Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
There are many Malaysian creatives that make our country proud overseas, especially in Hollywood. Some of our most famous ones include filmmaker James Wan, pop singer Yuna, and Crazy Rich Asians actor Henry Golding. In 2023, Hong Kong star Michelle Yeoh became Malaysia’s first Oscar 2023 winner.
If you’re dreaming of working in Hollywood but can’t act, don’t give up! Hollywood’s film industry is huge, consisting of makeup artists, videographers, talent scouts, producers, digital FX artists, music composers, journalists, film critics, and even public relations managers.
Enter Ranjinder Hans, partner of a successful PR firm in Hollywood. She began her career as an accountant in Kuala Lumpur, but found her true calling in Public Relations. Now, she has spearheaded many award campaigns – her PR firm paved the way for cinematographer Greig Fraser to win Best Cinematography for ‘Dune’ at the Oscars 2022, BAFTAs 2022 and the ASC.
This is her story.
I was born and raised in Sungkai, Perak. I grew up in Ipoh after my family moved there when I was 12 years old. As a young girl, I’d watch the Emmys and Grammys and be dazzled by the lights, the pizazz, and the glamour. I told myself that one day, I’d be there to experience it all in person.
In 2009, I was a 29-year-old working as an accountant at IBM Malaysia. I’d grown up following the path set out by my parents and teachers: I studied Accounting, graduated with flying colours, and entered the Malaysian workforce just like all of my peers.
But I soon realised that being an accountant was not what I was meant to do, so I decided to change careers into public relations. For a few years, I worked as a marketing communications manager in F&B and did public relations for the Sepang International Circuit. I also became a certified yoga instructor because I loved yoga and I loved teaching it to others.
After that, I decided to take the plunge into PR consultancy. I managed events such as a concert held in Malaysia for Shah Rukh Khan and those iconic “Dinner in the Sky” events.
[image provided by Ranjinder Hans]
When I Visited Los Angeles, I Fell In Love With The City
In 2016, I travelled to Los Angeles for the first time. Ostensibly, it was for work – I was tasked to kick off a Malaysian project that was to be held there. During that project, I made a lot of friends and had a lot of great memories. I absolutely loved it, and I resolved to find a way to stay as long as I could.
Unfortunately, the project did not take off due to external factors. I was crushed, but I had no choice but to come back to Malaysia. When I got home, I realised the pool of work in Malaysia was very small. So I started looking for work in the US as a PR consultant, but despite all my friendships, connections and networks, I couldn’t find any PR role in the States.
Seems like that’s the end of my story, right? But I didn’t let this setback stop me. Without a job offer in hand, I did something reckless and went to Los Angeles anyway. At the time, I told myself, I just need to keep applying for other opportunities and get a public relations agency position.
In the meantime, I was going to do whatever job was offered to me just to get by. Since I was already a certified instructor, I started teaching yoga classes to rich American women. The income was decent, but payment wasn’t consistent.
To supplement my income, I started working odd jobs for a company that supplied staff for banquets and catering events.
In Malaysia, most young students work server jobs right after their SPM to earn extra pocket money. As for me, I never had the experience of working at fast food outlets. So it was a strange and humbling experience to have to do these jobs later in your life.
It’s funny, because when I was a young girl, I always told myself I’d attend the Emmys and Grammys one day. Ironically, as a woman in my mid 30s, I was assigned to be a server at the Emmys and Grammy after-parties.
It is like a full circle for me. It was a very humbling experience.
The Charging Bull in New York City [Image provided by Ranjinder Hans]
I Finally Received An Offer From A Los Angeles PR Firm
After one year of searching, I finally got an offer at EBComs in 2019, right before the Covid-19 pandemic. EBComs is one of the few agencies worldwide that specialises in representing cinematographers, the people behind the camera. Essentially, the agency works to make sure the works of these talented people get pushed to the forefront, especially during awards season.
Needless to say, I was ecstatic. And yet, this also happened during a time of intense uncertainty. I was in Los Angeles when the lockdowns across the world were taking place to curb the spread of Covid-19 in 2020.
It’s strange now to recall that we thought it was only going to be for two weeks. However, while other companies struggled to survive, the firm grew.
All the Hollywood people now had a lot of time to think about what they could do to update their profile and their brand. That is when they got hungry for PR, so our company just grew bigger and bigger during Covid-19.
Ranjinder at 93rd Academy Awards [image provided by Ranjinder Hans]
I was officially made a partner in the company in May this year.
I was officially made a partner in the company in May this year. My current clients include ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ cinematographer Claudio Miranda and ‘Elvis’ cinematographer, Mandy Walker.
When one lives in Los Angeles, one gets to attend events and see their favourite stars. I did that and saw Tom Cruise at an event for ‘The Mummy’. Now I work for the studio behind a Tom Cruise movie. I will tell you now; in Top Gun, they used minimal CGI. It is amazing how the whole movie was filmed. It will be a great contender for next year’s Oscars. I’d describe it as “the coolest movie ever.”
Though some of the movies my firm worked on have been watched by millions across the world, I have also done public relations for movies that aren’t mainstream. Movies such as ‘The Trial of Chicago 7’, which was shown on Netflix.
The hard work that went into the cinematography may not be as obvious as in epic films such as ‘Dune’ because it was a courtroom drama, but the movie got nominated for Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards in 2021.
For the hot biography ‘Elvis’, my firm worked with cinematographer Mandy Walker, who was also the cinematographer for ‘Mulan’.
It is insane. They are real people and they are so talented. It just blows my mind.
“Directing and cinematography is a boy’s club. Our company also advocated for female directors and cinematographers who deserve a place on the world stage. We hope good things will happen for Mandy this year.”
(From left) Shah Rukh Khan & Ranjinder [image provided by Ranjinder Hans]
Working with Shah Rukh Khan Was The Best Experience I Had
But the best experience I had so far is my experience working with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, because working with him gave me the confidence to try new things with my career.
When you work with him, the first thing he will ask you is, ‘What is your name?’ He will remember it! I had a great time working with him. The next day after the concert, when we were taking a group shot, he remembered my name. For me, that was a big deal.
Oh my God, Shah Rukh Khan remembers my name! He meets so many people every day!
That helped boost my confidence.
Sometimes, I pinch myself. All this still feels surreal because when I was still working in public relations in Malaysia, I only dealt with my counterparts in Hollywood instead of the studios directly.
So what is next? I am always hungry for more.
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