Meet Melissa Yu | Talent Agent

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Yu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, how do you think about risk?

Being Asian American and not having family be supportive of my career choice was one of the hardest things I had to push through. I even had guests American speakers from a Chinese church say to me that your “Parents know more about you than you think.” This was coming from a lawyer of which her parents knew that would be her occupation. She was more than wrong.

I legit left Georgia State University in within 30 credit hours away from graduating surprising all my friends to move to Los Angeles. I was very goal oriented and did not want to waste my time there. Taking the money I earned while serving in the US Air Force, getting side jobs there, finding the right representation before being in town, auditioning and networking along the way build up my expertise. It was clear to me all along attitude is what gets you far of which I was never taught but reminded. I am a nice, understanding, and reasonable person to begin with. Quite to the contrary, just because you work in entertainment and see snobby people, that is definitely what would NOT get them hired. Being in this industry, there is no excuse to be mean.

I felt I was capable of started my own talent agency in Atlanta after working as an intern and junior agent for a SAG Franchised talent agency in Los Angeles. At the beginning, my high expectations Asian father was so pushy and playing devil’s advocate on how to find clients. I was adamant social media would work and being listed on the union website after getting union franchise, and basically that talent agents don’t need to advertise because “Everyone wants to be an actor, right?”

Taking this risks meant I really couldn’t fail and when things started to get rough, to find a way to fix it. My brother even stated about how acting will not a guaranteed track. Then my entire immediate family started seeing how successful I was and prompted my sister to ask about voiceover talent for her favorite shows, then my brother saying he wants part of it, and my dad saying things like “If they ever need an old Asian man..” these are coming from people who never supported me to begin with. How am I supposed to feel?

I have no trouble finding clients even before I was able to file paperwork for a SAG-AFTRA franchise. Now, I really have no trouble finding clients. It took that long that my father finally commented that he loved my business saying that he admired the fact I have no trouble finding actors to represent. It was nice having him be quiet with his obtrusive opinions for once. It is a culturally thing that if you are doing well, Asian parents are quiet. You will only hear the criticism. It is better to have best of both worlds regarding American and Chinese culture.

Finding the actors work is a different story. People say it is who you know in this industry. I found out doing the right thing by being brave also helps me too. Such example includes a time where I knew a talent management company was clearly a scam. I posted a review in 2012 when one of the managers said he will blackmail me in Hollywood.  I was confident enough to say to myself that company did this to actors before and doesn’t know anyone in the industry to blackmail me. A known casting director contacted me as a witness for a story for Deadline Hollywood. I felt it was better to help other actors to further my own career than to be quiet and give into illegal commands. I ended up making a professional connection with that casting director. On my own as a talent agency, I even asked casting if a casting breakdown was truly in production, that it was being advertised by a scam agency in Atlanta. Casting was mad someone stole and manipulated their information but was thankful of me coming forward. What industry professional/beginning actor would do such thing as most are afraid due to repercussions of their careers? This type of risks I took helped me gain a network inadvertently that I needed to succeed in the industry.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

One thing is for sure I do push to hire local and keep my client based 90% Southeast/Georgia based. There is a lot of talent here and they deserve to be looked at; they just need a little development on the professional level and the business side of acting. I did not open a talent agency in Atlanta to get actors in Los Angeles work. Actors in Los Angeles can get their Los Angeles agents to do that. And just as actors prepandemic had to go to Los Angeles to meet agents, actors who need more work thus going backwards from Hollywood to Atlanta and coming to a smaller market must come meet me in person in Atlanta. Georgia is a very different place to work labor law wise, weather wise, etc. If they want to work here, I feel it is fair they know the environment they will be working in. I also laugh every time when one of my West Coast Los Angeles clients gets an audition for a production in Los Angeles… from Atlanta.

As anyone will tell you, starting your own business isn’t easy. Everyone faces fear. How someone handles that fear can generate how well they will do. I know I wasn’t scared filing the business/legal paperwork. It was scary and intimiting asking award winning casting directors with Emmy winning shows etc. to write me a recommendation. The thought of, “Why would they do this for me, a clear nobody?” resonated in my mind. It was less scary looking for scholarship money for college but just like scholarships, I knew I would hate myself if I didn’t try asking. What can be worst than “no” for an answer, right?

I also want to say to all the Asian Americans out there who complain they won’t put Asians on screen or heavily discouraged their kids to work in my industry, that you are part of the problem. There are plenty of ways to make it in this industry even with a survival job. I would have never had built SR//SS Talent Agency had I listened to my parents. They’re would be more Asians in the American film industry had their families and loved ones supportive them rather than the traditional medical and engineering fields. I also encourage those who want to work in this industry to always have a backup plan and not let your parents voices get into your heads.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Well there are plenty of fun these to try in my office building Colony Square. Visiting my office, where a lot of my friends still have yet to do, Colony Square is an Atlanta landmark and has since remodeled with an outdoor terrace and upscale food hall, Politan Row. They also brought back the seasonal ice skating rink that was last up in the late 70s/80s as I was told.

The touristy things like the CNN Center, Georgia Aquarian, Centennial Park, Museum of Civil Rights, State Farm Arena are worth a visit even outside if not wanting to pay for a tour. I personally love the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as a Falcons Season Ticket Holder. If someone likes group outings, tailgating in the South is a must. There are also outdoorsy and arts districts things like the Beltline and Krog and Pounce City Market. As a local, I consider these touristy.

Now, let’s get to the local part. I can’t let them go without showing the markets of Buford Hwy. Who can say know to authentic Asian and Hispanic cuisine? Sweet Hut Bakery put Asian Square on a map. Let’s not forget there are other cuisines around like Ethiopian if one has the tastes, getting a haircut there, shopping for goods from Japan, going to a karaoke bar, eating authentic Mexican tacos, or shopping for groceries at HMart and equivalent supermarkets. I never even eat near my home in downtown because it is so touristy. Some restaurants hosts say that is messed up since I have been here for 10 years when I brought up the fact. No, I just know where to find better food. You know something is wrong when the food is expensive and lacks taste and it is bad when fast food taste better. Would you pay for experience and ambience for bad food or willing to go to a less expensive more casual place to eat but the food is so good? So far my friends loved the restaurants I have taken them. There is a saying that the food is better in the hood.

As a figure skater myself, I have a moral duty to let them know they can cool off on the summer at the year round ice skating rinks around town like the Cooler in Alpharetta. Oh if they like animals, a visit to the Fulton County Animal Shelter where you can adopt any dog for $85 is worth a visit that would probably change any person in their prospective of shopping for a puppy. Cobb County Shelter and Gwinnett County Animal Shelter boosts the most purebreed dogs I have seen when searching for my second rescue dog. Plus, speaking as a military veteran myself, military veterans can adopt for free at Cobb County Animal Shelter, or through Paws for Patriots or Vets Adopt Pets at the other shelters. There are a lot of things to do, you just have to know where to find your fun if Google Maps doesn’t tell you.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Even though my dad lacks some emotional support, the practical advice he taught me growing up has led me to never getting scam in this industry and being able to run a business regardless of being a woman. I have learn how to treat others with my mother but I give a lot of credit to my father learning how to deal with people on a business level and forming a business from startup to almost the 5 year mark. I didn’t need a hire a consultant company or lawyer to file necessary paperwork to official be a recognized business in Atlanta and the state of Georgia.

As I just celebrated 5​ years in business in December, there were times I wanted to quit. I didn’t just think about my clients or parents, but I remember that known casting director who wrote me a recommendation, those talent managers, and colleagues all in Los Angeles rooting for me to do well in Atlanta. They also needed me to do well so they can succeed with mutual networking in both the Atlanta and Los Angeles markets. I just couldn’t let down the casting directors who took the time to write my recommendations. I couldn’t quit. Thanks to them, I had my credentials coming in.

Website: www.srsstalentagency.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/srsstalentagency

Image Credits
Melissa Yu with former SAG-AFTRA National Director David Smith during the AFL-CIO Summit in conjunction with CES Las Vegas 2020. Please pick which picture works buts for the editorial.