By: The Don

This interview is a special one for me. I had the opportunity to interview my co-founder of Phillytainment, Kimber Lee. Kimber Lee use to be a full-time manager for her daughter, who was pursuing acting. She use to be a part-time manager tasked with booking auditions, updating her daughter’s resume and continuously checking casting calls that were put out daily. Kimber Lee is no longer a manager for her daughter but plans on continuing her role as a manager soon. Kimber Lee inspires me because of her endless love for film and her strong passion for returning to this very competitive film market.

Interview

What is your name?

Kimber Lee.

How long were you in the Entertainment Industry?

I worked actively as my daughter’s manager for four years.

What did you do in the industry?

I worked at managing my daughter’ s acting career. I might be going back in that direction again because she is interested in rekindling her career

What were the tasks you had to do while being a manager?

I really just fell into this position. She had an agent and I ended up getting her all her jobs just by checking casting calls in the area. So basically I took pictures of her, I updated her resume, and I checked casting directors pages to look for jobs for her.

What time did your days usually start?

I didn’t have a set time. I also worked so finding her jobs was just a side thing. If I had more time I would’ve taken her to New York. There’s way more work there than in Philly.

How difficult was it to find casting calls?

There’s work for kids but there are so many momagers out there vying for a spot for their kid. Some kids have no interest in it. Jas was a natural but when she didn’t want to do it anymore, I stopped looking for work for her.

So I’m assuming the Philadelphia market is competitive?

It’s a competitive field all around, especially for kids. You have to be careful also because there are a lot of scams out there too.

Did you ever get a scam showcase? Like almost came close or how did you know it was a scam?

I read up about scams in the entertainment industry. Researched everything I could about the ‘biz’. One time I took her to see an agent that turned out to be a scam. They wanted you to buy a picture package. Young kids change so quickly so you don’t necessarily need professional headshots for them. An agent will never ask you for money upfront. They get paid when you get paid. Some agents offer different workshops and that’s totally fine but if they are asking you for money upfront, Run!

Wow. So how many films did you book?

I booked five films and she also did musical theatre and local productions. She got the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland (2010) and she was an orphan in Annie (2014).

Was film easier than musicals or is it the other way around?

For her it was all easy. It came naturally. The process is the same, audition and hope for a call back. One of my favorite auditions was a film about the Jersey Devil. I took her to Atlantic City for the audition. They took her in another room and next thing I know I hear these blood curdling screams. We love horror movies. I just thought to myself with pride that’s my baby, future scream queen. She got the part.

So what did you end up doing when you were on set? 

On set, I would eat haha. I don’t know how actors stay so thin! There is always so much good food on set especially if it’s a big production!

Did you learn to be a manager on your own? 

Yes, I just read a lot about it and learned as I went. I wish I had the internet when I was younger I would’ve got myself jobs too!

What was the hardest part of being a manager?

There was nothing hard about it. We just did it for fun. I never expected anything to come from it and just felt lucky to get her the jobs that I did.

Did you ever make any cool connections on set? 

I’ve been on set with quite a few A-listers, my favs being Paul Rudd, Jack Nicholson, Kathryn Hahn, and Neal Patrick Harris. As far as connections I had one that was made up in my head. I was watching Jas work and I felt a magnetic presence behind me. I turn around and Paul Rudd was standing right behind me, our eyes locked briefly and I felt a total connection (laughs). I had to be totally professional because my daughter was working but I totally wanted to take a pic with him. I also met a lot of working actors on set. Good people fun times.

What adversities have you encountered on set? 

I didn’t really encounter any adversities personally, but I did see the moral lowered on sets when they took the PA film tax credit away. It took a lot of jobs from people in the area. M Night even took his production elsewhere and used stock footage of Philly. (Check out our M. Knight Fights For PA Filming blog)

Was your daughter an actress or did she venture in other fields?

She acts and sings. That’s how she got into musical theatre. She even did an intro scream for a death metal band. She was 6 years old when she did that.

What do you like most about being a manager? 

The thing I liked most about managing her career was meeting and talking to new people and learning everything I could about the biz.

What do you not like about being a manager? 

There was nothing I didn’t like because I just did it for fun.

Do you think the industry is going to be different after the whole #metoo movement?

Of course, the industry will be forever changed after the #metoo movement. Women have been a powerhouse in Hollywood for some time and now they’re getting the credit they deserve!

What’s your favorite movie?

I really don’t have a favorite movie. I love Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) (of course) Xanadu (1980)(how was this movie ever considered terrible) and House of 1000 Corpses (2003). My taste in movies is so diverse it would be hard to name just one.

What is your favorite genre?

I love horror. I love being scared and if it makes you jump out of your seat that’s a bonus! You can also grab onto the person you’re with without it being too weird. Right? Screaming and then laughing about it is also fun.

You also write your own stuff too right?

I have been writing for years. I even sent out queries the old fashioned way. I got some flattering letters from some agents but no big bites. I’m holding out for Suzanne Gluck!

Tell us about your writings like your famous Zombie Dollyz.

I’ve mostly dabbled in YA fiction. My most recent book, Zombie Dollyz, is set in the ’80s and when a science experiment goes wrong for a diverse group of kids in Philly pink zombies are everywhere! I also have another finished book about teenage vampires. It’s very different from any vampire book you’ve ever read. My books are just fun reads. Nothing too deep.

Who is your favorite celebrity? 

I don’t have a favorite celebrity either. There is so much talent out there, I have to give a shout out to the hard-working actors that they might not be a household name but, their diverse acting chops get them a lot of different roles. Two of my faves are Don Swayze and Jon Collin Barclay. Check them out on IMDB then check out some of their work.

What got you into co-founding Phillytainment?

I would just like to help as many people as I can in the ‘biz’ with the things I learned along the way. We can all help each other with our knowledge.

What got you into help create Phillytainment?

You did haha! After we started working together, that inspired me to get back to my creative side after talking to you about your screenplays. And your life I still want to do a movie or book about that!

Any future plans?

I’m working on another book right now. Judy Blume is my favorite author and I’m trying to channel her so this book won’t have zombies or vampires. I don’t think. Well, you never know. It depends on where my story will go.

Are you looking forward to going back?

Of course, I am looking forward to going back to being a manager. I was just on a little hiatus because my daughter wasn’t showing any interest but I always gave others advice about the little things I learned along the way.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I see myself on The NY Times bestseller list, and you directing the movie they make out of my book.

What advice do you have others interested in the entertainment industry?

Research, research, research! Just read everything you can about the craft you want to master. I told my daughter to learn everything in the entertainment business. Be humble, take any part, do any job. Learn everything you can. I always remember hearing how Garry Marshall told Ron Howard to learn every job on set so you will always have a job and look at how successful he is. My daughter’s agent told me she was too good for background work. I just wanted her to get as much experience as she could. She’s been on set and got paid with pizza and soda. It’s not about the money. It’s about getting the experience and building that resume.