CAPE EMERGING EXECUTIVES COMMITTEE
A first-of-its-kind initiative to fast-track the next generation of Asian and Pacific Islander assistant and coordinator-level employees in Hollywood, the CAPE Emerging Executives Committee (CEEC) is comprised of a select group of assistants and coordinators who will collaborate during their tenure to build community and provide opportunities for networking and connection throughout the larger support staff ranks. The Emerging Executives Committee will also receive exclusive opportunities for mentorship and career development through CAPE's extensive network of executives in Hollywood.
Co-chaired by Duane Luu (Director, Drama Development, NBCUniversal), Mohan Mandali (SVP, Development & Production, Perfect Storm Entertainment), and Sam Campos (VP, Drama Development, CBS Studios), this initiative builds on the CAPE Leaders Fellowship, now approaching its seventh year as a coveted industry-leading accelerator that equips rising senior creative executives with the skills and professional network to break into the VP ranks and beyond.
OUR 2024-25 COMMITTEE
BRANDON KITAJIMA ESTRELLA
Executive Assistant, Drama Development, CBS Studios
Brandon Estrella is currently an executive assistant at CBS Studios in Drama Development. Previously, he worked in Cable & Streaming Current for CBS Studios on shows for Paramount+, Comedy Central, Netflix, Apple TV+, and Prime Video, among others. Prior to CBS, he worked in feature and series development at Impact Pictures. Brandon is originally from Hawai‘i and was selected for the 2021 ‘Ohina Filmmakers Lab and the 2022 CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge. He’s a proud alum of Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television’s inaugural 2020 class with an MFA in Film and Television Production with an emphasis in Creative Producing.
CLAIRE FENG
Creative Assistant to the Head of Wholly-Owned TV Development, Comedy and Drama - Amazon Studios
Claire Feng is on the Wholly-Owned Comedy & Drama TV Development team at Amazon Studios, supporting the development of upcoming series on Prime, such as Overcompensating. Previously in the TV Lit department at UTA (and doing a stint in the agency's Branded Content/Entertainment Marketing Division), Claire got her start working in unscripted development at Bravo, MTV and Animal Planet. A proud New-Englander raised by Chinese immigrants, she graduated from NYU in 2021 with a degree in Entertainment Business.
HANNAH HWANG
Executive Assistant to Partner & Co-Head of the TV Literary Department at UTA / Co-Lead of UTA's EIG Unity Leadership Board
Hannah Hwang is currently an Executive Assistant to the Co-Head of UTA’s TV Literary Department and has been the Co-Lead of the UTA Unity AAPI Community Group for two consecutive years. Previously, she helped expand, consult, and discover new talent and business opportunities supporting the Head of the Asia Business Development Department at UTA (from scripted & unscripted TV, music, features, fashion, & brand partnership opportunities). She organized the first ever UTA Busan Film Festival Party - making UTA the only Hollywood agency to host overseas in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival. Born and raised in Koreatown, Los Angeles, Hannah is a proud first generation Korean-American who started her career as a child actress. Prior to UTA, she was an ex-Kpop trainee, pageant winner, model and actress with a BA in Performing Arts & Theater from the Korea National University Arts.
MARIA VICTORIA C. BALENTON
Coordinator, Comedy/Streaming & Cable/Animation Development - CBS Studios
Maria Balenton is a Coordinator for Comedy/Animation/Streaming & Cable Development at CBS Studios. After graduating from CSUN with a degree in Cinema & Television Arts, she pursued a career in Development, much to her parents’ chagrin. She has since worked with various production companies under overall deals at UTV & ABC Signature, eventually landing her current role at CBS Studios, where she continues to uplift AAPI voices across all genres.
SARA CHEN
Entertainment Coordinator, UCP and Universal International Studios
Sara Chen works in development as an Entertainment Coordinator at UCP and Universal International Studios, divisions of Universal Studio Group. Prior to starting at Universal Studio Group, she was a West Coast Page in the renowned NBCUniversal early career program, working across Bravo, Peacock and UCP. She graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Business, English and Cinema Studies. Originally from just outside Chicago, Chen is based in Los Angeles.
SARAH PAEK
Film Coordinator, Atomic Monster
Sarah Paek is the Film Coordinator at James Wan's Atomic Monster. She received her B.S. in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College and initially started her career as an aerospace engineer at Northrop Grumman. However, her passion for storytelling led her to post-production on "iZombie," followed by development at Daniel Dae Kim’s 3AD. With a deep love for horror, Sarah now enjoys bringing chilling tales to life at Atomic Monster.
TAYLOR KILLEFER
MP Lit Coordinator, Verve
Taylor Killefer was most recently at Netflix as a Creative Assistant in the Film Team. There, she supported film development and acquisitions, gaining exposure to all stages of filmmaking, from pitch to release. Previously, she worked at Color Force and CAA in the Motion Picture Literary Department, where she spearheaded CAA’s Moebius Film Festival, showcasing emerging talent to the agency. A Chapman graduate in TV Writing and Production, Taylor is passionate about championing diverse and intersectional stories across film and television.
Join us at events hosted by the CAPE Emerging Executives Committee!
If you are an assistant or coordinator in the entertainment industry and would like to be notified of future events hosted by CEEC, please fill out the form below to be added to our mailing list.