How Caroline Liem Of In The Podlight Is Helping To Make the Entertainment Industry More Diverse and Representative
An Interview With Guernslye Honoré
Be curious. People love to pay it forward and share their golden nuggets. It’s all in how you frame your curious question for them.
As a part of my series about leaders helping to make the entertainment industry more diverse and representative, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Caroline Liem.
Caroline Liem is a highly experienced casting director who has cast award winning / nominated features, independent films, television series, and animated series with studios including Paramount, Twentieth Century, Disney, Sony, Warner Bros, and networks including Netflix, ABC, CBS, NBC, The CW and Fox. She is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the industry, co-founding programs to support underrepresented voices, training future casting professionals, and committed to creating casts and telling engaging stories that reflect the richness of the world we live in. In The Podlight reflects this commitment to create space for voices of all shapes and orientations to educate and inspire. Caroline currently heads the screen acting program at Oklahoma City University, and formerly served as Vice President of Casting Society, as well as Vice President of Advocacy, leaning in to shine a light and elevate global voices on both sides of the camera.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
At the time of this article, I’ve been a casting director for 26 years. The journey has had its own pace and pauses and continues to move me exactly in the direction I am supposed to be going, which is producing, writing, teaching, coaching. I’ve been a coach and a teacher and a creative my entire life. As a musician, I’ve traveled the world performing for royalty and dignitaries. It has connected me with lifelong friends globally. I’ve led programs designed with critical interest in examining our world and its challenging social issues; supported a global organization with education, training, and programs to lift up not only our in-house community, but to be a visible and vibrant leader in the film/television/theatre industry we love. I always say that everything has a place at the table — the professional you, the personal you, the side hustle you, the hobbies you — all have a voice and contribute to the conversation. It took a long time to learn not to forsake any part of who I am in creative and professional spaces; there will always be naysayers, and with that — your voice matters.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Growing up as a first generation Asian American from a medical family, stability was prioritized when choosing a career path — business, law or medicine. It was understood that I would need to embrace a vocation with a clear trajectory, something that would allow me to support my family in the long term both financially, and as a caregiver. A creative career generally has no set singular path or guarantee for success. At its best, acting is thrilling, fulfilling and creates connection with our society, uplifts our communities, and mirrors what it means to be a human being. It can also be nomadic and lonely and ephemeral. It challenges your heart, your soul, your mind and through that the artist becomes an instrument for change. This is what called me to a creative life and made it impossible to choose another path. My challenge at the time was that performers who looked like me were few and far between. It didn’t stop me, rather, it opened me to casting, where I could create and support a larger vision while shining a light on underrepresented voices. I met the obstacle by creating my own path and honoring all the parts of my voice — the actor, casting director, coach, musician, producer, teacher, writer, and much more. It’s vital to bring all of who we are as artists and who we are as people into every story we tell.
Ok, thank you for all that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our discussion. Can you describe how you are helping to make popular culture more representative of the US population?
When we see someone who looks like us doing the “thing” we never thought of, it becomes possible. Part of the reason why I went into casting was I didn’t see myself reflected in the TV and film I was avidly watching. I thought if I could (pun intended) “cast” the net wide from the other side of the table I could contribute to seeing and hearing more global voices. I was so curious about how the decisions were made behind the scenes, always asking questions about how we could open up the roles and think beyond the usual casting. Over time I was encouraged to contribute to projects that were more reflective of the world we are in. In The Podlight is a love letter to the myriads of creative voices of all backgrounds tirelessly sharing, leaning into and pushing through the dynamic changes we are currently in conversation about. It’s the “why” and the “how”.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by the work you are doing?
In The Podlight is the culmination of many mentors, colleagues and collaborations around the humanity we all strive to bring to our lives and our creative work. The impact evolved from a personal background of being quiet and small, evolving to meeting my personal vulnerability and strength, addressing what I’m meant to be doing with the short time given, and to be in the conversation with changemakers.
As an insider, this might be obvious to you, but I think it’s instructive to articulate this for the public who might not have the same inside knowledge. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why it’s really important to have diversity represented in Entertainment and its potential effects on our culture?
Representation in entertainment is not just a matter of social justice; it’s also a catalyst of creative, economic, and social benefits and growth. It enriches our storytelling landscape, promotes inclusivity and empathy, and reflects the true diversity of our world. From a business/box office standpoint, as the entertainment industry becomes increasingly global, content that reflects diverse experiences is more likely to resonate with international audiences. And from this broader perspective, people are more likely to watch and support content where they feel represented.
When we see characters who look like us or share our experiences, we connect with them on a deeper level, as if we are connecting with a friend on screen who understands our struggles and triumphs. This connection makes the stories more engaging and meaningful.
Authenticity matters. When diverse voices tell their own stories, we get a more genuine and relatable depiction of different cultures and experiences. This authenticity can lead to more powerful and impactful storytelling, more accurately reflecting the world in which we live.
Movies and TV shows have the power to inspire real-world change. When we see diverse characters achieving great things or overcoming obstacles, it can inspire us to push for change in our own lives and communities.
Consistent diverse representation can shift cultural norms. It helps normalize diversity, making it an expected and welcomed part of our media landscape. This shift can influence other areas of society, promoting broader acceptance and inclusivity and belonging.
Embracing diversity in entertainment is the right thing to do. It’s also a way to create richer, more engaging stories that reflect the world we live in. It helps us understand each other’s humanity and opens the door to endless creative possibilities.
Can you recommend three things the community/society/the industry can do to help address the root of the diversity issues in the entertainment business?
1. Inclusivity in hiring practices. This includes actively recruiting talent from underrepresented groups, looking for talent in new places, setting diversity targets, and ensuring that hiring teams themselves are diverse.
2. Mentorship | Training from the top down. Bring more individuals from underrepresented groups to the table to gain the necessary skills, experience, and industry connections to thrive in the various creative and business roles within the entertainment industry and make their way to the C-suite. It’s all about giving everyone a fair shot at success.
3. Support diverse content. Continue to provide financial and promotional support for projects that feature diverse stories and characters, including funding grants, distribution deals, and marketing campaigns focused on elevating content created by and about underrepresented groups to help them get made and reach a wide audience.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership encompasses building strong relationships, clearly communicating the vision, staying adaptable and open to new ideas, continually investing in the talent of the team, leading by example. How I lean into all of this is through Belonging + Acknowledgement + Celebration. Belonging centers my collaborations, relationships, and the work. It’s the bridge between Diversity and Inclusion, where we ask the questions, LISTEN, have the hardest conversations, and build trust. Belonging is the thing where artists feel seen and heard and celebrated. It’s where we get to talk about the ‘why’ of not feeling included, help one another feel heard, and move the needle forward.
DBEI is in all I do. Diversity calls people into the deepness of any celebration they need, which is acknowledgement. Inclusion brings the voices to the room — perspectives. Equity is having the most challenging conversations to create the change. But Belonging… that’s the sweet spot.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
- “No” does not equal failure. No is “not yet”.
- Be curious. People love to pay it forward and share their golden nuggets. It’s all in how you frame your curious question for them.
- Nurture your love of your art outside the business. We are all multi-hyphenates, and what we do outside our art (hobbies, interests, family/chosen family, side-hustles, etc…) is every bit as important as the hustle for the gig. It informs how you create & tell your stories.
- It may not necessarily be the right choice or the wrong choice. It’s just a choice. And you can make another one.
- Seek the people who see you — mentors, colleagues, chosen family & friends. They will be your core, foundation.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
It’s always a gift to share the room with incredible people who are heart-centered forces for good, business, entrepreneurship, mindfulness, healing, and leadership in this world!
Global Creative Exchange: An initiative to build a worldwide network for artists, writers, musicians, dancers, and other creatives to collaborate, share resources, and inspire each other. This includes establishing creative hubs, offering residencies and grants, and facilitating cross-cultural artistic projects. Think global artist co-op shining in its magnificent worthiness.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“When people show you who they are believe them — the first time.” “The way you do one thing is the way you do all things.”
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
I’d have tea with these 3 fierce women?!
Butet Manurung — An educational activist and founder of the Sokola Rimba, a school that provides education to indigenous people in remote areas of Indonesia. Her work focuses on preserving indigenous knowledge while providing basic education to marginalized communities. Her efforts in promoting literacy and cultural preservation make her a notable figure in education and social justice.
Leah Garcés — President of Mercy For Animals, a leading international animal protection organization. She is a formidable force in advocating for the rights of farmed animals and promoting plant-based diets. Her efforts have led to significant changes in the practices of major food companies.
Dr. Jane Goodall — Though often associated with her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees, she is a prominent advocate for animal rights and environmental conservation globally. Her Roots & Shoots program empowers young people worldwide to engage in community service projects, including those focused on animals and the environment.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Instagram — @itscarolineliem
Websites — www.inthepodlight.com www.carolineliem.com/
This was very meaningful, thank you so much!
About the interviewer: Guernslye Honoré, affectionately known as “Gee-Gee”, is an amalgamation of creativity, vision, and endless enthusiasm. She has elegantly twined the worlds of writing, acting, and digital marketing into an inspiring tapestry of achievement. As the creative genius at the heart of Esma Marketing & Publishing, she leads her team to unprecedented heights with her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her innate flair for innovation. Her boundless passion and sense of purpose radiate from every endeavor she undertakes, turning ideas into reality and creating a realm of infinite possibilities. A true dynamo, Gee-Gee’s name has become synonymous with inspirational leadership and the art of creating success.
