While Palo Alto High School is known for its focus on academics, some students are navigating the world of auditions, film sets and photo studios — building careers in the entertainment industry long before they receive their high school diplomas.

Senior Brendan Giang’s artistic journey began unexpectedly.

“The summer after seventh grade, I got an email from the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre asking for auditions for their Berenstain Bears production,” he said. “I had never done anything theater-related before … I just went in and I retold a fable. I was in there for five minutes, and the director just patiently waited for me to finish.”

Despite his lack of experience, Giang said the opportunity introduced him to a welcoming theater community.

“I was cast as Too Tall,” Giang said. “It wasn’t a lead role, but I had a blast doing it, and that started my theater journey.”

After performing in more shows with the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre in middle school and participating in several Paly Theater productions, Giang said he also discovered a passion for filmmaking.

“As an actor, you’re at the mercy of the opportunities that are offered to you,” Giang said. “I wanted to tell my own stories. I wanted to have more creative agency.”

Since then, his projects have gained national recognition. His first documentary, “Threads of Change”, won a national C-SPAN competition. His momentum continued with a short film titled “Cake with the Cream.”

“We crowd-funded almost $4,500 for the project,” Giang said. “It was later chosen for the 2025 All American High School Film Festival, and screened in Times Square, which was really exciting.”

Balancing filmmaking with his academic workload, requires strong organization and sacrifice, Giang said.

“Google Calendar is the short answer,” Giang said. “I plan everything. Everytime that I sit down and do 10% of planning, it makes the leftover 90% of the time more productive.”

Giang said he has also experienced the entertainment industry’s limitations regarding race.

“I have been fortunate enough to be represented by an agent and do commercials and photoshoots, but yeah, in general, the film industry is racist like that,” Giang said. “The types of roles that I was eligible for as an Asian male, teenage guy are the school boy nerd or the techy guy.”

In response, Giang said he focuses on creating his own opportunities through film.

“I truly believe that if we want to see more Asian representation … it’s on us to create opportunities for ourselves,” Giang said.

Ultimately, Giang said he hopes to merge his background in STEM with his passion for the arts and storytelling. 

“I would just like to encourage everyone to explore some way to express yourself creatively,” Giang said. “It doesn’t have to be theater or film … I think there’s something invaluable in that.”

From her start on the Paly stage as a freshman to performing in local professional theaters, senior Ana Christina Ramirez has bridged the gap between student theater and the professional world.

“I found my love for musical theater when I did ‘Mamma Mia,’” Ramirez said. “I actually ended up understudying Sophie, the lead role, and then performing it for one show. That’s when I realized I was kind of good at it.”

Since then, Ramirez has moved beyond Paly Theater into professional acting.

“I’ve worked with great casts where it feels like a family more than anything else, even though there’s people who are over 70 years old and there are 4 year olds as well,” Ramirez said. 

Through these experiences, Ramirez said she learned how demanding professional acting can be.

“It’s insane,” Ramirez said. “During tech week, we rehearse for up to 14 hours a day. I’m so tired. I’m so overwhelmed all the time, but I mean, it’s fun. I think it’s worth it.”

Ramirez said she has also encountered challenges in professional environments.

“I worked with two adult professional companies: Palo Alto Players and Sunnyvale Community Players,” Ramirez said. “The Sunnyvale one is less funded. There were a lot of conflicts between the director and the cast – how much they were taking the actors’ needs and well-being into account was really iffy.”

But Ramirez said she still plans to continue her artistic career.

“I want to major in psychology and also in vocal performance,” Ramirez said. “I will probably start to get into more of the bigger stuff, including TV, if I can.”

Although she loves performing, Ramirez said pursuing an unconventional career path at Paly can be discouraging. 

“Paly also has this feeling of like, you’re either the best or you’re nothing,” Ramirez said. “It discouraged me a lot … but if you’re just doing it because you love it, you really shouldn’t pay attention, even though it’s hard.”

Ramirez said she encourages students interested in being part of the entertainment industry to look for opportunities outside of school. 

“If you really want to take it seriously, you should definitely try to get involved with it outside of school,” she said. “The Paly Theater program and choir teachers are great, but there’s only so much they can do as school programs.”

While Ramirez found her community on the stage, senior Cailey Lilly Quita’s journey began at age 6 in commercial modeling. 

A single Christmas ad for Carter’s evolved into a career of print modeling and advertisements for brands like Target, Athleta, Pottery Barn Kids, Del Monte and the Disney Store.

“I was in a chair getting my makeup and hair done, getting fitted for wardrobe and being in front of a camera, which isn’t something typical kindergarteners do professionally,” Quita said. “I thought it was really interesting that I got to have that kind of experience.”

Through trying to balance school and work, Quita said she has learned to prioritize.

“I’m still with my agency MDT,” Quita said. “It’s just harder to keep up with modeling in high school, especially with academics. They’ve called me in for commercials and shoots, and I just can’t make it because of finals or big tests. I’m also in Paly Cheer, journalism and track … so it’s pretty hard to keep the balance.”

Quita said she has noticed a positive shift toward inclusivity in commercial modeling, often being cast in diverse, multi-ethnic families.

“In Disney Store ads, I’m Filipino, and my dad would be Chinese and Irish,” Quita said. “My mom would be Japanese and my brother would be Japanese and Caucasian and we’d all be one big family of Asians.”

Quita said her early exposure to the world of advertising has influenced her future career goals.

“I’m actually planning on majoring in something around PR, marketing, advertising and journalism,” Quita said. “It’s interesting to look back and be like, ‘I might be going into advertising, but I was in advertisements myself.’ It’s like a full circle moment.”

Freshman Alana Gordon entered high school already immersed in the entertainment industry.

“I just fell in love with dance when my mom put me in when I was 2,” Gordon said. “As I went to dance conventions, people there inspired me and helped me get into the industry.”

Through professional work like modeling for Gap and Athleta and dancing for Chris Brown’s daughter’s birthday party, Gordon said she has learned more about herself. 

“I’m more of a shy person, so dancing and acting — especially with more talking on camera —  has definitely brought out a different side of me,” she said.

Gordon said perseverance and not taking rejection personally is key. 

“It’s not fully based on your talent,” Gordon said. “It’s mostly the full vision they’re looking for … if it’s meant to be, then it is. I don’t take anything too seriously.”

Although still a freshman, Gordon said she hopes to continue her work in college. 

“I would want to go to college in LA, so it’s more convenient with all my industry work,” Gordon said. “I was thinking of doing a business major and something related to dance.”

And Gordon said her passion for the arts is what helps keep her motivated. 

“If you really love what you do, what people around you are doing (doesn’t) really matter,” Gordon said.