Hold the Door
A weekly podcast about how underrepresented folks are surviving and thriving in the entertainment industry. Stay connected on Instagram @holdthedoorpod.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the host and guests alone.
Hold the Door
Showcasing Your Worth with Fidan Manashirova
This week, Fidan Manashirova joins the pod to discuss the best ways to showcase your value, particularly as you position yourself for growth and new opportunities. She emphasizes the importance of staying curious, proactively networking, and making sure you maintain a balance between being well rounded and letting your passions shine through.
If you want to keep up with her, you can find her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Make sure to subscribe to Hold the Door on your favorite listening platform. You can also get updates on guests, episode releases, and more by following the show on Instagram @holdthedoorpod.
Camille: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests alone.
Fidan: Not just what makes you interesting, what have you accomplished? So give yourself some like recognition and that's where the confidence is gonna come from.
You have to be open about I'm gonna look for other opportunities then. Yeah. And then a lot of times they'll say, great, I'll help you.
Camille: Hello, welcome to Hold the Door, a podcast where we explore how folks from underrepresented backgrounds have found a way to survive & thrive in the entertainment industry. This week, Fidan Manashirova joins the pod to discuss the best ways to showcase your value, particularly as you position yourself for growth and new opportunities. She emphasizes the importance of staying curious, proactively networking, and making sure you maintain a balance between being well rounded and letting your passions shine through. Hope you enjoy our conversation.
Originally born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Fidan grew up in Northern California, splitting her time between the SF Bay Area and Sacramento, where she played competitive tennis. After competing globally at the junior level, she was recruited to play for The Ohio State University, achieving national rankings in both singles and doubles.
With a lifelong passion for film, television, and storytelling, Fidan moved to Los Angeles shortly after graduation to build her career in scripted television/film & production. She is currently a Director of Drama Development at Fox.
Before Fox, Fidan served as a Senior Director of Development at Westbrook Studios where she worked on the hit Peacock Original series Bel Air in its third season. And before that, Fidan spent six years at Netflix, contributing to a range of launched original series, including The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club, Archive 81, Devil in Ohio, and The Night Agent.
Prior to Netflix, she worked at a talent management company that represented A-list clients. Fidan is passionate about development & production, particularly in nurturing new & emerging talent and bringing compelling, bold, and broadly appealing series to life.
In her spare time, she loves traveling, enjoying great food, listening to music, supporting local artists, and occasionally losing herself in a captivating novel.
Fidan, welcome to the podcast.
Fidan: Thank you.
Camille: Thank you for being here.Today we are gonna discuss showcasing your value which is basically my way of explaining how you kind of prove your worth and get to the next level, but also, make sure your career is going the way you want it to. Yeah. So before we get into that, I always start the show off with how did you get your start in the industry and was entertainment always the plan?
Fidan: Yeah. I, it was not always the plan. I actually grew up playing tennis very competitively as per my bio.
Um, and that was the plan in the beginning.
Camille: Go pro.
Fidan: Yeah. Okay. Go professionally or at least definitely go to college. And that was a full commitment. And, but you know, you're growing up at the same time as you're playing this really competitive sport. So you have other passions, you have other interests.
And mine were watching sitcoms or watching movies. All of the best stuff came out in the two thousands. Agreed. Yeah. And the nineties were kind of amazing movies were made during that decade too, and just going into 2010s even where TV started really popping off. So that's when I started getting curious about this stuff, especially when I did compete in college.
After that I would play professional tournaments, but like I made the decision probably my senior end of junior year of college that I'm going to not spend my twenties trying to. Se essentially start over and play a sport professionally like tennis, which is, there's no draft. Mm-hmm. And there's no, like, you have to like, basically find sponsorships, find a committed coach that travels with you pretty much play 50 weeks outta the year.
Uh, if you get injured, you're kinda screwed because. You're out for a while and then that's more time spent. I mean, the sport only has so much of longevity. And then when you're done what next? Mm-hmm. The paths are, I've seen it, like I have friends who have played pro retired and then they're either a coach or they're yeah, they're just like either a coach.
So it's hard to think about that. And then, you know, I don't have it, I don't think I had it in me to, to do it, so I was like, what kind of career can I. Start and like I had a lot of advice from people, um, when I did my like. Fifth year, I did like a half of, like one more semester essentially. Mm-hmm.
So I graduated in December instead of the spring, and people were like, you gotta move to la And I'm like, I'm from California, LA is like five and a half, six hour drive from where I'm from, so why not I'm close enough to my family. I had like saved some money from like coaching in the summers.
And I just like came, I moved out here and it was 2014, top of the year. And, uh, yeah, I had this, like, I really got lucky and my first job was an assistant to this talent manager who essentially, like, he had an interesting story. He came from CAA as like a big time man or agent. And now he was a manager and took some really interesting clients with him.
And he pretty much took a chance on me. He, 'cause, you know, I was. Freshly into the industry. Mm-hmm. And just needed that foot in the door job. And he was like, I like the, uh, the fact that you're an athlete. He's like, I think he said like, I, I played baseball in college, so Okay. I really like, appreciate And the drive.
The drive, yeah. The determination, the persistence, discipline. Discipline. Absolutely. So that was like tremendous. And then from there I kind of figured out my path. I actually had like a two year, two and a half year break from entertainment. Mm-hmm. And I worked in like corporate fashion and beauty brands.
Mm-hmm. And at Guess Denim. Okay. Not guess, everyone was like, no, tell me. And then I worked for this beauty brand called Hourglass Cosmetics, which is like in like Sephoras and Nordstroms and it. Pretty luxury brand. I did some, some marketing, some worked with account executives, so, and some of their like copywriting for some of the product launches and still kind of creative, but different industry but sort of adjacent, adjacent cultures.
Yeah. Yeah. Like competitive. Very, uh, yeah just like really intense. Can be cutthroat.
Camille: Yeah.
Fidan: Very fast paced. Big turnaround. There's a client like in a, in a way, you know? Mm-hmm.
Fidan: Um, so yeah, and then the calling came when I started working at Netflix and my best friend Kyle, who is still there working corporate events. He came on board as a floater at the time, but now they're department admins where you're like, full-time Netflix.
Camille: Yeah.
Fidan: Assistant support that covers, essentially covers every single group that needs coverage on the EA level. And then, um, you kind of can figure it out and what you, where you wanna land.
And it was just amazing program that I ended up like. Having my first assignment be on an HRBP desk and I helped like continue to grow it.
Camille: Mm-hmm. And
Fidan: then creative was my calling 'cause I, that's what I was really upfront with, like my bosses and my team at the time. And they were really supportive
mm-hmm. So the series side is more established at Netflix at the time. And my first opportunity was working for Peter Friedlander, who like is, you know, was running everything. Still crushing it right now. And, uh, that was cool and like I got into the TV side and, and really like really got. Hands-on. On, on a lot of projects.
Yeah. Like that executive track, correct. Yeah. During like a very interesting time at Netflix where it was a lot more autonomous and you know, totally, there was like a lot more openness and freedom truly on the creative side. 'cause it's hard. It's not the same like that. It's a tech company that has all kinds of departments, but on the creative side, it's always gonna be Hollywood.
Camille: Right, right. No, I think it's, I think it's so funny that you're like, okay, going pro is kind of tough. Let me just. Try this. Yeah. Take the easier route and try to make it in entertainment in with it in Hollywood.
Fidan: I know. Well, I didn't realize that that was, is gonna be this hard. I don't know what I was, what I thought it was.
It is very naive, but probably in a good way. Yeah, optimistically naive.
Camille: Totally. To let you go do it. But also like numbers wise, it probably is easier than going pro, so,
Fidan: oh, a hundred percent. But it's not even like, it's not the gamble on the going pro part and like he's. You have to be certainly in the top 100 in the world in order to make it a career like financially.
Camille: Mm-hmm.
Fidan: And then furthermore, you're always defending your points. Like every single tournament. If you win a tournament one year, the next year you gotta be back and you gotta win it again. And then whilst you're essentially playing all these tournaments for the big four, the grand Slams, and then those are like the prime time, you know?
Right, right. Tournaments. It's like legendary and iconic to have a grand slam win under your belt, even just one. It's amazing. Mm-hmm. And then think about like people like Serena Williams or like Roger Federer who like, and Djokovic who have like dozens of these things, right. And their career. Yeah. It's like a lot.
And it's like those people are superheroes in my, it's like for me it's like I have other, I had other likes and passions. Yeah. And I don't know, I just felt. I don't know. It was just a leap that I'm not like regretting at all. 'cause some people also ask me like, do you regret not actually doing it?
Because I do still have a lot of friends who play. Yeah. Or at least have like pivoted into like professional pickleball if you can believe it. Oh yeah. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. Which is really intense and fun too. Yeah. But I'm like, yeah, coaching certainly wasn't my passion. Mm-hmm. But playing was, and I'll still play for fun, but it's like I don't really, there's too much going on in this entertainment side that.
Like not, I'm not like dreaming to go back to play tennis. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Yeah.
Camille: Thank you. That's fun. Yeah. Thanks.
Camille: Okay, so now we'll get into our big topic. Oh yeah. From knowing you and a little bit about your career, from our prep call, you seem to excel at being flexible and like open to new opportunities yeah. You told me you often get growth opportunities through networking. Yeah. Where you're just like meeting with folks, learning about what they're doing, mentioning like, Hey, I'm interested in this. And I say this also with the context of, I think a lot of times in the industry, especially now where it feels hard to get a job. Yeah. Hard to keep a job. People are like, don't fire me. Yeah. How have you found is the best way to approach this to kind of signal like, Hey, I'm ready for growth.
Fidan: Mm-hmm.
Camille: And, but you're still, you know, obviously accomplishing your day-to-day job.
Fidan: Yeah. Responsibilities. Oh, you mean like whilst having like something else say? Yeah, yeah. You know, it's important to make sure you have some sort of, or try to build some kind of a rapport with, your managers or whoever's in your sort of circle that has think about like what kind of reach some of these people have, right?
Like, I took some of my opportunities from getting to work on that HR team for that several months before, at Netflix, before I moved on to creative. Mm-hmm. To like do the really build those connections so that later, like honestly sometimes our creative industry is very, very unstable. So I always wanted to keep like HR in my back pocket with those when I ventured away from the industry for a bit. I wanted to keep that experience in my back pocket just to have that experience and like the conversation. So, but also the, some of those people, so like, even like between, like I remember between, my time at Westbrook and my time at Fox now, like I started reaching out deeper into that network of folks. Mm-hmm. And they were like, oh, like they're somewhere new. Or they, oh they're like, oh, I have another, contact here that does an executive search, you know? Mm-hmm. So you just never know until you start asking and digging around. And I think the nature of today of how hard it is to keep and retain a job, in this industry, like people get it. It's not like they're gonna be like, oh, you're secretly trying to find another job. Like there can be so many reasons why you are looking are just like interested. Yeah. Or, or curious or interested. And that should be allowed. And like I've worked in environments mostly where that's been open, kind of an open thing.
Even like the most tightlipped and secretive, so to say, I had to, I felt was probably working at the talent management company. Mm. Um, at the be very beginning of my career because there's a lot, I don't know, like management company sometimes is like, yeah, they're one company, but like everybody's a small mini business like each, right, right.
Each agent or each manager, each partner in a way, unless they, they share clients, then they become a team, but like, yeah, so it starts to get a little bit protective. And so I felt like when I was looking for. Work then and like was starting to get curious during that job. I had to be a little bit more tightlipped about it, but I always felt like what can I, like, what's the next opportunity for growth for me there and like, what kind of conversation can I have with my like direct leader or manager about the growth?
And if there's no growth, then you have to move on. Like then, hey, you have to be open about asking. I'm gonna look for other opportunities then. Yeah. And then a lot of times they'll say, great, I'll help you. Yeah. And if they don't, then that's, you didn't expect it anyway. So it's always just like that much nicer when somebody 'cause it goes again, goes a long way.
And I think persistence is what people admire. Yeah. A lot of the times in this industry, but
Camille: yeah.
Camille: So it's important obviously to do good work, but it's just as important to kind of like be able to showcase that work that you have done. But I think there's also kind of a balance, especially in the entertainment industry.
I've kind of noticed that. It is transactional, obviously. It's literally there's a job, you do it, we pay you. Like that's a transaction. But it's deeper than that. Yes. But especially in the industry, like they really wanna feel kind of that passion like they want you to, they wanna feel like you wanna be there and that you're invested in the work that you're doing.
Mm-hmm. And i'm not sure if that's different in other industries, but it does seem like a special thing for entertainment. Yeah, I agree. So how have you found that sweet spot with either your manager or maybe when you're in an interview and trying to showcase that you're good at what you do without it feeling too like, I don't know, transactional or like you're bragging or whatever. Like how have you found that balance?
Fidan: Yeah. Um. Just be like, I don't know, there's like a balance of like not making it seem like you're trying too hard to seem impressive. Right. And also remaining very grounded and humble in the way that you come off or try to remain as humble as possible. But like, don't be afraid to talk about your, like your strengths, your achievements, your successes.
Like that is your time to do that. To me, that's like, if the person on the other side of the phone or the Zoom or the table doesn't find that impressive, like the, that's not the job for you. Mm-hmm. I just. I think that too many people worry about saying the wrong things and they just don't ask end up asking questions at all.
Or being opinionated. We kinda have to be in this industry.
Because at high level, you have to, you're the one, you are the one who's do, like calling all the shots. You've built a slate, you're building a strategy, or there's nobody to pitch it to anymore. You know, it's like you're either doing it or you're not. So take that leap of faith. So, and like believing, like you have to believe in, in yourself in that regard.
And it might you know, It might like come off the wrong way to people, but again, like it goes back to like, then you shouldn't be working with this person anyway because you're not gonna get along in a work environment if the interview doesn't work out well. And chances are it's not you who bombed, it's just not a mutual match.
Yeah, yeah. That's true. Yeah.
Just pick a couple examples and like, I don't think that people are, if you do that in a strong way, like people aren't gonna pick it apart.
It's when you give very little information where people start picking and digging at you a little bit, you know, I've been told, I've been in a lot of interviews and like, felt like I've crafted how to sell myself a little bit in this way. 'Cause we're all doing that at the end of the day. Like whether you're a performer or you're, influencer or you're selling your, like you're selling yourself an artist.
Camille: Having pinpointed how you sell yourself, how would you break that down? Like what's your approach?
If you can,
Fidan: yeah. I mean, I don't really think I've like mapped it out, but. I guess like, again, like really figuring out your strength and what are a couple of things that people find interesting about you?
On a personal level a little bit in like the appropriate way. Right. And on a professional level, like what, not just what makes you interesting, what have you accomplished? Again, going back to those, like give yourself some. Awards. Mm-hmm. Like, you know, not awards. So give yourself some like recognition and that's where the confidence is gonna come from.
You're like, yeah, hell yeah. Like. I did all these things, and then that sort of becomes a selling tool, selling little package kit in itself.
Fidan: I remember like early on when I would interview I'd write a like Microsoft Word document of like a little script for myself.
And I, like, I wrote it and I would constantly like shift it. And then you start to notice, like on paper I guess, or on the document, what. Some, like what amazing things there are about you on a, on a professional level.
Camille: Yeah.
Fidan: And it's, it's like journaling in a way. Mm-hmm. But you're utilizing it for, crafting this sort of EPK on yourself for, for, uh, for, potential hire like hires.
Yeah. So, yeah, I guess like that, a lot of that is my approach. Yeah. And just making sure that you try and like connect with people on a level too, pay attention, engage, be present, understand what some of their interests are. Mm-hmm. Be a little like, unique about things and thoughtful.
I think that's. Who I am as a person, like in just naturally always wanting to connect. I feel like that's like the purpose of our lives is in every way is like, what's the point if we're not connecting with other people? So to me it's like almost like a challenge. And I think the athletic background in me is like, all right, this is like a competition.
Yeah. You're like, let's go. And I want to win and I'm gonna try to win. Yeah, but like the L is an L at the end of the day too. There are some tough matches that you lose and games and all that. It's not the end of the world. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Camille: So Steve Martin is known for saying be so good they can't ignore you. Honestly, coming from a tennis, like being that intense in tennis that I feel like that kind of checks out with like an athlete background. Mm-hmm. But how do you do that in entertainment?
Fidan: Stick to the thing that you're actually truly, dig out what you're good at and like, commit to it. I'm not saying, I'm not saying like don't be good at other things and be a, be a jack of all trades, but like, pick that thing that you're really good at and like be valuable in that and perfect it and sharpen it so that when people ask you in an interview or give you feedback on you, on your behalf. Mm-hmm. They're like, oh, you know what? Like, yeah, this person's really good at this, yeah. And it's always good to be well-rounded. It's always good to have it all in the bag, but I, I sometimes think like. In the beginning of my career, I remember like wanting to be an every, like a yes woman and like an every man person.
Mm-hmm. And say like, oh, I love this and I love that. And yes, but then that gets you stuck in a hole sometimes. So people start turning to you creatively for these things. Yeah. So do like, perfect. Like what's your taste? What's your taste? But like, I know this is contradicting, but like also know what's out there, and it may not be your thing, but have a palate, like an overall variety. Chefs have to, you know?
Mm-hmm. Like, think about all these judging competition food shows and all these like, great British Bake off. Like they all have to, they might not prefer raisins in something, but like they have to like be able to eat and, judge and sort of break down and dissect this. Everything. And music too.
Like if you're gonna be a music manager or like find talent, like you, you gotta Yes. Have like an avenue, but like, you have to be aware of everyone. Right? Yeah. Because I actually was recently, I was asked for an interview in the past, like, what is that thing that like people would call you out on as being good at?
Mm-hmm. Like, what do you see it for yourself? That's a really good question, interview question. Mm-hmm. Um, but it's also why I realized a very development question. Yeah. When it comes to characters.
Camille: Okay.
Fidan: Uh, you know, like, yeah. Especially like. From people at a network, you know, they'll be like digging into a main character of a pitch for a television show, and they're like, oh, so what's their superpower?
Camille: So what, what did you say to that for you, yourself?
Fidan: Oh, I'm kind of very much aware of what's going on.
Camille: Yeah. You're like tapped in.
Fidan: Tapped in, and like I know writers, I know directors.
I have like. It's not a photographic memory by any means, but like mm-hmm. If I'll be watching something, I'm like, oh yeah, this person was in this, or oh yeah, this is like not their first movie. They've done this. And like, the tone of that was different. You know, like just, and people are like, wow, like I didn't really need to know that, but it helps with the job. Yeah. It helps being like more, much more well-rounded in the know. Totally. Um,
Camille: and then you have your like. A specific things that you're super excited about and that like absolutely adds the little,
Fidan: that adds that little more passion. Passion like really gets people going.
And also when you, you can't say yes to everything, but like certainly not, but you, if you engage with other people's ideas, like it goes such a long way and like I always am engaging with people what they have to say 'cause they like took the time to create something and like that's a hell of a lot more than the rest of us are doing, you know?
Totally. Yeah.
Camille: So A popular adage used in diverse communities is twice as good for half as much.
Mm-hmm. And when I say diverse, I really mean just like whoever's not kind of the dominant mm-hmm. Culture mm-hmm. To just describe this experience of having to go above and beyond to achieve like equal or sometimes like lesser. Opportunity or outcome. So do you feel like you've faced this at all?
Fidan: I think definitely like on a general level, maybe more as a woman. Mm-hmm. Than anything. Yeah. And it's just like the nature of our industry is just like still, I mean, there's a lot of, there's, it's getting a lot better, but like it's still pretty traditionally dominated by, by, by men.
And sometimes, like, I've definitely felt in situations in a work environment where, uh, I feel, you know, not included, like, not part of the boys club. And it's not like inappropriate or anything, right? It's just, it just does, it just feels isolating, right? But I wouldn't, I wouldn't say that if anything, I feel like with my unique name and the fact I am white passing,
but yeah, I feel like, it hasn't, I haven't really experienced a ton of like the, those types of challenges through diversity, but for sure by, just by the nature of being a woman, being heard being in environments where, there's so much content, especially that is for the female audience. And it's hilarious that like there's a lot of men that are still driving in. Right. Programming it, you know? Right. But there's a lot of openness now of like pulling in the female POV Of course. I hope. And like be staying true to like the package you put together, the writers, you put on your projects, the directors you put on your projects, it's gotta make sense.
And it's across the board with all kind of authenticity across any kind of subject matter that you're tackling. Right? Yeah.
Camille: Like have, have the right voices in the room,
Fidan: right? Yeah, exactly. Represent, be representative, and have those conversations. 'cause it's like just the right things to do. So, yeah.
Yeah.
Camille: How do you have you kind of like navigated that?
Fidan:I've been in very, very luckily, in a ton of situations where it's already been implemented from the start. We're gonna get these people in place, this consultant, we're gonna make sure that the writers are gonna be representative. Mm-hmm. And then in another instances where I bring it up and I get like, oh yeah, great point. We will do that. Okay, good. Yeah. So pretty receptive. Receptive. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And so, but never in a situation where I'm like, oh my gosh, this feels so wrong. Like, we shouldn't be doing this, which is, I can't imagine, well, I can imagine it, but I am really lucky I haven't been in that situation. That would be a really crappy thing to go through.
And then you have to think about who were you gonna be in that moment, right? And. It sounds dramatic, but like seriously.
Camille: No, that's a, that's a real thing. Yeah. Okay, so what advice do you have for folks who are looking to get promoted or advance in their careers, but they aren't really sure where to start?
Fidan: Mm-hmm. Get promoted or advancing in your careers?
Yeah. I guess like really having like. A reset conversation with your manager. First of all, do you know your organization and how it works?
And like, what's next for you? What's, what does that promotion look like?
Camille: Mm-hmm.
Fidan: If you don't see it, then rethink like what your trajectory is at the company that you work at or where, what situation, whatever situation you work at. If you see it and there's like something looming or opportunity for growth or scaling and you're smart enough to approach your boss about yourself and be like, Hey, you know, I think that this is what I might deserve. Is there an opportunity for this? Because let me, let me show you how I, how I think it might go down. I dunno, maybe that's overstepping, but I believe that at least on the basic level, you should ask like, Hey, like I'd like to talk about my career.
I've been here for X years. Here's what I've been doing. You know me, I know you. How can I, what do you, what advice would you give me? Throw it back to them. It's like, like you're forcing someone to be like a mentor or anything, but they should, they're your manager. They're a people manager.
They should be able to have those conversations with you. Mm-hmm. So it is scary. It's scary, but it's also, it goes back to the whole selling yourself thing. It's that's scary too. But if you have something like honestly practicing it, like something like sealed airtight. You'll be fine.
Like it's, and if you can't have that conversation, then you don't need to be there unfortunately. It keeps coming back to that keeps going back to that. And I hate saying that because there's so many people outta jobs, but it's like, it's the case. Like if, if tomorrow like I'm hung out to dry and I am trying to find a job and I just can't, and it's just like not meant to be like, can't beat a dead horse or like, you know.
People get stuck in their current jobs and they're unhappy. It's like I a hundred percent would encourage to look elsewhere simultaneously. Mm-hmm.
If you've had those conversations with your manager or you've tried to figure out a way to scale up and it's a no every time, and you're just getting beat down emotionally.
You gotta start looking around. And people hate change, but that's the thing that I feel like I've had to get used to is like you have to try to adapt. It's gonna be like the scariest thing of your life. And then you realize every time after all of it's said and done, that it was worth it and not that bad.
Yeah. Telling you. I'm telling you, it's like the, it's a thing.
Camille: Yeah.
Fidan: I think it also helps too if you have friends who are. Also working alongside you, not in the sense of like physically or in the same company as you, but like they're, they're also hustling mm-hmm.
Alongside you or you have people a little bit older than you have a little bit of more life experience. Like, talk about the stuff, like talk about, I'm not saying like make your whole life about work, but like share important life updates and or, or like. Advice potentially from people around you who could give you a different perspective, which I think is like what gets people in a rut in, in Hollywood.
It's like we all do the same things with the same habits, but. I don't know, share like some of the, like these things that like bother you or how do I get ahead?
Like maybe you're, you know, older brother who works in banking and is, has didn't go to college and somehow made his way to be senior vice president of a west coast region, which is, my brother might have some advice, you know. Yeah, yeah.
Camille: Yeah. Yeah. Lean on your community.
Fidan: Lean on your community and Yeah and people who just observe.
Camille: Lovely. Yeah.
Thanks. Okay. And then to close it out, yeah.
Camille: The question I'm asking everyone at the end of their interview this season is, if you were currently in kindergarten, what would you bring in for show and tell?
Fidan: Oh my God. And I've lived the life that I've lived? Yeah. Oh my God, that's so funny because it's so hard to choose because you either choose something that is like, you think is really cool, that you have like a cool artifact or you choose something that like highlights your life and like it's hard to like label that 'cause.
Okay, well, I guess like this necklace that I'm wearing right now Oh yeah. Was a wrap gift from Emma Stone. Oh. Because I did this movie called Battle of the Sexes. Yeah, the tennis movie. The tennis movie, yeah. Yeah. And I hired, I was hired to be a non-speaking role. I worked on it for like five weeks. Oh my gosh.
And then I was a body double as well for one of the other actors who played like a character, the movie. And I played a character and I was based off a real woman, and it was like a movie about Billie Jean King and yeah, Robbie Riggs. And Billie Jean King wasn't allowed to play in the league because of, she was a woman.
So she created and sponsored this original nine lady tennis players who, were pioneers in this kind of like, paved the way into creating a women's tennis league and so on. It was so much fun. But Emma Stone played Billie Jean and it was such a great experience. And at the end of the shoot she, like her assistant was like quietly asking all of us for our birthdays, and I didn't know why and she literally got us all necklaces with our birthstones, yours on S oh and all nine of us. And it's really sweet. That's sweet. And it's kind of a cool thing to bring, right? Totally. Yeah. Right. A hundred percent. I know. It's so weird. 'cause again, like that's just, that's the first thing that popped in my head. 'cause I'm wearing it right now.
I don't wear it all the time. And I, I just found it today and I was like, oh, this is nice. I remember this perfect timing and it just like, kind of fits in this answer. Yeah.
Camille: Oh my gosh. Yeah. That's awesome. I love that story too. Mm. I know, and I feel like in general for kindergartners, love a like, physical thing they can touch and see.
Yeah. So it's good for that.
Fidan: And, and also, and kind of weird to think too, like I was also thinking like, oh yeah, the kids might really like Emma Stone probably. Like, they would probably, I'm like, do they watch like pogonia and four things? They're like, no, I hope not. But they're not, they're too young to like watched easy A or, or, or like crazy stupid love.
Maybe Spider-Man's like your best craziest student in love. Yeah. Crazy to love. Yeah. Spider-Man. Yeah. But probably not because everyone's like into the spider verse now. Yeah. I, yeah. These kids, it's a weird int between gener.
Camille: You have to show a photo.
Fidan: Yeah. Be like this an actor actually, now that I think about it.
Ah, that's a, the hard part now is like, I don't know what appeals to kids in kindergarten. Yeah. What would be cool for them, I guess like. If I was in the kindergarten in Ohio, it'd be really cool for them to hear that I played at Ohio State. That's my show and tell, so that'll work too. Perfect. Bring a racket.
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
Camille: exactly. Oh my gosh. Okay. Well Fidan, thank you for being here. Thank you for sharing all you've shared.
Fidan: Thank you for having me. This was awesome.
Camille: Thanks for listening to my conversation with Fidan. If you want to keep up with her, you can find her social media accounts in the show notes.
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I'll be back next week with an episode exploring what it looks like to trust your instincts. See you then.
