I identified with the seven-letter K-word. 

There’s no use delineating how Round Three panned out, much less explaining why I even still heeded the call. It’s been a year anyway. On the upside, loose ends were tied up and more kindred spirits crossed my path. So, to that degree, the revisits paid off. But, at some point, you just know when something has maxed out its purpose – especially when “Watch your back” becomes the recurring piece of advice. Last I checked, I’m neither an owl nor Linda Blair. Ultimately, I opted to preserve whatever gratitude I still felt for the community. They unearthed this side of me, after all. Taking those 13 years cumulatively into account, that place will always be home. But a trilogy was more than enough. And I guess my spirit’s really just not wired for corporate.

Visibility, in a Different Sense 

My work with artists began as circumstantial. It was something that simply landed on me and, unexpectedly, gave me career traction pre-Saturn Return. For me, it was more than buying birthday cakes and retrieving their lunch. Much as it inevitably came with the territory, I did not earn a degree to be confined to that. 

“Relations” was the operative word. It meant forging connections in a world built on feigning them and making personalities feel seen in a way cameras and monitors can’t or heard in a manner lapels don’t pick up. Sure, the bigger stars have entourages and fanbases for that. So, it was the newbies who mostly felt the function. They had to be reminded that authenticity was their main capital and that there was more to self-improvement than re-arranging their body parts.

I embraced all that – thrice – knowing full well that majority of them would morph into unresponsive IG accounts after each run. It’s all transactional at the end of the day, which I had to keep re-learning. Any true bond that survives each transition, whether from within or from the sidelines, is a blessing.

Redirection with Intention 

When I ended Round One 10 years ago, I was sure I was ready for something else. I shuddered at every aspirant who requested to be handled, because I felt I wasn’t ready then. In the first place, I entered the work force as a creative. I spent my early twenties thriving on one-liners and brought-to-you-by’s. I always knew I should parlay the writing into actual storytelling, regardless of what medium I’ll end up using.  That quest continues, no matter how far I’m redirected. Because, apparently, all those years spent hobnobbing planted seeds. Now, those seeds are starting to sprout.

Steady Restart

A director I once worked with tapped me for TVC casting, which was, once upon a time, unexplored territory. While I didn’t readily identify with the brand, I knew exactly whom to look for and which managers to contact. I initially submitted 40 names, which was, apparently, a bigger number than required. As the concept evolved, even more were thrown in. All those years of interactions and encounters weren’t in vain.

The TVC has yet to be approved for initial airing, but in many ways, it was already a milestone. I helped build a whole cast. It only goes to show that, given the right environment and circumstances, what you’re meant to do should come easy.

Co-Creator Era

Whenever I chat with freelancers, I tell them that fame is never assured. At best, it can be chased through mindful packaging and heavy marketing, but that’s often best left with heftier machineries. Ultimately, it still boils down to the right platforms. One can have all the TV appearances and still remain obscure. On the other extreme, a rambling one-minuter can turn an unknown into a household name. Luck will always be part of the equation, whether we believe in that or not. To manage that uncertainty, it’s better to shoot for income and exposure first. And, remember: more than being “products”, they should strive to be creators. It all begins with self-mastery.

As for me, I’m still figuring it all out, whether this is me still wrapping up unfinished business or a prelude to a true, bigger calling. But, for as long as my name’s still passed around out there and opportunities keep pouring in, I’m not one to decline. There will always be productions looking for talents. And, conversely, there will always be talents looking for gigs. If working with artists remains part of a divine plan, so be it. There are more meaningful and more collaborative ways to do it. And, more than ever, I take alignment into account.