Wrestling with Faith in the Music Industry
All this week at WitnessLA.org we’re featuring the stories and testimonies of Christians in the entertainment industry. Our friend Ashley Choi shares about her journey of finding her calling into the world of entertainment.
Q: Thanks for speaking with us! Could you please share how you are currently involved in the entertainment industry? What kinds of projects have you been working on?
I currently work with some amazing recording artists. I’m involved with artist management and manage the intellectual property and brand of Justin Timberlake’s hip-hop/rock band FreeSol - signed to Justin’s label, Tennman Records, and Interscope Records. We’ve been working with a wide array of producers for this album including Timbaland, Rob Knox, Cool & Dre, Jim Jonsin and others. Working with a creative talent like Justin is great and he’s done a good job Executive Producing FreeSol’s album that’s dropping early 2011. I’ve been blessed to be working alongside pretty phenomenal, humble, and extremely talented people. I also work in creative integration between music, films, and TV with both foreign and domestic films and projects.
Q: How did you first enter the industry? Did God speak to you on this calling?
God was definitely the reason I had an open-mind for the entertainment industry as I initially had no desire for it.
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Don’t get me wrong, as an artist myself, I completely admire and adore artists… I just didn’t care about the entertainment value in things since I was a hardcore hippie activist concerning issues regarding human welfare issues, poverty, and domestic violence. But then, after traveling with Bono, Richard Branson, and Bob Geldof to Scotland for the G8 Summit in Scotland back in 2005, God used them and that opportunity to help me realize the importance and influence of media in the world today. We have such a creative and independent-minded generation… and it’s important to relate to them and the modern day trends of influence and communication. Plus, it turns out there’s a lot of advocacy work involved in working in this industry too, in fact, people’s welfare and their rights are challenged in every industry. That’s how my passion sparked for music - supporting people and their talents while building creative collaborations that inspire people to contend for more. And hopefully something good.
Q: What are some of the challenges you face as a Christian in entertainment? (financially, morally, ethically, etc.)
The entertainment industry definitely provokes identity struggles that lead into an uncomfortable process of personal refinement of character, faith, and work ethic. I think what makes it more difficult for Christians to hold onto their faith in such a secular arena (known for breeding sharks), is that we do come into this industry and operate with more vulnerability, and a “thinner skin”, than most because it’s a requirement of our Christ-like faith to be compassionate, fair, and sacrificial (in the sense of having patience enough for God to contend for you). How does this look? Well, it looks different for everyone… and I think that alienation brought by such personal journeys in an already scarcely Christian environment is also what challenges a Christian’s faith intensely in this secular entertainment industry. Meaning, it can get very lonely. And honestly most of the time no one will fight for you like you have the heart to fight for others because… well they either don’t want to, or without a relationship with God, they just don’t know how. That’s when you get screwed over financially, morally, or ethically - that’s when you either 1.) choose to let God’s character take the lead, or 2.) take it into your own hands. Both very subtle and unnoticeable choices from the outside, but the first choice grows your faith and releases burdens to God while the latter piles burdens on your own back.
But truthfully, any industry you go into will always be a financial, moral, and ethical challenge. You’ll even find it in NGO work… just because it’s not-for-profit doesn’t mean people don’t have issues with ego, pride, power, and financial gain.
Q: How do you think God has protected and guided you in your entertainment career? How has He directed you in making career decisions?
God has done some pretty spectacular things in my life. I had been in ministry for some time leading bible studies, discipleships, and very involved in my church groups. During that time I experienced miracles performed through the power of the Holy Spirit. I’ve been healed of asthma for one, and have been exposed to many other supernatural-yet-humbling experiences with the Lord that I constantly reflect on.
As far as how God navigates me through career decisions, it’s been pretty straightforward: doors close and doors open. I think my confusion with career decisions lie in why certain doors are closed and why other doors open (i.e. I would have never chosen to go the entertainment route for myself). But, what I’m learning is that what plays out is important. God continues to reveal my character and character flaws in how I walk out what He places in front of me and the choices I make to get through it. A person’s choices say a lot about them. I try to be led by the Holy Spirit, and definitely by the characters of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)… but other times I’m led by the goodness of God’s grace when I screw up (which is inevitable).
Q: Has God always been a part of your life? If not, how did you come to Christ?
I’m Korean, so I’ve come from that typical culturally Korean Christian background but I had an extremely rough childhood. So, I couldn’t comprehend or completely embrace my faith until I ran away from home and wrestled with the value and purpose of my existence. My intimacy and faith in the Lord was solidified once I realized that Christianity wasn’t simply a religion, but a relationship. I know we hear that phrase so often, but I don’t think people understand the cliché until they go beyond the “checking out” phase and into the “dating” phase with God. You know, when someone piques your interest, you either pursue them and allow them to pursue you, and after a few one-on-one times with them, you decide to give them your heart or not. But it’s a process. And so yes, I’m talking about that process in relation to God. When I was younger, Christianity was more of an institution of how to be acceptable to my family and society… but that still didn’t merit me my parent’s love or acceptance, and, I was an awkward outcast in social settings because I didn’t have much stability in my life. But as I left home at a young age and went through hardship where I had no one, it set me up for an opportunity where I had to ponder whether I truly was alone, or if there actually was a God. It was then that I decided to see if an interest in all these qualities of God that I read in the bible would get me somewhere, and fortunately, it did. I can’t deny that my life has improved greatly with the wonderful experience of love, hope, faith, and friendship that God brings.
Q: How does working in entertainment affect your walk with God?
It makes you question the value of unconditional love because the social currency in the entertainment industry is completely conditional and worldly. This industry will always be testing. It’s made me realize how blessed I am that I had an open heart to receive the Lord before I stepped into the industry… because I’ve noticed that it can be extremely difficult for people to step out of the high-paced distraction of Hollywood to take a moment to ponder the glory of God and the thought of unconditional love amidst a sea of conditional relationships and worldly expectations.
Q: How are you able to express your faith in Jesus in your work?
I’m pretty open about it. I don’t hide my faith. In fact, have a visible tattoo of a cross on my wrist. But I’m not a disrespectful, self-righteous Bible thumper either. I’m just openly encouraging and honest with people so that hopefully one day when anyone desires something more than the world can bring them, I’ll be available to help point them to experiencing an incredibly tangible love from God that I also experience.
Q: What advice would you have to other Christians considering entering your field?
It’s tempting to combat foul play with foul play, but try not to and have faith in God’s existence because He will ALWAYS prevail when you combat injustice with discernment according to God’s character and wisdom.
