KRYSTAL STARK

Talent Manager
Stark White Entertainment
Krystal@StarkWhiteEntertainment.com

Interview

• Where are you originally from?

  Brooklyn, NY by way of Trinidad and Guyana

• Where do you currently reside?

  Brooklyn, NY

• What prompted you to get into the sports/entertainment industry?

  I love the impact that art has on people’s psyche, their emotions and their actions. So, I’ve always been drawn to it, I just never had the talent to pursue it professionally as an artist. I’ve always been more adept in business, so after graduating from the University of Virginia, I pursued a career in Advertising working in the Account Management department where I developed marketing strategies and oversaw the development of the creative campaigns. It was the perfect blend of business and creativity, or so I thought. Advertising never felt fulfilling enough, so I found myself continuously working on creative endeavors with my sister which began for as long as I can remember. As an adolescent, I helped her get an agent as a child performer. As a teenager, I helped her create a t-shirt line. As a young ad exec, I worked with her to create a clothing line that was sold in 3 boutiques and we created custom designs for Jay-Z, within 3 months of our launch. I also worked with her to produce a viral video parodying Jay-Z, a few years later. The success and media attention we received from the video was the catalyst for us both deciding to pursue entertainment full time. So, I took production classes, read books, conducted dozens of informational interviews with people in all facets of the entertainment industry. In 2014, I left advertising, started my company, signed a few additional clients and was off to the races! In the past few years, I executive produced a stand up comedy special alongside Bill Burr and Pete Davidson for Comedy Central and my clients have written and appeared on shows that are on networks including FOX, ABC, HBO, MTV, BET, truTV and many more. My clients have also been featured in publications including Entertainment Weekly, Time Out NY, The New York Times, Vulture, Huffington Post, ELLE.com, BuzzFeed and more.

• Please outline the services you provide for clients and any specialties.

  I specialize in developing comedic talent (stand-up, actors, writers, content creators) and producing projects for film, TV, commercial and digital.

• What type of clients do you typically represent? What factors do you consider when deciding which clients to take on?

  I work with clients that are able to create opportunities. I represent multi-hyphenates who at a minimum, are content creators. The key factors that I consider are work ethic, having clearly defined career goals, ability to work collaboratively (being assertive while also able to take constructive feedback) and having a positive attitude. Work chemistry is instrumental!

• What is one thing people would be surprised to know about your profession? What is one of the biggest misconceptions?

  Many talent believe that you have to go through certain “gatekeepers” to be successful. That’s a limited view that often times leads to failure. In fact, the gate is wide open, especially with the advent of social media and newer technology that democratizes the access to resources that help achieve success. Ultimately, success is mostly driven by the talent having clear career goals with consistent hard work, persistency and endurance.

• What are some challenges or obstacles you have faced as an African-American in this profession?

  The challenges I face are mostly due to my lack of traditional experience in entertainment. Luckily, there are many similarities between the advertising and entertainment worlds. I try my best to be a part of the right organizations and have experienced mentors, so that I can supplement any knowledge deficit by tapping into those resources for guidance and support.

• What do you think can be done to improve diversity with regards to representation?

  We need increased awareness. There’s a common narrative that we’re not in representation or we lack the business acumen to drive successful careers. Resources like Diverse Representation are an instrumental step in the right direction. Having a database that lists Black representatives provides a one stop source for talent. We also need to highlight our wins and showcase our effort. We need to be on point and buttoned up when we present ourselves, make excellence a part of our business ethos and work collaboratively with one another to share and build resources to support one another in our career pursuits.

• What advice would you have for other African-Americans looking to enter this profession?

  Always be a student. Find mentors, organizations, and research people/organizations who are excelling in this profession.

• What is the best way for people to get in touch with you?

  Email me at Krystal@StarkWhiteEntertainment.com