Meet Reena Patton | Talent Manager and Producer

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

Hi Reena, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from the San Francisco Bay Area. I grew up in a multiculturally rich community on the Peninsula which encompasses Silicon Valley. My upbringing in a single-parent all-woman household instilled in me the fortitude and independence to trust my instincts to move confidently in the world regardless of my gender or racial identity. This solid foundation in my earlier years impacts every facet of my adult life, both personally and professionally.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I attended boarding school from ages ten to eighteen with kids from all around the world. The extraordinary experience of living with people from different cultures, religions, and identities sets me apart for my ability to listen and appreciate viewpoints and perspectives that differ from my own. Whether I am in the hills or the hood, I feel at home.

I was a young performer throughout my junior high and high school years. I took my love for the performing arts with me to Mills College in Oakland, CA. After graduating from Mills, where I double-majored in Media Studies and Economic Analysis, I knew I wanted an entertainment career on the business side. I read some books about talent representation and this profession aligned with my myriad of interests in both business and the arts. With my natural tendency to advocate for others, I released my plan to attend law school, instead, I applied to entry-level positions at the top talent agencies in Los Angeles, CA. I accepted an assistant position with International Creative Management (ICM). After serving in some of the offices of top talent agents like Nancy Josephson and Leigh Brillstein, I left ICM for John Carrabino Management. Nearly seventeen years later, I remain with Carrabino at his boutique talent management company. Not only do I support Carrabino with his A-list roster which includes Emmy, Golden Globe, and Oscar-winning actors, but I also advocate for a carefully curated roster of multitalented BIPOC and Queer-identified actors in film, stage, television, and voice. I take immense pride in being an integral part of the dreams of my clients.

Establishing myself in the entertainment industry has included challenges and obstacles; however, I look beyond those trials so I can reflect and focus on applying learned lessons to the present. One of the most important lessons during my career is to listen to my gut and my inner voice and trust my taste. Another lesson is to be fair and kind in all dealings and when I falter to take accountability for missteps.

I want the world to know that I am here to be a source of information and a beacon of light in this peculiar business of make-believe. My brand and story are truth and encouragement.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If an out-of-town friend came for a trip, the morning would start at Phil’s Deli & Grill for breakfast located inside the Original Farmers Market, then over to Panini Kabob Grill for lunch in Century City, and finish with a tour of the various offerings at Eataly for dinner. We would go to a comedy show at the Laugh Factory before heading to Sunset at the WeHo Edition Hotel for dancing. An adventurous day may include shooting at the Los Angeles Gun Club, go-karting at K1 Speed, or museum-hopping at the Getty Museums. For shopping, we would hit the Pickwick Vintage Show at the Row DTLA Market for hard-to-find pieces like vintage clothing, jewelry, hats, shoes, luxury handbags, and eyewear from the 70s and 80s. Before leaving town, I would share the sunset view cruising north up the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica to Malibu Village for a buttery lobster roll at Broad Street Oyster Company.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my tribe of friends who surround, support, and challenge me through my ever-evolving phases. Their consistent presence is invaluable in my personal development and success. Additionally, shoutout to my various educators and cohorts at The Harker School, Castilleja School, Mills College, and the University of Southern California. My success reflects the academics acquired at these esteemed institutions of higher learning. Finally, I especially recognize the unwavering wisdom and guidance of my mother, Bessie Smith, and my boarding school dorm mother, Janet Whitchurch – both deeply valued influences that continue to shape who I am today.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reenapatton/

Image Credits
Selfies by Reena Patton