Guest Lecture with Avengers: Endgame Assistant Director

Publish Date: Nov. 24, 2020

On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the Crafton Hills College community was invited to attend a virtual guest lecture by Hollywood insider, Jeff Okabayashi, as part of Professor David Kano’s Communications Studies courses. Okabayashi has served as assistant director on a variety of blockbuster movies, including Marvel’s “Shang-Chi” (set for a 2021 release date),“Avengers: End Game,” “Spiderman,” “Transformers,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and more.

Okabayashi delighted participants with a glimpse into his inspirational story, offered advice on several topics such as how to break into the industry, and answered audience questions about his personal experiences on the sets of his diverse projects. Born to Japanese immigrant parents, he shared the pressure he felt to become a doctor at a young age and how the decision to pursue his passion for film despite not having any connections in the industry was extremely difficult but integral to developing the work ethic necessary for his long-term success. “Success has a physical but also a mental component to it. If you can find the determination within yourself to grind a little more... practice a little harder than the people around you, you will filter out the competition,” said Okabayashi.

Okabayashi also stressed the importance of being punctual, working well with others, and finding ways to remain resilient in times of stress. Audience members repeatedly thanked Mr. Okabayashi for his time and guidance. A student comment in the chat summed up the experience the by stating, “This man is brilliant. Thank you for having him here to speak to us tonight.”