Tracy Christian’s journey to becoming Hollywood’s only Black talent agency owner

In founding TCA MGMT, Tracy Christian knew she was venturing into uncharted territories. She was venturing into spaces that weren’t made for women, particularly Black women. However, over the years, the world has witnessed Blacks integrating into certain spaces although it has been slow.

Such spaces include Hollywood, where the sheer lack of diversity is evident. Inspired by friends like Joseph Dougherty and the late John Singleton, Christian made a giant move into Hollywood and has since not looked back.

Christian started TCA MGMT in 2011 to represent actors, writers, directors, and producers. This move has made her arguably the only Black talent agency owner in Hollywood. She has more than 20 years of experience working as a talent agent.

Prior to starting her own agency, she got an offer from one of the leading agencies but she got turned off by the lack of diversity in the company. She also got a job offer at a boutique agency, where she worked for seven years and rose through the ranks before quitting to start TCA MGMT.  

Today, her clients include Mona Scott-Young ( Love & Hip Hop franchise), Tisha Campbell (Martin, My Wife and Kids), Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Smokin’ Aces), Jason Mitchell (The Chi, Straight Outta Compton), Jordan Calloway (Black Lightning, Unfabulous), Christian Keyes (Saints and Sinners, The Young and the Restless), and Dot-Marie Jones (Glee, Rock of Ages).

Others include John Savage (The Deer Hunter, The Godfather III), Curtiss Cook (The Chi, Manifest), Mekai Curtis (Power Book III, Kirby Buckets), Columbus Short (Stomp The Yard, Scandal), Peter Mensah (Avatar, 300), Paige Turco (The 100, Person of Interest), Roger Guenveur Smith (Rodney King, Do the Right Thing), and Nelson Lee (Mulan, Stargirl).

Through her agency, Christian is hoping to carry with her other Blacks who are nursing ambitions to do what she is currently doing.

What is more, Christian is now expanding to the East Coast and developing different departments within the company.  The expansion of TCA MGMT comes as many firms are contracting as a result of the pandemic. While representing clients and making money is a top priority for Christian, she ethnically combines that with how her deals impact consumers. 

Beyond finding opportunities for actors or selling successful reality programming, she is also an executive producer. She produced Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy starring Laura Dern and Kirsten Stewart which was chosen to close the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. 

Christian attributes her success to surrounding herself with loyal people and having a solid support system. She told BlackGirlNerds that she never shied away from reaching out to her network in the early stages of her career.

“I asked notable filmmaker John Singleton, ‘What should I do?’ And John goes, you should either be either a madam or an agent. He thought that I was a good salesperson. John and a few people like him were very helpful in getting me meetings around town.”