Angle on Producers with Carolina Groppa: Recent Episodes
Carolina Groppa
Previously called LIFE WITH CACA, the show has a fresh new name and look for 2021! ANGLE ON PRODUCERS spotlights producers from all corners of the entertainment industry. Along the way, host and Emmy nominated producer Carolina Groppa, will help demystify the age old question: "What exactly does a producer do?" by giving you an honest glimpse into what it's like to walk in our shoes. The clean, curated version of people’s lives rarely tells the whole story so I’m here to talk about the messy parts, the hard stuff, the "caca."
Sherry Thomas is one half of Bialy/Thomas & Associates, the casting powerhouse behind Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments, Barry, The Righteous Gemstones, Dead to Me, Apple TV+'s Sugar, and Broadway's Jersey Boys. She and Sharon have earned multiple Emmy nominations together across their 25-plus year partnership. Their most recent Emmy nom is for Apple TV+'s Pluribus, which is Vince Gilligan's follow-up to Breaking Bad.
It's a full-circle moment: Sherry and her partner Sharon Bialy are the team who first brought Bryan Cranston to Gilligan's attention nearly two decades ago.
In this episode, we go all the way back to New Hampshire and Massachusetts, where a girl obsessed with Donny and Marie and Three's Company had no idea she'd end up building an empire in casting. She landed in LA not knowing a single person. She slept on couches for two years. She worked retail at the Gap. And then, through a chain of small moments (a charity basketball game, a fundraiser, a woman named Victoria Burroughs) she found her way into a casting office and never looked back.
We dive into:
- Her first job as a location casting assistant on Contact
- Meeting her business partner Sharon Bialy at a Starbucks and building a 25-plus year partnership without ever putting anything in writing
- What she wishes every producer understood about working with casting directors
- Her honest, unfiltered take on AI in casting and what it means for actors
- How becoming a mom to two teenage daughters changed the way she sees ambition and grit
Sherry is candid, funny, and doesn't hold back, whether she's talking about the gritty early days or the future of our industry. This is a primer for building a career (and a business) on relationships, resilience, and staying true to who you are.
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Keep creating, keep hustling. And as always, thanks for doing this life with me. — C.
Dana Ledoux Miller is a shape shifting scribe.
She was PA'ing on Lost and The Descendants when she first said out loud that she wanted to be a writer. A decade later, she's co-written and co-directed Moana 2 and written Disney's live-action Moana, in theaters July 10 — becoming one of the few Pacific Islander writers steering a major Disney IP. In this episode, we trace her full arc: from set life in Hawaii, to landing in Aaron Sorkin's writers' room on The Newsroom, to the surreal call that brought her onto Moana.
We talk about what it actually feels like to carry the weight of representation on a project this big — the pressure of getting it right, the imposter syndrome that hasn't fully gone away even after a billion-dollar movie, and how she handles public reaction to work she's poured herself into.
We also get into PEAK, the nonprofit she co-founded so she's not the only name on the list of Pacific Islander storytellers working in Hollywood.
Plus: desert island essentials, her favorite Hawaiian island, and what The Rock is actually cooking.
AOP SUBSTACK
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What does it take to hike 26 miles at 14,000 feet with no signal, no Uber, and two of the funniest people alive?
We're about to find out.
Join me as I sit down with comedy legends Bob Odenkirk and David Cross at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival to discuss their documentary Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu — a film about friendship, mortality, and what happens when Hollywood strips away and the mountain shows you who you actually are.
Plus:
- Why David chose Bob for this — and why Bob almost said no
- How Bob's heart attack during Better Call Saul gave the whole journey a different kind of weight
- The moment the mountain cracked them both open — and what they found on the other side
Special thanks to Greenslate, Theorem Media, and Portrait for making this panel happen! Greenslate has been a longtime partner of AOP and it never gets old talking about the ways they have revolutionized production payroll and accounting for independent film. They had 22 projects at Tribeca this year and Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu was the one we chose to spotlight, via their client Left/Right.
AOP SUBSTACK
📫 Musings, Mixers, Workshops, and Exclusive Content
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AOP WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6UBux9RgxeW1MiQDXSMrnr
iTunes: https://apple.co/3FDyhmC
JOIN THE AOP COMMUNITY
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QUESTIONS
❔Answering your questions on our Subtasck! Submit here:
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Colby Day is a breath of fresh air who refuses to be performative. In an industry that runs on heat and carefully curated perception, he just gives it to you straight. Day is an Emmy-nominated writer whose credits include the Netflix film "Spaceman" starring Adam Sandler and "In the Blink of an Eye," which premiered at Sundance this past year. He also served as a writer and story editor on Apple TV's For All Mankind season five.
He is also the creator of Hollyweird, a Substack where he documents the unglamorous reality of being a working writer in Hollywood with more honesty than almost anyone else in this business.
His directorial debut "The Comedy Hour "with Tim Heidecker and Tatiana Maslany is up next.
This was one of my favorite chats of the year so far. Colby and get super real about 10-year timelines, selling a show and watching it collapse, why transparency is a radical act in this industry, and what keeps us going when everything falls apart.
Tune in! xx CG
Post is where a movie becomes a movie. Where a TV show gets it's bells and whistles. The edit, the VFX, the color, the sound mix, the sound design, and everything in between. It's where everything comes together. And yet for years, California has had no standalone incentive to keep that work here.
In this episode I sit down with Marielle Abaunza, President of the California Post Alliance and EVP of Business Development at Signature Post, to talk about AB 2319, the proposed standalone post-production tax incentive that could be game changer in helping keep jobs in LA. We get into:
- How we took Hollywood for granted and where we go from here.
- How 1,800 post jobs have been lost since 2012 and what that actually means for working crew.
- What AB 2319 does and why the "shoot anywhere, finish in California" model is the shift the industry needs.
- How New York netted $47 million in state revenue from post credits in a single quarter
The people this bill protects are not Hollywood elites. They are editors and sound designers and post producers trying to log enough hours to qualify for health care. This is a movement. And there is not a lot of time.
Go to www.californiapostalliance.org to join, donate, or submit a letter of support for AB 2319. Legislators read those letters. Your story matters!
Angle on Producers spotlights the magic makers in Hollywood. Hosted by Emmy-nominated producer Carolina Groppa, the show goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the craft, challenges, and unfiltered truths behind one of Hollywood's most essential, and often misunderstood, roles.
AOP SUBSTACK 📫 Musings, Mixers, Workshops, and Exclusive Content https://angleonproducers.substack.com/
David Boxerbaum built his career the hard way, with no connections, no shortcuts, and a relentless belief that great stories still change everything.
He first fell in love with making movies as a young kid growing up in the Bay Area, camera in hand, directing his friends before he even knew what an agent was. After attending New York University, he realized the there was real power in understanding the business behind making movies. So he mailed his resume across town, worked his way through some of the most iconic agencies in the business, and quietly became one of the most prolific spec script sellers in Hollywood. By 26, he was named one of The Hollywood Reporter's Next Generation 35 Under 35 — one of the youngest agents ever to earn that recognition. Today he's a partner at Verve, representing top writers, directors, and showrunners, and is widely credited with helping open the door for the short story market.
Join us as we get into what it actually means to believe in your clients, how he generates heat in a bidding war, and why he's optimistic about the future Hollywood.
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This is a recording of a members-only Substack Live I hosted two weeks ago. If you're a paid subscriber, this is exactly the kind of access and conversation you're signing up for!
Carolina Alvarez, writer-director and founder of Femme Regard, is the force behind Sync — a self-financed sci-fi feature now streaming on Amazon Prime that received SIX distribution offers. In this special chat, she breaks down what film school doesn't teach you:
- how she crowdfunded a feature in stages
- built a festival strategy around genre and community (not just prestige)
- reached out to 20+ distributors without a rep
- spotted the red flags in bad offers
- decoded the unsexy deliverables that can quietly blow your budget in post-production
This episode is for any filmmaker trying to figure out how to actually get your movie seen!
Subscribe to the AOP Substack for free to stay in the loop, or go paid to get access to members-only lives like this one, bonus content, and the full archive.
Links are in the show notes.
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QUESTIONS
Submit them in our on going AMA
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In this solo episode, I get candid. I open up about losing my father in January, what grief looks like when you can't afford to stop moving, and the complicated truth about showing up anyway — to the meeting, to the festival, to the mic.
I also dig into eight listener questions from the year-end survey, covering: how I select guests, whether I'm still producing, how independent producers can find financing outside traditional models, tips for batching scenes on a micro-budget shoot, how to pitch yourself for freelance producing opportunities, where to actually network, how to work festivals like Sundance and SXSW, and how to define and achieve your goals in a season of uncertainty.
Raw, practical, and very real...
Thanks for doing this life thing with me!
Pam Carbonero is a seasoned Latina director, producer, writer, and first AD with 15-plus short films, a 12-episode mini-series, and a one-and-a-half hour vertical series under her belt.
When she's not directing, she's working full-time as a first AD across features, commercials, music videos, you name it. And she is a proud anti-gatekeeper.
But the thing I really wanted to bring her on to talk about is what she built from scratch out of pure necessity: the LA Director's Lab. In 2021, she had an idea for a space where directors could simply practice their craft. She started small: six directors, eight actors, a friend's bar, iPhones, zero professional gear. That was all she needed.
Today, LADL has grown into full two-day workshops with DPs, professional crews, screening days — and most recently, she executive produced five horror short films in three and a half weeks with her community of artists.
Tune in as we discuss mental health, doing the reps, and what makes an exceptional 1st AD.
Marina Stabile is a Brazilian-born, Swiss-raised producer and line producer with over 20 years of experience in film, documentaries, commercials, and digital content. She is also one of my favorite humans and I'm lucky I get to call her a friend.
She grew up in São Paulo, moved to Geneva at 10, attended an international school with 118 nationalities, and knew she wanted to produce after watching the Irving Thalberg Award presented at 3 a.m. on an Oscar broadcast. She studied film and international relations at USC, produced documentaries for the United Nations in Geneva, and returned to the U.S. to earn her MFA in producing at AFI, where her thesis film The Response won a Student BAFTA.
Marina's credits span indie and studio, including Miguel Arteta's Beatriz at Dinner starring Salma Hayek, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize–winning Clemency starring Alfre Woodard, Harrison Ford's The Call of the Wild (as VFX supervisor), Searchlight's Hold Your Breath starring Sarah Paulson, The People We Hate at the Wedding, and the pandemic-shot Untitled Horror Movie alongside fellow producer Bronwyn Cornelius.
Most recently, she produced Josephine — written and directed by Beth de Araújo and starring Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan — which won both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival before being acquired by Sumerian Pictures in a competitive seven-figure deal. The film went on to screen in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival.
In this conversation, we explore how culture impacts your craft, define once and for all what line producers really do, why the best career moves sometimes look like steps backward, and whether Los Angeles is still a special place to make movies.
Enjoy!!
CG
Brought to you in partnership with GreenSlate
Bucket list moment unlocked! 🎬 Our first-ever live episode from Sundance is here. I sat down with producer Gary Foster to talk about the seven-year journey of bringing "Bedford Park" to the screen—a deeply personal Korean-American story that almost didn't get made. We tackle:
- How Gary met director Stephanie Ahn 12 years ago when she was an assistant editor, and why he championed her debut feature for seven years
- The unconventional move that landed Hyundai as the first major investor with $1 million
- That terrifying moment when he started production without full financing
- How changing a key character from Caucasian to Korean-American transformed the entire film
- What being a "career producer" actually means
If you've ever wondered what it really takes to get an indie film made in today's landscape: the persistence, the creative partnerships, the calculated risks....this conversation is for you.
xx CG
AOP SUBSTACK 📫 Musings, Mixers, Workshops, and Exclusive Content https://angleonproducers.substack.com/ LISTEN TO THE SHOW Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6UBux9R... iTunes: https://apple.co/3FDyhmC JOIN THE AOP COMMUNITY 📸 Instagram: / / carolinagroppa | / angleonproducers 📱 TikTok: / / carolina_groppa 👩🏻💻 LinkedIn: / bit.ly/2BqHs8L QUESTIONS ❔Answering your questions on Tuesdays in our newsletter! Submit here: anglonproducerspodcast@gmail.com
Ever wondered how festival programmers decide which films make the cut? For our first episode of 2026, I'm joined by two incredible women who've been shaping the landscape of independent cinema for over a decade.
Ana Souza has been with Sundance Film Festival for 10 years, working alongside some of the most exciting independent filmmakers in the world. Diana Cadavid is currently Director of Industry Programs for the Latino Film Institute (LFI) in Los Angeles, and International Programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) She helped build IFF Panama's programming department from scratch.
In this conversation, we break down:
→ The REAL selection process (spoiler: it's not about who you know)
→ How to map your premiere status strategy BEFORE you finish your film
→ The big film/small film balance that keeps festivals alive (and why you should stop resenting those studio movies)
→ Distribution in the post-COVID era: why the all-night bidding wars are gone, but deals are still happening
→ Why attending festivals WITHOUT a film might be the smartest career move you can make
🔗 READ MY SUBSTACK - The History of Film Festivals: [https://angleonproducers.substack.com/]
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JOIN THE AOP COMMUNITY / carolinagroppa | / angleonproducers 📱 TikTok: / / carolina_groppa 👩🏻💻 LinkedIn: / bit.ly/2BqHs8L
When movie maestro and mixologist Paul Feig offers to teach you how to make a proper martini at 10a on a Wednesday, you say yes.
It was thrilling to be tipsy before lunchtime. Almost as thrilling as it is to end 2025 with a conversation with the absolute icon that is director, producer, and comedy legend Paul Feig.
Paul created the cult classic Freaks and Geeks, directed Bridesmaids, Spy, and A Simple Favor, and has helmed episodes of The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, and Arrested Development. He's a delight and the fun you feel watching is 100% the fun we had IRL.
We dig into his journey from being the comedy outcast at USC Film School to becoming one of Hollywood's most successful directors. We talk about the brutal 'in-between' years that almost bankrupted him, why comedies get overlooked at awards shows, and his latest film "The Housemaid"—a dark thriller that marks the launch of his new production company, Pretty Dangerous Pictures.
I quite liked the film and hope everyone will get their tushies out into a theater to experience it in the company of loved ones, friends, and strangers!
Tune is as we discuss what makes a project "undeniable", the state of comedies in 2025, and why vanity projects ruin careers.
Join our Substack 📫 Musings, Mixers, Workshops, and Exclusive Content https://angleonproducers.substack.com/
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Barbara Muschietti is the phenomenal producer behind IT Chapter One & Two (combined $1.17B worldwide), The Flash, and the new Max series IT: Welcome to Derry.
We actually met 5 years ago during my early podcast grind when I cold-emailed Barbara inviting her on the show. She said yes! She invited me to the Warner Brothers lot, to her office, and generously gave me almost 3 hours of her time. It was a real turning point for me and the show.
The world, and certainly Hollywood, has changed tremendously since then.
Full disclosure: we recorded this mere days before the audacious news that Netflix won the bid to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery.
Five years later, we're back. Barbara opens up about "pushing a very, very heavy boulder" aka the reality of making movies even as an established producer with billions in box office success.
She talks about The Flash making $300 million worldwide and still being considered a disappointment. She gets raw about what she learned producing nine hours of IT: Welcome to Derry with child actors during the strikes. We also dig into the LA production crisis, why she still takes a photo of the Warner lot water tower every single morning, and she's terrified we might lose it.
Enjoy
xx cg
AOP SUBSTACK 📫 Musings, Mixers, Workshops, and Exclusive Content https://angleonproducers.substack.com/
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This week, I sit down with Alan Morales, co-founder of Civil Coffee, to explore the unexpected intersection of specialty coffee and film production in Los Angeles.
Given LA's production crisis, I wanted to hear from someone on the ground—a small business owner in Highland Park who sees tons of filming and has thoughts on what producers and the city need to understand.
Alan shares the espresso shot that changed his life, why he dropped out of electrical engineering one course away from graduating, and how Civil Coffee grew from mobile carts to three LA locations with their own roasting program focused exclusively on Mexican beans.
We dig into the value chain from coffee farms to your cup, why productions understand craft services better than wedding clients, what it's like to visit Mexico for the first time as an adult after obtaining citizenship, and how LA's production crisis looks from street level.
Alan's perspective on fair location fees, the human connection that makes or breaks production relationships, and what keeps him optimistic despite the current political climate offers valuable insights for anyone building something that requires invisible work to make magic happen.
Tune in! xx
🔗 CONNECT WITH ALAN & CIVIL COFFEE:
Civil Coffee Instagram: / civilcoffee Civil Coffee Website: https://www.civilcoffee.com Locations: Highland Park, Studio City, DTLA
📱 CONNECT WITH ANGLE ON PRODUCERS:
Subscribe to Angle on Producers: Substack: https://angleonproducers.substack.com/ Instagram: / carolinagroppa / angleonproducers Website: https://www.angleonproducers.com
🎙️ ABOUT ANGLE ON PRODUCERS: Angle on Producers is a podcast hosted by Emmy-nominated producer Carolina Groppa pulls back the curtain on the producers and magic makers of Hollywood. With 150+ episodes, we explore what it really takes to be a producer, the invisible work behind finished films, and how to build a sustainable career in entertainment.
Hannah Lux is a powerhouse music video and commercial director who's created iconic visuals for Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne. But her path to the director's chair wasn't traditional.
Hannah shares her 20-plus-year journey in LA—from working as a makeup artist on set to directing Lil Wayne, Drake, and Future on "Love Me," which now has over 620 million views. We dive deep into the making of Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next," the video that broke YouTube records with 50 million views in 24 hours, and how she navigated legal clearances, celebrity cameos, and a three-day shoot while pregnant.
We also talk about why communication and people management are often harder than the creative work, how to balance an artist's brand with your own vision, and what it takes to be a consistently working director.
xx
CG
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Happy Tuesday! Today is 11/11, a series of numbers that many see as a symbol of spiritual awakening, synchronicity, and alignment with the universe. I'm not too superstitious about these things, but when I catch it, it brings a smile to my face. Is it divine intervention or coincidence? And does it matter?
In thinking about alignment, it feels very apropos to be sharing this particular conversation today with self-described nerdy fangirls Adamma and Adanne Ebo, the identical twin powerhouse behind the indie breakout film Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. We met making this film back in 2021—I remember we were in prep when the Ebos were about to turn 30. The incredible ascension they've experienced over these last five years is the epitome of alignment and synchronicity.
Shortly after wrapping Honk, Adamma was tapped to direct her first television episode on Donald Glover's Atlanta—the kind of opportunity that only comes when talent meets the right moment. Timing really is everything, and while their success is absolutely the product of talent, hard work, and vision, there's also been a beautiful alignment of opportunities, relationships, and moments that propelled them forward. Call it luck, call it the universe conspiring—either way, their story is inspiring.
From their days at Spelman College to making their feature debut with Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul, they've blazed their own path in this industry. Honk premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance in 2022 and sold to Focus Features. The film stars Sterling K. Brown—who was also on the podcast this season with wonderful stories about working with the Ebos—and the incomparable Regina Hall, who delivers a masterclass performance as the first lady of a Southern megachurch.
Since then, they've written and produced on some of the buzziest shows in recent TV: Peacock's Poker Face, Amazon's Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Swarm. They're now a sought-after creative duo with an overall deal at Sony Television.
Today we're diving into how they protected their artistic vision as first-time filmmakers, why confidence matters more than experience, and how their twin relationship became their secret weapon in Hollywood.
xx
cg
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Today's guest is Adrin Nazarian—former California State Assemblyman who helped triple the film tax credit from $100 million to $330 million during his decade in Sacramento, and now an LA City Councilmember who's fought to get that credit up to $750 million.
Back in March, Adrin filed a motion with ten specific permitting reforms that passed city council unanimously unanimously to direct the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) to report back within 30 days on the feasibility of these proposed changes using input from the LAFD, LAPD, Recreation & Parks, DWP, DOT, Bureau of Public Works, and FilmLA.
It's now November. As of this recording on October 29th, the CLA report is 150 days overdue.
So yes, I ask the hard questions. Where is that report? (I'm told it's coming any day now!). What does it mean to be "nimble" in the world of politics when everything takes so long? We get into the real progress that is happening, even if imperfect.
We have an honest dialogue about what we've lost. How tentpole productions left while the streaming boom kept everyone busy, until that bubble popped and companies realized the spending wasn't sustainable. How we've spent a decade training workforces in other states while our decline was masked by volume. And how policymakers took entertainment for granted because tech wealth was flooding in.
But we also talk about how we're building it back. Adrin is refreshingly honest that the industry has been so successful for so long that nobody could have imagined it would ever cease to exist, much less look at the trajectory with concern because the receipts were still coming in.
But now we're here. And there's a generation hungry for this work, ready to innovate and push the industry to new limits. That's what this fight is actually about. Not preserving nostalgia, but building the future.
xx CG
AOP SUBSTACK 📫 https://angleonproducers.substack.com/
JOIN THE AOP COMMUNITY 📸 Instagram: / https://instagram.com/carolinagroppa | https://instagram.com/angleonproducers 📱 TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@carolina_groppa 👩🏻💻 LinkedIn: / bit.ly/2BqHs8L
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Today's episode is brought to you by InkTip, a trusted cornerstone of the independent film industry, connecting talented filmmakers with visionary screenwriters. Head to InkTip.com to learn more.
What does it take to transition from behind the camera to the director's chair? In this inspiring conversation, Jihane Mrad Balaa shares her remarkable 20-year journey from Lebanese immigrant to working on major shows like American Horror Story, 9-1-1, and Bumblebee—before finally making the leap to directing her own feature film.
Jihane opens up about:
✨ Why being "normal and pleasant" is her secret to success in Hollywood
🎬 How she found her feature film script on InkTip
💪 The harsh realities of producing your first independent film
🎥 Shooting a murder mystery feature in 10 days
👥 What she learned observing 50+ directors—both good and bad
🚀 How diversity hiring became her "foot in the door" and why she embraced it
This conversation is packed with honest, tactical advice for anyone looking to transition between departments or produce their first project. Whether you're a camera operator dreaming of directing, a PA trying to move up, or a filmmaker seeking financing, Jihane's story proves that with persistence, positivity, and the right partnerships, anything is possible.
xx
cg
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To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we recorded a special roundtable episode to amplify three powerhouse Latina executives reshaping Hollywood:
✨ Erika Kennair - Head of Scripted for Mediapro Studios. Created NBC's Writers on the Verge, which helped launch many including Lauren LeFranc, showrunner of the Emmy award winning series The Penguin.
✨ Sonia Almanza Gambaro - Producer and President of Pollinate Entertainment. Executive Producer of Acapulco for Apple TV+
✨ Rocio Melara - Producer. Former executive a Lena Waithe's Hillman Grad.
We get into the juicy bits of what it's like to be the only Latina in the room, authentic representation beyond stereotypes, and how #LatinaSquad (shoutout Christine Davila 👏) is changing the game for executives across the industry.
Tune in to this crucial conversation about power, persistence, and community.
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Delighted to share this chat with Maryam Mehrtash, an entertainment executive specializing in global marketing and brand partnerships.
Her journey embodies the American dream - from fleeing Iran as a refugee at age two to becoming a key player behind one of the most successful streaming platform launches in recent history.
Maryam helped traditional media companies pivot from linear to digital during the early days when digital was still treated as a "stepchild." She was part of the team at CBS Interactive that had the first-mover advantage in streaming with CBS All Access, then led the go-to-market strategy for the rebrand to Paramount Plus - all while pregnant and during one of the most pivotal moments in our industry's history.
She brings a unique perspective on everything from the economics of peak TV to what producers should know about brand integration in storytelling. She's also a part of the vibrant Iranian diaspora in Hollywood and is on the board of Waterwell, a non-profit co-founded by Award-winning actor Arian Moayed.
Having lived through the streaming wars from the inside, Maryam offers a front-row perspective that's invaluable for understanding where our industry has been and where it's headed.
Tune in as we explore her journey and new role leading marketing partnerships at Disney Marvel, the complex world of brand partnerships, her Substack "This Is Not a Memo", and learn how her family’s legacy drives her to greatness.
Enjoy xx
CG
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Madelaine Petsch has a penchant for divisive female characters.You may know her best as from her role as Cheryl Blossom in the CW’s hit series Riverdale," which ran for 7 seasons.
She's recently been evolving into one of Hollywood's most promising young producers. She's currently starring in and producing the next installment of "The Strangers" horror trilogy for Lionsgate, which hits theaters this Friday, September 26th. You can also catch her in the Amazon rom-com "Maintenance Required" on October 8th.
In one film she's being chased by masked strangers; in the other, she's running from love.
It was exciting to catch Madelaine in these early days of her shift into producing, especially when so many are skeptical of that leap. She's refreshingly candid about the brutal realities of fame—death threats, having her address posted online, and the strategic decision to delete her entire YouTube channel after millions of views.
We explore how her South African immigrant parents shaped her work ethic, why she's drawn to complex female characters, and the politics of producer credits.
And yes, before you ask—she can change your brake pads.
xx
CG
Jamal Watson's journey from South Central to Hollywood executive exemplifies the power of storytelling to transform lives. After finding inspiration in film during his youth, he started at Sony Pictures as a tour guide in 2003, building industry connections that would prove invaluable.
His career accelerated through roles at Deluxe Film Services and a pivotal 2010 internship at Overbrook Entertainment, where he spent a decade rising from intern to Vice President. During this time, he produced acclaimed projects including "SPRINTER" (ABFF winner, African Academy Award nominee), "HALA" (Sundance and TIFF selection), Disney's "ALADDIN," and Netflix's "AMEND."
At Monkeypaw Productions, Watson continued championing diverse voices through projects like the "SCARE TACTICS" reboot and upcoming film "HIM", which opens in theaters on September 19th. He also launched a music label imprint with Interscope Records, expanding his influence across entertainment sectors.
Jamal's trajectory demonstrates how passion for storytelling, combined with strategic relationship-building and unwavering dedication, can create pathways to success in Hollywood's competitive landscape.
Hope you takeaway as much as I did!
xx
cg
This week, we hear from Donna Washington, FilmLA's VP of Permit Operations.
After the June 20th Board of Public Works hearing in Los Angeles, I was taken aback by the outrage and frustration permeating the halls of City Hall. So many folks I've grown up on set with voiced their extreme concern with the permitting process and costs in LA - one of the main blockers keeping productions from coming or staying here.
Donna has been with FilmLA since its very beginning in 1995. She's witnessed firsthand the evolution from LA's golden era of production - when they were processing nearly 40,000 shoot days a year - to the current reality where production has dropped by 53% in just the last five years.
While FilmLA is not the sole cause of the production exodus, it certainly has not helped. I wanted to invite Donna on to address this criticism head-on and discuss the misconceptions about who sets what fees, Film LA's 17-point plan to streamline the permitting process, and how FilmLA actually functions compared to film commissions in other states.
This isn't about pointing fingers - it's about understanding the system, identifying the problems, and working together on solutions. Because as Donna puts it, FilmLA doesn't exist if the industry doesn't exist. And right now, with a 400% uptick in applications following California's increased tax incentives, we're at a critical moment that could determine the future of filmmaking in Los Angeles.
This impacts all of us and requires all of us to work towards a solution.
Six months ago, Stay in LA co-founders Sarah Adina Smith and Alexandra Pechman came on the show to explain why their grassroots movement was desperately needed to keep film production in Los Angeles.
Since then, they've racked up a good amount of wins —from helping secure California's $750 million tax incentive to advocating for permitting reform across LA County.
Today we're joined by two other leaders driving this coalition: showrunner and co-founder Noelle Stehman, and social impact producer Kate Holguin. We break down their wins, setbacks, and what's next in the battle for Hollywood's future.
But as both guests make clear, the wins so far are just the beginning. As Noelle puts it: "If we don't continue to put pressure on policymakers and studio execs... the industry is going to continue to disappear and deteriorate."
Kicking off the new season with the spirited Adria Arjona for what was, incredibly, her first solo podcast ever. As someone whose face is literally on billboards outside my place currently, I found this fact both shocking and oddly kismet.
It’s a special treat to share this unexpected and refreshing punk rock side of her with you all. What you'll discover about Adria is that beyond being gorgeous – which, obviously – she's a dynamic, perceptive citizen of the world with a penchant for doing "bad things." And I mean that in the best possible way. She's the kind of person who makes you immediately start plotting how to become her best friend.
Born in Puerto Rico, half Guatemalan, raised in Mexico, and shaped by a nomadic childhood following her father Ricardo Arjona on tour – one of the best-selling Latin American artists of all time – Adria learned early that home isn't a place, it's found in people and rituals. A lesson that serves her well in an industry that keeps her constantly moving between London, LA, and everywhere in between.
There are SO many gems here, but a few that really stayed with me is how selling merch on her dad's tours taught her the art of hustling, a career-changing audition failure, and how producing has changed her as an actor for the better.
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Today, we are joined by actor and producer Jennifer LaFleur. She was recently in the HULU original film THE DROP and, just this past weekend, the psychological horror film she also co-produced, BIRTHRITE, directed by Ross Partridge.
In a blast from the past, Jen and I met in 2011 on the set of a feature film where I was shadowing the producer. It’s a gentle reminder of how much the path zigs and zags.
During our chat, Jen shares how she turned her Massachusetts hometown into a movie set for her latest film BIRTHRITE, why the Duplass Brothers' "you are the cavalry" philosophy changed her career, and what her ER doctor father taught her about perspective when film locations fall through days before shooting.
Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, working parent, or anyone trying to build something meaningful, Jen's story offers practical wisdom about creating opportunities, leveraging what you already have, and showing up as your best self - because you never know when a brief encounter will change your life years later.
BIRTHRITE is playing in limited theaters in Los Angeles now!
Monday vibes got you down? Let's flip that energy! 🎬
We are gearing up to launch a new season of the show, but in the meantime, I wanted to share what I've been up to behind the scenes. We've been focused on elevating all across the board--from our content, to our vibrant new set by Sara Silkwood (https://www.sarasilkwood.me/), and intentional community engagement.
After 6 years of a mostly solo podcasting hustle, I'm finally ready to share what's been happening behind the scenes—from our incredible Summer Cafecito series to landing at a Hollywood soundstage where Lucille Ball once walked.
This summer was filled with elevation: Cannes Film Festival, new studio, growing team, and big plans ahead. Plus the real talk about funding this passion project solo while building something sustainable for our creative community.
Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes and creative industry real talk ✨
Kicking off August with a very special episode with the the brilliant minds behind Zello and Cinelease.
They just announced a game-changing acquisition that's bringing our industry back to its roots - where crews are empowered and things get done without red tape.
As someone who's filmed in LA most of my career, I know Hollywood's real magic isn't what's on screen—it's the thousands of passionate people behind the scenes. Cinelease has been one of those constants for me. No matter the scope or budget, they always found a way to make it work.
What makes this deal special? The timing is everything. After strikes, productions fleeing overseas, and endless layoffs, while others consolidate into massive corporate machines, Zello is taking Cinelease private and back to its entrepreneurial roots.
This isn't just business—it's about people. Some Cinelease employees have been there 35 YEARS. That tells you everything about how they treat their team. Now with Zello's network backing them, they're expanding that family culture into new markets and creating more opportunities for all of us who make this industry run.
Tune in for this exclusive deep dive on how this acquisition came to be and what it means for the future. Spoiler: it's bright ✨
This is a very fun special crossover of AOP and Daddy Dailies with host Vika Stubblebine.
She actor, writer, director and stand up comedian who most recently wrote on CBS's S.W.A.T.. She is a co-founder of Not Your Daddy's Films, a social impact organization dedicated to empowering and educating women and nonbinary filmmakers through events, screenings and podcasts.
The community they’ve built is truly remarkable. When you find your people - the ones who share your wavelength and want to build something meaningful together - the chaos becomes creative fuel rather than overwhelming noise.
Both our shows are doing essential work highlighting the voices and experiences of those often overlooked in the industry. This crossover was a perfect example of what happens when we can come together to share knowledge rather than hoard it.
Enjoy xx
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Earlier this week I shared part 1 of my conversation with Hollywood icon Steve Papazian. He is the former President of Worldwide Physical Production at Warner Bros. That chat was recorded back in April of 2019 and chronicles his rise from the mailroom to The Matrix.
If you missed part one, I highly recommend you hit pause and go check that out.
To refresh your memory, he started in the mailroom and rose the ranks over the course of almost 50 years at Warner Brothers at Universal. YEARS!
His impressive filmography includes some of cinema's most defining moments: The Matrix, The Hobbit trilogy, and the Harry Potter films. He's been the trusted production partner for visionaries like Clint Eastwood and Christopher Nolan across multiple projects, helping bring their creative visions to life on an unprecedented scale.
After witnessing the seismic shifts that have rocked our industry—from studio consolidations to the exodus of productions from California—I knew I had to reconnect with Steve for an unfiltered conversation about what we've lost and whether there's still time to save Hollywood.
So today, we dive into the Death of the Star-Making Machine Hollywood, how California's Policy Failures are not setting us up for success, and why the Solution Requires Going Back to Basics.
Delighted to share a truly remarkable conversation I had back in April 2019 with Steve Papazian - a Hollywood executive whose career spans nearly five decades and reads like a masterclass in entertainment industry evolution.
When you look at his filmography, you're looking at some of cinema's most defining moments - The Matrix, The Hobbit trilogy, the Harry Potter films.
He's been the trusted production partner for visionaries like Clint Eastwood and Christopher Nolan across multiple projects, helping bring their creative visions to life on an unprecedented scale.
Steve takes us inside one of the corporate transformations that shaped modern Hollywood - the Warner Brothers-Lorimar merger, his strategic move to Universal - and reveals the sophisticated decision-making that goes into shepherding these cultural touchstones from concept to screen.
Beyond the business acumen, Steve has a deep reverence for the craft itself. He speaks with genuine passion about Hollywood's golden era and offers profound insights into what it means to maintain creative integrity in an industry often driven by competing interests and immense financial pressures.
Part two was recorded last week and drops in two days!
But first, let me take you back to April 2019 for this essential conversation about what it truly means to be an exceptional producer in Hollywood - and how one builds a legacy that spans generations of filmmaking.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of hosting a panel at UTA for a screening of ANDOR - the Star Wars spinoff series from creator Tony Gilroy. It was there that I met today’s guest, executive producer, Sanne Wohlenberg.
Check that out here: https://youtu.be/mGe1Ec3nhv8
Sanne is a German-born television producer working primarily in the United Kingdom. After working on multiple episodes of the critically acclaimed series BLACK MIRROR, she went on to win an Emmy Award in 2019 for Outstanding Limited Series as the producer of CHERNOBYL, followed by a Producers Guild of America nomination for The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of a Limited Series the following year.
In 2022, Sanna joined ANDOR as a non-writing EP and lucky for us, helped breathe fresh new life into the franchise.
During our conversation, Sanne and I discussed pivoting from law to entertainment, choosing talent over credits, and why you don’t have to be a STAR WARS fanatic to fall into the target audience for ANDOR.
What happens when you combine the brilliant mind of Ryan Coogler and a bunch of blood-thirsty vampires? You get SINNERS, one of the most original and entertaining films of the year.
A theatrical feat at the box office, it’s grossed over 285 million dollars since its April 16th release. It was my absolute pleasure to talk to producer Sev Ohanian about how this monster movie gem came to fruition.
Sev is a homie and we go way back to our baby producer days, so it is really special for me to reconnect with him after so many years. Our meet cute story is also one for the books!
Sev is Armenian-American screenwriter, producer, and founder of Proximity Media alongside Ryan and Zinzi Coogler. He co-wrote and produced (alongside his wife and producing partner Natalie Qasabian who was on the podcast back in 2019!), SEARCHING, released by Sony Screen Gems in 2018. The film grossed $75 million worldwide and sparked the sequel, MISSING.
Ohanian also co-wrote and produced RUN for Lionsgate, which became Hulu’s most-watched film upon its premiere.
During our time together, we talked about his first foray into filmmaking - an $800 micro-budget film shot on his dad’s home video camera, how his working relationship with Coogler came to be, and the trials and tribulations of shooting on location in the swamps of Louisiana.
xx
cg
Christine Davila is a trailblazing TV executive and producer with an unexpected passion—she knows all the words to the musical CABARET.
From her early days at prestigious film festivals like Sundance and Tribeca to building the vibrant Latina Squad community, Christine's journey is a masterclass in resilience, vision, and the power of authentic narratives.
This Mexican-born industry leader is also a dear friend and the founder of The Latina Squad, a peer group of accomplished TV/Film executives across studios, networks, and production companies.
What began as a way for Latina execs to find each other and share space has blossomed into a community of more than 130 talented women who collaborate, commiserate, and form lasting friendships.
During our conversation, Christine shares insights from her path as a programmer for major film festivals, discusses the financial challenges of the producing world, explores the future of filmmaking through works like "Emilia Perez," and advocates passionately for the full breadth of humanity to be represented on screen.
In celebration of tax day here in the US, as if there is such a thing, haha, today’s episode of Angle on Producers Podcast dives into the sexy and crucial world of production tax incentives.
If you find yourself intimated by the jargon, confused by the process, or unsure of where to start, then look no further!
Michele Miller is the VP of Production Tax Incentives and Accounting Services at GreenSlate. With over a decade of experience, Michele uses GreenSlate's innovative tools to help producers, new and seasoned, navigate the tax incentive maze and keep more money in our projects.
Buy her coffee. Or wine. Make her your best friend!
Tune in as we break down the differences between tax rebates, refundable tax credits, and transferable tax credits.
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There’s nothing Hollywood loves more than putting people in boxes. Comedy or drama. Actor or director. But with the fall of the old studio system and the rise of the indie, we’re seeing more blurred lines than ever before. Everywhere you look today you can find genre blends and multi-hyphenates in every aspect of the industry, and our next guest is no exception.
The oh so lovely Yvonne Strahovski garnered critical acclaim for her role as Serena Joy Waterford in Hulu’s Emmy and Golden Globe winning original series, THE HANDMAID’S TALE, for which she has netted an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress,a Golden Globe nomination, and two Screen Actors Guild nominations. The series is releasing its sixth and final season tonight, April 8.
Yvonne recently starred/executive produced Peacock’s horror series, TEACUP. She also made her directorial debut with VLOG, a short film for which she also wrote and stars in. Her husband, Tim Loden served as a producer and her two sons acted alongside her. The film was shot in their home and took place when she was pregnant with her third child, which made it an almost part-documentary, part-narrative film.
Up next, Yvonne will star and produce an adaptation of the bestselling novel, A WOMEN OF INTELLIGENCE.
During our chat, we talk about making art from scratch, the importance of being a good judge of character, and the very real fear that comes with turning down a job.
xx Enjoy!
Today's episode marks an exciting milestone as we launch a brand new segment called The Sun Dial with the brilliant Rebecca Sun.
An acclaimed journalist and cultural critic, she is a guiding light in media commentary, so we are lucky to have her on the show!
There will be MANY hot takes and sun puns, so prepare to bask in her insightful radiance.
A sundial is often used metaphorically to represent time's passage, permanence contrasted with change, or natural rhythms versus human-made schedules.
So much of life, of success, is about the perfect balance of kairos meeting chronos; things happening when they are meant to instead of when we want them to. It’s quite fitting as we are exploring the evolution of all things…from the show to the industry.
A little bit of her impressive bio…
Rebecca was the inaugural recipient of the Trailblazer Award at the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment’s salute to women and nonbinary people in Hollywood. Her reporting has won both National Arts & Entertainment and Southern California journalism awards from the Los Angeles Press Club as well as a GLAAD Media Award nomination.
She began her career as a writer and editor at Sports Illustrated, and her bylines have also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Esquire China and New York. Most recently, she was the senior editor of diversity and inclusion at The Hollywood Reporter.
Rebecca has graciously agreed to give us her hot takes on the top stories in our industry as they flood our inboxes, and, if it weren’t obvious enough from that list of credits, there’s no one better for the job.
Tune in xx
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While some find AI riveting and revolutionary, many in creative communities are filled with fear. Fear of unsustainability, fear of the future of the industry as a whole, and fear that disembodied computers are going to make jobs obsolete while causing irreversible damage to the planet in the process.
Artificial Intelligence has come a long way since we first saw Will Smith eating that bowl of spaghetti, even making it to this year’s Oscars ceremony.
Films like EMILIA PEREZ and THE BRUTALIST came under fire for their use of AI to amplify the vocal performances of their actors, raising questions about transparency and ethical practices.
That leads me to today’s guest, Alex Serdiuk.
Alex is the CEO of the Ukrainian company Respeecher, the AI software that enhanced Adrien Brody’s Hungarian dialogue and synthesized a young Luke Skywalker’s voice in THE MANDALORIAN. Unlike other AI companies, however, Respeecher prides itself on adhering to a strict code of ethics that includes transparency, actor consent, and union consultation.
I feel ambivalent towards the AI of it all, but as someone who faces my fears and follows my curiosities, it was time to poke the hornet's nest.
Tune in!
xx
CG
This episode is brought to you by Dolly Card, the corporate card for film production that’s a great alternative to petty cash. Dolly Card is here to streamline expense management, tax, and accounting. dollycard.com
Beyond stoked for this crucial convo with two producers with films that premiered at SXSW who pivoted from other careers into producing. We had a lot of fun while also contemplating how we can leverage our collective knowledge to solve some of the crises plaguing the producers' plight.
Spoiler alert: We 100% got nachos after.
Elle Roth-Brunet, producer of I REALLY LOVE MY HUSBAND, sits at the intersection of innovation, business, and storytelling. She's a content strategist, brand builder, and creative producer who deeply believes in the power of representation and storytelling.
She has dedicated her career to helping 40+ underrepresented voices gain more equity in entertainment through content partnerships with Hello Sunshine, ARRAY, Paul Fieg's Powderkeg, the PGA, Women In Film, and the Black List.
Mark Ankner, producer of SLANTED, which won the grand jury award for Narrative Feature at SXSW, is dedicated to developing and producing creator-driven stories that resonate with culture.
He was instrumental at Endeavor Content, overseeing advisory business, film and television packaging and sales, and creating innovative distribution models for content creators and financiers. Prior to that, Mark was a partner at WME Global, focusing on emerging voices and building companies for established talent. Some notable film projects include the Academy Award-winning CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, FRUITVALE STATION and SORRY TO BOTHER YOU.
His first film PONYBOI premiered in the US Dramatic competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Esteban Arango, it was noted for its groundbreaking narrative and representation of diverse voices.
Currently, Mark leads Mountain Top Pictures, an indie film and TV production company dedicated to championing innovative storytelling and supporting emerging talent in the industry
Tune in
xx
Special thanks to Sunset Studios, where everyone is a VIP, for providing us with this gorgeous filming location
Delighted to be joined by the Lauren LeFranc, the visionary showrunner and executive producer of HBO's THE PENGUIN, the gritty spin-off from Matt Reeves' THE BATMAN.
Her unique ability to blend innovative narratives with visual storytelling contributed to the series' critical success, achieving a 94% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and attracting 10.4 million viewers within its first 11 days.
A television veteran, her body of work also includes credits on AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., HEMLOCK GROVE, IMPULSE and CHUCK.
I may have spent the hour fangirling a little too hard, not sure, but our meet-cute story is pretty epic.
Tune in as we discuss career serendipity, what makes an exceptional producer, and how she made us all deeply care about Gotham’s devil, Oswald.
xx CG
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In 2024, I birthed two creations: My son, Theo and the feature documentary, THE HONORABLE SHYNE.
Back in the late 90s, Shyne was one of the first rappers Diddy signed to Bad Boy Records. After an explosive rise in Hip-hop, a life-altering criminal trial, and years of incarceration, Shyne’s journey from rapper, to felon, to politician is one that has defied the odds.
This leads me to today’s guest, Marcus A. Clarke, the director of THE HONORABLE SHYNE.
Marcus is a Brooklyn-born director and producer. He directed Apple's feature-length documentary, The WIZRD, following Atlanta rap superstar Future. Most recently, he directed three episodes of Netflix's reboot of Unsolved Mysteries V1 and three of eight installments in the Netflix Original Hip Hop docu-series Rapture, produced by Mass Appeal.
While my human child is currently learning to crawl, my doc child is currently streaming on Hulu. Both were challenging and rewarding in equal measure.
During our conversation, we discuss the trials and tribulations of working on an international documentary, how to pivot when a relevant major controversy drops in the middle of shooting, and I finally get an honest answer about whether or not aliens truly exist.
xx
Carolina
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It’s no secret that, over the past decade, film and television production has been slowly leaving our hub of Los Angeles. From astronomical permit costs to uncompetitive tax incentives, studios have outsourced LA’s most valuable export to places like Atlanta, Vancouver, Australia, and South Africa.
The COVID pandemic exacerbated the production exodus. But for some, the final straw came with the devastation caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Thousands of families lost their homes, and our local crew members were no exception. With the fires still burning, filmmakers began organizing amongst themselves to fight the good fight - to keep production in LA and, in the process, bring jobs back to the people who need them the most.
That brings us to today’s very important episode. I got to sit down with Sarah Adina Smith and Alexandra Pechman, the two filmmakers helming the #StayinLA movement. At the time of this recording, their petition to keep production in LA has garnered just over 20,000 signatures.
We discuss the impact of the production exodus, the civic responsibility on the studios’ shoulders to keep our LA neighbors working, and specific action items for anyone who wants to get involved, starting at the local level.
Please consider adding your name to the petition and helping the cause by visiting stayinla.org.
In this minisode, CEO Louis Dargenzio and President John Pollak share the inspiring story of how they pivoted their business model help our community. Alongside an incredible group of volunteers, they sprung into action and created a furniture showroom for families affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.
Louis began his career as a Teamster Local 399 Honeywagon Driver and worked his way up to become the founder of Zio Studio Services, a leading production services company, and later served as President of Sunset Studios.
John is an entertainment executive using his skills to unite the community and help rebuild Los Angeles.
Learn More at: https://zellosupport.com/
It’s not everyday you get to sit down with a producer who found out only hours earlier that he is Oscar-nominated and could very well win best picture. That’s exactly how my January 23rd began chatting with Alex Coco, producer of ANORA.
I saw the film IN THEATERS with my husband and as a Sean Baker fan, I naturally had to get his producer on the show. Lucky for us, he said yes! 😃
In between a diaper change for his 3 month old son, Alex was astonished, to say the least, when he heard his name announced.
He’s been having quite the ride. This past weekend ANORA scooped 7 Critic’s Choice Awards, including Best Picture AND the Eagles won the Superbowl. He’s def #winning.
What transpired is an illuminating conversation on the genesis of his working relationship with Sean Baker, the importance of shooting your shot, and the value of leaving your ego at the door.
Alex has produced multiple Cannes premieres such as Red Rocket and The Sweet East, as well as Pet Shop Days, which debuted at the Venice Film Festival. He also produced Champ (2022) and Power Signal (2023), both Sundance Film Festival selections. Other producing credits include music videos for Childish Gambino’s “Lithonia” (2024) and Addison Rae’s “Diet Pepsi” (2024).
In this Minisode, non-fiction executive Jamie Bovshow ("FBoy Island") and I unpack the trouble with Karla Sofia Gascón's racists tweets. Who is responsible for scrubbing a public figure's digital footprint? Is that even legal? And how can we hold individuals accountable while giving them the space and grace to evolve? Tune in! Bio: Jamie Bovshow has spent the last 14 years climbing the ranks across both nonfiction development and current programming, seeing projects through early stages of ideation all the way to production and post. She's developed, sold, and produced a wide variety of projects, including an adventure series starring Orlando Bloom, premium docs, dating, true crime, formats, competition, and reality. The biggest show she developed and produced was "FBoy Island", a $17million series which had 3 seasons on HBO Max and CW, a spin-off series called "Lovers & Liars", and is now being produced in 8+ territories across the globe. Before going in-house Jamie was a freelance producer and takes her experience as a boots-on-the-ground executor into every project she oversees and develops. In addition to creative, Jamie also went to law school and has a masters in legal studies with a specialization in entertainment law. She loves finding creative solutions to legal issues, and has expertise in contract drafting, negotiation, diligence, S&P, and fair use.
According to Larry David, it is much too late to still wish you a happy new year. Since January has felt a million years long and many of us are yearning to press that RESET button, I'm breaking all the rules and wishing you a good start to 2025!
It was a delight to chat with Kate Gersten, screenwriter of "The Last Showgirl." Kate originally conceptualized the story for the stage while studying playwriting at Juilliard. As a play, THE LAST SHOWGIRL was optioned for Broadway and the West End, but never went further as the team could never find the perfect, “Shelly.” After spending years in a drawer, Kate brought the script to Gia Coppola, who got the script to Pamela Anderson directly. In their first table read, Pam said every line exactly how Kate had heard them in her head all those years earlier.
Tune in as we discuss her playwright beginnings, the kismet of marrying into a legendary film family, and the importance of leading roles for women over the age of 50.
xx
Carolina
Kicking of 2025 with one of my favorite humans in Hollywood, Lynnette Ramirez. A friend and mentor, she is also a powerhouse producer, development executive, and champion of underrepresented voices.
Lynnette graduated from LMU’s screenwriting undergrad program and began her career in development at Sean Connery’s Fountainbridge Films, working on films such as “Entrapment” and “Finding Forrester”.
In 2002, she launched a production company named Vida Films that produced two independent features: “The Blue Hour” starring Alyssa Milano and “2 Days” starring Paul Rudd and Adam Scott.
In 2007, Lynnette became SVP of Development and Production for George Lopez Presents housed at Warner Bros. During her tenure, she produced several projects including the Nickelodeon hit original movie “Mr. Troop Mom”.
She is currently the President of Bassett Vance Productions, where Lynnette isn't just creating content - she's creating opportunities. She’s also a writer, having sold romantic comedy screenplays to Walt Disney and Lionsgate Studios.
From her roots as an independent filmmaker to her current role nurturing women and BIPOC voices, Lynnette is not just breaking barriers, but demolishing them completely!
xx
As 2024 comes to a close, we couldn’t end the year without one final episode drop. This one is especially fitting for New Year’s Eve, as today’s guest is none other than Alexandra Loewy, EP of Coralie Fargeat’s critically acclaimed film, “The Substance.”
No spoilers, but NYE plays a special role in the third act!
Ali began as an assistant at Miramax and eventually worked her way up to President of US film operations at Working Title before pursuing her current endeavor of independent producing.
"The Substance" was one of my favorite films this year. I couldn’t imagine a better way to close out the year than with a fellow badass who also happen to have a son named Theo.
Join us as we discuss the evolving definition of a producer's role in Hollywood, the power of women in their 40s, and how the making of this film changed Ali’s life. Wishing you all a wonderful start to 2025!
Xx
CG
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This episode is brought to you by ICEX-Invest in Spain
Sara Spring is an incredible producer and former studio executive with a penchant for Luther Vandross.
Some may call her an international woman of mystery as she has shot all over the world in places like Spain, France, Italy, England, Ireland, Jordan, Morocco, Greenland, South Korea, and Tahiti. Her uniquely holistic approach to production is a result of working for studios, production companies and as a freelance producer for 20+ years.
Most recently, Sara was NWEP on Netfilx series Warrior Nun which shot in Spain and produced the sixth season of Seal Team for CBS/Paramount+.
During her 17 year tenure at Paramount, she oversaw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tin Tin, Flight, True Grit, Anchorman and Mean Girls.
She eventually took a big leap leaving Paramount for Sony Pictures where she was an executive VP of Feature Films, overseeing films like Ang Lee's Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk and Queen and Slim.
These days, Sara is develops and consults. She is also an adjunct professor for UCLA's graduate film program.
Join us we dive into the benefits and inherent challenges of shooting overseas, her $1 million dollar mistake, and why she dreaded becoming a studio executive.
This week, host Carolina Groppa and Fassa Sar unpack all the gems from #ContentLondon, a three days development marketplace and conference. It attracts more than 3000 leading content executives from all over the world, with a focus on creating fresh partnerships around the most progressive ideas and initiatives.
Fassa is the founder of Callo, a digital platform that matches experienced, above-the-line professionals in Film, TV, and Audio for effective project collaboration. Founded by executives from Sony Pictures, Netflix, and technologists from Spotify. wearecallo.com
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If you’ve been online this week, or last week, or the week before that, chances are you haven’t been able to escape the press for Wicked. From emotional interviews and finger memes to, as of yesterday, Golden Globe nominations, everyone seems to be talking about it, and for good reason!
Every aspect of this film is conversation-worthy, and on today’s episode I get to speak to the wizard behind the camera, Alice Brooks.
Alice previously shot tick tick…BOOM! for Netflix and Imagine Entertainment, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and produced by Ron Howard. Other work includes Miranda’s IN THE HEIGHTS for Warner Bros., which was directed by her frequent collaborator Jon M. Chu. Both films’ cinematography received widespread critical acclaim.
During our conversation, we discuss everything from being a working mother to finding the perfect pair of Elphaba spectacles for camera.
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This week, guest producer Bobbi Sue Luther (SYLVIE'S LOVE, THE GAME) stops by the pod to catch up and shareher takeaways on the most recent episode with Ted Hope.
We discuss navigating success and despair, the power of collaboration, and why being mindful matters in Hollywood.
Thanks for tuning in! xx
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Welcome back to the first official episode since I stepped away to bring a little human into this world! It’s been a beautiful 6 months–-filled with cuddles and diaper changes while figuring out my new normal.
In the last 3 months, I co-hosted a dinner at UTA to celebrate 5 years of the podcast, stepped back on set for the first time since becoming a mom, and took a solo trip to NYC for the world premiere of documentary "THE HONORABLE SHYNE" for Hulu.
Suffice it to say...I don't know how to sit still.
Which bring me to today's episode with the impressive and revered indie producer Ted Hope, who has produced over 70 films! He’s also been a studio executive on over 60 films, CEO of a start-up streamer, co-head of 3 production companies, executive director of a film society & festival, a Professor Of Practice at 2 universities, and founder of a post-production facility, 2 websites, 2 think tanks, and an app.
And you think I do too much!
He also launched Amazon’s foray into feature film production, leading them to 19 Oscar nominations and 5 wins. As a producer, his films have received 25 Oscar nominations, with 6 wins.
During our chat, we dive into the failures of the current industry model, pinpoint what missteps may have led us to this period of stagnation, and ponder a question close to Ted’s heart: is there still Hope for Film?
I recently had the honor of moderating a panel during the annual PROOF film festival in LA. Powered by the American Cinematheque, PROOF is dedicated solely to the presentation of proof-of-concept short films, looking to be expanded into feature-length productions or series, and empowering the next generation of cinematic storytellers.
I saw down with actor/producers Margaret Cho, Michael Oloyede, and Darrell Britt-Gibson to discuss the complexities of their multi-hyphenate career paths. Together we talked about everything from indie filmmaking to the importance of collaboration, and, of course, the current state of the industry. Enjoy! xx
Check out the panelists: @michaeloloyede_ @margaret_cho @chipsheridan
Very excited to share this electric convo with Kamala Avila-Salmon who is a very impressive lady.
She is the first-ever Head of Inclusive Content for Lionsgate Films. It's fitting as innovation, uniqueness, and disruption have been hallmarks of every role she’s had.
She leads a team responsible for developing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies to ensure the Lionsgate film slate reflects inclusive stories that represent a global, diverse audience.
A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School, she has built her career across tech, music, film, television, and streaming.
In our sit-down, we discuss the current state of DEI in Hollywood, how to be discerning about feedback, and what makes producers exceptional partners to studio executives.
xx cg
We are facing a crisis in the producing community. Regular listeners of the show are well aware of this fact because I talk about it incessantly. The challenges that make the producing career path unsustainable are now undeniable...and they were only exacerbated by a global pandemic, two back to back strikes, a market contraction, and the technological advancements and disruption of AI.
Producers Heather Rae, whose latest film, "Fancy Dance", starring Lily Gladstone, drops on Apple in June, and past podcast guest Joy Gorman Wettles, who is behind amazing shows like "13 Reasons Why" and "Unprisoned" starring Kerry Washington, stop by to explain why they, along with other prolific career producers who make up about 90% of Hollywood's biggest independent, studio, and streamer producers at the top of their game, have come together to work towards change for us all.
The group is called the Producers United and it's a grassroots collective of 86 career producers who are committed to fight for issues that impact sustainability for the next generation.
There are many worthy issues, but the two main ones are: 1) Basic rights, which means payment for services rendered while they are being rendered and 2) Healthcare contributions during prep, production and post periods.
At the end of the day, it really comes down to education. It's imperative to educate the industry on what the producer does and how our jobs are inherently different from the important contributions of our multi-hyphenate partners. Actors, writers, directors, financiers, these individuals bring so much value to the process, howevr, unlike career producers, their revenue stream is not soley tied to projects.
The wellbeing of our entire industry depends on producers not only surviving, but thriving. Together, we can continue to support artist and be a part of the magic that is storytelling.
Head over to producersunited.com for more info.
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This week, host Carolina Groppa and Associate Producer Sarah Bockian wrap their minds around CBS' recent annoucement to no longer participate in the traditional pilot season of Jan-May, the blow that could be a strike at Cannes, and two movies that recently brought us tremendous joy. Tune in!
We often talk about how the path is not linear, and today’s guest reminds us to stop and smell the roses on the way to wherever we are headed!
The lovely Tara Miele is a filmmaker originally from Long Island. Her widely acclaimed film, WANDER DARKLY, starring Sienna Miller and Diego Luna, premiered in competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by Lionsgate. Currently, Tara is writing and is attached to direct a Carol Burnett biopic that Tina Fey is producing.
Most recently, Tara directed two episodes of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, one of my fav shows of last year, for which she was nominated for a DGA award! She is also well known for her 2016 viral video, MEET A MUSLIM, which she created to combat Islamophobia and has garnered 45 million views.
Tara is a Co-Chair of the Women's Steering Committee at the Directors Guild of America, where she helped launch the DGA's first peer-to-peer mentorship program for women, The WSC Squad.
I’ve been eager to open up the aperture and invite other accomplished professionals onto the show so we can hear from them, “What makes an exceptional producer?”
In this episode, we dive into her unique path, producer red flags, and how she’s been able to balance her impressive body of work with her most rewarding job thus far - being a mother.
This week, host Carolina Groppa and Associate Producer Sarah Bockian dive into the fun world of short film financing, budgeting and producing. Hot tips! Do's and Don'ts! And why production insurance is #sexy.
Tune in!
This week, host Carolina Groppa and Associate Producer Sarah Bockian debate Reese Witherspoon's controversial comments on AI, and "Airhead", a short made using Sora that still required many humans.
Links Discussed: thewrap.com/reese-witherspoon-artificial-intelligence-morning-show-paleyfest/ nofilmschool.com/sora-ai-filmmaker-interview
youtube.com/watch?v=NXpdyAWLDas&ab_channel=MarquesBrownlee
Thrilled to share this inspiring and electric convo with Dr. Rachel Raimist. Rachel is an episodic television director and college professor who’s recently directed episodes of the family fantasy THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (Disney+), the musical UP HERE (Hulu) and the soapy drama SEX/LIFE (Netflix). She has also directed beloved episodes of THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS (HBO Max), WU-TANG: AN AMERICAN SAGA (Hulu), FANTASY ISLAND (Fox), and DIARY OF A FUTURE PRESIDENT (Disney+).
We are opening up the aperture and hearing from other disciplines on what they think makes an exceptional producer, so tune in!
Her journey is a masterclass in rolling with the punches…and her resilience is inspiring to say the least. She’s one of those people you can talk to for hours and never run out of things to say. I hope you enjoy and get as much out of our conversation as I did.
Takeaways!
- The importance of a supportive community
- So much of the directing process happens before you set foot on set
- The environment you foster on set is just as important as your talent and skill
This week, host Carolina Groppa answers listener questions! Tune in as we breakdown:
- How to set up contracts with directors for short films and not get pushed out of projects
- How to networking intentionally and effectively
- Pros and cons of the indie vs assistant route to producing
SAY HI
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We are trying something a little different for the next two months and will be bringing you weekly minisodes to compliment the monthy guest drops.
This week, host Carolina Groppa and Associate Producer Sarah Bockian celebrate Women's History Month, Carolina takes us behind the scenes of her panel discussion with Melinda Gates and we explore how AI could empower women and people of color.
Delighted to share this very special episode with the incredible lady that is Judalina Neira. I’ve been lucky to call her a friend for many years. We met during the early days of our LA journey and now she’s a very impressive Emmy nominated writer/producer known for her work on critically acclaimed shows THE BOYS, DAISY JONES AND THE SIX and THE FLASH.
She is currently bringing BEWITCHED back to life on our TV screens in the not-too-distant future.
Judalina is also a proud alum of the ABC/NBC/National Hispanic Media Coalition’s TV Writing Program, NBC’s Writers on the Verge and the WGA Showrunner Training Program. Judalina is a Governor Emeritus for The Television Academy's Writers Peer Group.
One of the things I love most about her is how she continues to give back…case in point, she is also the co-founder of La Lista - a Latina TV Writers’ brunch broup in LA.
Xoxo cg
SAY HI
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We are trying something a little different for the next two months and will be bringing you weekly minisodes to compliment the monthy guest drops.
This week, host Carolina Groppa and Associate Producer Sarah Bockian dive into the Oscars, the RUST verdict, and whether Hollywood is still in a steady decline or simply at the end of Act II.
Articles Referenced:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/01/opinion/oscars-hollywood-extinction-event.html
https://deadline.com/2024/03/rust-movie-armorer-guilty-shooting-death-1235847983
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This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/AOP to get 10% off your first month of online therapy which you can do from the comfort of your home!
Over the moon to share my chat with Grammy® Emmy® and Tony® Award-winning actress, singer, author and producer, Cynthia Erivo.
She is set to star as Elphaba in Universal’s highly anticipated film adaptation of the hit musical WICKED.
But before we get to see her all in her green glory, I highly recommend catching her in DRIFT, a project that also happens to be her producorial debut. DRIFT follows a young Liberian refugee named Jacqueline (Erivo) who has barely escaped her war-torn country to a Greek island.
The film World Premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. It’s a beautiful character piece and Erivo delivers a nuanced performance that’s truly unforgettable. It’s playing in select theaters across the US. Check out showtimes at drift.film
Cynthia was on our dream list of 2024 guests. We knew inviting her would be a reach and were fulled prepared for a firm “no thank you” but we got an excited “yes!” just days later, we couldn’t believe it. Thrilled to now be able to share the product of that dream with all of you…which is fitting since one of the key takeaways of this episode is dream big.
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/AOP to get 10% off your first month of online therapy which you can do from the comfort of your home!
Delighted to share my chat with the inspiring, delightful, and Emmy nominated Coco Francini. An LA native, she began her career as a development intern, eventually becoming Quentin Tarantino’s assistant in 2011 on Django Unchained They formed a solid working relationship and she eventually returned as associate producer on The Hateful Eight.
She spent a season of her career as the VP of Activision Blizzard Studios where she led the creative development and production of film and TV content for the world’s largest video game and interactive media company, shepherding projects including the iconic Call of Duty game franchise.
Shortly after producing MRS. AMERICA for FX, she became a partner at Dirty Films, alongside Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton.
On top of her prolific producing career, Coco is also one of the brilliant brains behind the Proof of Concept Accelerator Grant, a collaboration between Dirty Films, Netflix, and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. The grant is designed to accelerate the path for directors who give voice to the perspectives of women, trans and non-binary people. Eight filmmakers will receive $50,000 in funding to create short films that can act as springboards to feature films or TV series. Link in bio for me as the deadline is Friday 2/16.
Can't wait to hear your takeaway!
Beijos,
cg
Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you’re back rested and energized for 2024! We are kicking off new beginnings with an old friend…the prolific film and television producer, Monica Levinson.
Some of her impressive credits include BORAT, BRUNO, ZOOLANDER, DODGEBALL, Larry David's CLEAR HISTORY, Tara Miele's WANDER DARKLY, David Oyelowo's THE WATER MAN and Aaron Sorkin's THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7.
Starting her career in broadcast news in her hometown of Washington, D.C., Monica transitioned into narrative storytelling by working with visionary directors including Alan J. Pakula and Sidney Lumet.
She most recently produced OLD DADS, the Netflix comedy written, directed and starring Bill Burr which did really well on the platform when it dropped last October.
On top of a busy producing career, she is also an executive board member of AMPAS, PGA, DGA, and on the leadership team for the Women's Production Society.
Mentorship is very important to her and she certainly walks the walk. I count myself lucky to know her as an ally and a mentor. She's constantly giving back and she drops lots of gems during out chat, such as:
- Jobs that aren’t exactly what you want to be doing can provide a foundation for the jobs you want
- Filmmaking is a collaboration - be prepared but remember you’re not alone
- Working in production is still creative!
Happy listening!
-cg
Happy Tuesday! It’s November 21st, my favorite day of the year because it's my birthday! It’s a treat to share this episode with 3Pas CEO, Ben Odell with you as I celebrate another revolution around the sun.
Ben grew up in the U.S. before packing up and moving to Colombia in his 20s. After finding success as a writer, his producorial pursuits led him back to the states where he joined forces with the legendary Mexican director and comedian, Eugenio Derbez, to create 3Pas.
Their film, RADICAL, winner of the 2023 Sundance Festival Favorite Award, is in theaters now. The film, inspired by a Wired Magazine article by Joshua Davis, follows the 6th grade students at Jose Urbina Lopez Elementary in Mexico, who are among the worst performing students in the country. Everything changes when teacher Sergio Juarez (Eugenio Derbez) arrives with an outside-the-box approach, opening their minds and changing their hearts forever.
Here are my top 3 takeaways from this conversation. What are yours?
- A good marketing plan is just as important as a good story
- The Latinx market can’t be put into a box
- Diversity and inclusion are imperative, but what does thoughtful inclusion actually look like?
Hiii everybody. This week on the show we are flipping things on it's head a little bit. I'm often asked about my story, my journey, my advice...so I figured it could be a fun opportunity to have my associate producer, Sarah Bockian, take the reins as interviewer and put me in the hot seat.
Sarah joined the team six months ago at the start of the writers’ strike, and has been working behind the scenes with me to help bring these episodes to life. She comes from the world of development and writers’ room support staff, having worked on comedies and dramas for both broadcast and streaming.
As this is her formal introduction on the show, she’d like the listeners to know two things:
1) she’s available for staffing (and also Showrunners’ Assistant and Writers’ Assistant positions), and 2) she was super congested during the recording of this episode, and she’s 90% sure her voice normally sounds less annoying.
In this episode, we cover everything from my immigration to America, to egos at work, and the one set experience that still haunts me to this day.
Key Takeaways:
-Make your own opportunities, don’t wait for them to find you
-The most valuable business relationships are about depth, not quantity
-The importance of holding on to your spark
Thanks for doing this life thing with me!
-C
Elated and relieved that a tentative deal has been reached between the WGA and the studios. In between rejoicing and celebrating, I found myself wondering what impact, if any, this new contract will have on my fellow indie producers?
Producers Laura Lewis and Brent Emery were recently interviewed by IndieWire on what role producers play in the AMPTP. It compelled me to invite them on to explore why there’s a change.org petition floating around to remove that second “P” from the acronym and the need for the Producers Union, which is currently 300 members strong.
Fun Facts:
- The PGA is a non-profit trade organization that does not have collective bargaining power, despite a long history of lawsuits and lobbying in an effort to be recognized.
- No independent producer had a seat at the table or was involved in ANY of the negotiations with any of the unions this past summer.
Hollywood has changed tremendously in the last 50 years. Labor unions have forced studios to keep up with the times and protected the interest of its members. Indie producers have no protections. It’s time to change that.
Support the Change.Org petition by visiting the link in bio!
Thrilled to share my chat with the inspiring and nimble Noelle Green, Director of Physical Production at Netflix on the Original Series.
Prior to Netflix, Noelle was a VP in Physical Production at Legendary Pictures and oversaw such projects as Kong: Skull Island and Krampus.
The majority of her career was spent freelancing as a production supervisor or coordinator. She eventually began working as a line producer in the 90s where she was often the only woman of color sets of 500 or more people.
This experience planted a seed that eventually led her to be one of the founders of the Producers Inclusion Initiative, a joint effort between Netflix and Shondaland to help bring up more underrepresented people in the line producer path. It’s truly important work that I cherish as she’s helped create opportunities for many.
In this episode, Noelle takes us through digging into her grit to go from struggling single mother to a Netflix exec, speaks on the importance of inclusion in the workplace and shares her wisdom on how she dealt with the frustratingly impermeable boys’ club.
Key Takeaways:
- Be nimble and flexible, but never compromise yourself.
- Lean into frustration
- Know what you bring to the table and then bring it to the table.
Delighted to share my chat with the inspiring writer/producer Gabby Lugo. We met at a networking event for the Latinx community and were quickly magnetized to each other. We bonded over the various parallels in our path and I simply had to share her story with you.
After finding major success as a line producer on projects like the original short for Damien Chazelle’s film "Whiplash" and the anomaly indie hit that was the feature "Palm Springs", she was faced with making a decision that would have most creatives shaking in their boots: should she continue on the lucrative line producing path, or turn down her financial safety net and pursue her true passion for writing?
In this episode, you'll get the real-real on how Gabby navigated the high stress and high stakes of a journey that begins with immigration from Nicaragua and arrives to present day with the recently-sold reboot of "16 Candles" alongside powerhouse latinas, showrunner Tanya Saracho and the one and only Selena Gomez.
Spoiler Alert: Gabby’s writing it.
This week on the show we hear from the energetic Nicole Tossou who lives by the mantra: If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.
A child of immigrant parents and proud native of Washington D.C, Nicole’s career began in the NBC Page Program in New York, working on iconic programs such as THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON, TODAY, and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
She worked at A+E Networks & A+E Studios for five years before heading west and landing at Springhill Entertainment, where she was deeply involved with the development of scripted and unscripted content including Netflix's SELF MADE: INSPIRED BY THE LIFE OF MADAM C.J. WALKER starring Octavia Spencer.
Loved this show, btw. If you have not seen it, highly recommend checking it out.
Nicole is currently the Head of Television at Project X Entertainment and is an EP on Netflix’s, “The Night Agent.” The show premiered in April and was in the top 10 list of the streamer’s most popular shows ever.
I adored our our chat and as you’ll hear, I was in a funky moment the day we recorded. She really lifted my spirits and as much as I do the show for you and our community, oftentimes these conversations become free therapy for me.
Here are the key takeaways:
- Learning to set boundaries
- Stepping away to enjoy things outside of the industry to reinvigorate your spark
- How to feel whole and define yourself outside of your job
Resources:
Carolina on IG - instagram.com/carolinagroppa
AOP on IG - instagram.com/angleonproducers
Subscribe to my newsletter - eepurl.com/gx0gvn
The Baddest Bitch in the Room - https://amzn.to/3X48AzR
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker - netflix.com/title/80202462
Elated to dive into the captivating world of animation through the incredible career of Melinda Dilger, Global Head of Animation Production @ Riot Games.
Animation has the power to transport us to new dimensions, ignite our emotions, and bring fantastical worlds to life. One series, in particular, has been capturing the hearts and minds of viewers worldwide…myself included.
Arcane is a visionary show born from the collaboration between Riot Games, Fortiche and Netflix. Set in the universe of the wildly popular game "League of Legends," Arcane follows the tragic story of two iconic champions, sisters Vi and Jinx and the power that will tear them apart.
It has managed to break through the boundaries of what we thought animation could achieve, captivating audiences of all ages. So, naturally, the show earned multiple Emmys, Annie Awards, and a Lumiere Award to name a few.
I rarely gravitate towards animation so I was shook when I realized I had binged the entire first season. It compelled me to find out who was behind it. So, I was thrilled when Melinda accepted my invite to come on the show.
An experienced leader in her field, she’s worked with top players in town, including Walt Disney Studios, Nickelodeon, Universal and others. She produced over 200 episodic titles and features and is now overseeing animation production for Riot Games’ television and film properties.
Some highlights include:
- The time and empathy required to nurture artist
- How she energized the deflated team behind Arcane when she joined
- Remembering that one job interview can lead an offer for another job
So excited to share my rich and nuanced convo with Attica and Tembi Locke. I discovered this dynamic sister duo after devouring their Netflix limited series, FROM SCRATCH, starring Zoe Saldana. Once my tear ducts could no longer produce any more tears, I immediately had to find out who was behind this beautiful show.
Tembi is a New York Times best-selling author, TV producer, actor, and screenwriter. Her memoir, From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home, is a 2019 Reese’s Book Club pick and NYT bestseller. Alongside Hello Sunshine, Tembi and Attica adapted the book as a limited series for Netflix, which trended in the top 10 globally in 84 countries for weeks on end following its October 2022 release.
Attica is an award-winning screenwriter, TV producer, and novelist. She recently co-created and served as showrunner on From Scratch. Other screen credits include Little Fires Everywhere, When They See Us, and Empire. Locke is also NY-Times best-selling author of five novels: Heaven, My Home; Bluebird, Bluebird; Pleasantville; The Cutting Season; and Black Water Rising.
They are delightful humans, astute creators and I can’t wait to watch their star continue to rise!
In this chat, we dive into:
-Why it’s necessary to come up for air/refuel
-How sometimes the things you fear the most end up being the greatest gifts
-How to own your creative vision while staying open to collaboration
LINK IN BIO!
On this special episode, I answer three of your questions, such as:
- How to crack the line producer path.
- My biggest “DON’T’s” for someone trying to break into the industry and work as a producer
- That time I took a chance on yourself and had no idea if it was going to work out.
WGA strike captain Victor Dueñas also stopped by for a quick chat and broke down what is being negotiated, why now, and what is at stake for writers.
📣This episode is brought to you by Arc Studio Pro, a well-designed screenwriting software that is quickly growing to become the new industry standard. Head to ArcStudioPro.com to get started for free! 📣 Go to arcstud.io/carolina for $30 OFF!
Our latest and greatest episode features Ilana Peña, my fellow South Florida sister. We grew up near each other, hanging out in the same mall (when that’s what the cool kids used to do) and we only pieced all of this together decades later after meeting here in LA.
So yes Ilana holds a special place in my 954 heart.
She is the creator, showrunner, executive producer, and director of the critically-acclaimed, Emmy-nominated "Diary of a Future President" on Disney+. The two-season series has been called a “must-watch” by Parade, “wholly charming” by The AV Club, “consistently sweet, authentic and humorous” by Remezcla, won "Best Latinx Show" from the Latino Media Awards in 2021, and was nominated for a GLAAD Award in 2021 and 2022.
She was named as a 2020 recipient of Forbes 30 Under 30: Hollywood and Entertainment, and honored in Variety's 2021 Inclusion Impact Report. Wow! 🤩
Ilana is continuing to develop projects through her overall deal at CBS Television Studios and is writing features for Universal Studios, Disney+, and 20th Century Studios, where she is penning the reboot of the 1988 film Working Girl produced by Selena Gomez.
Gems from this episode include:
➡️How she became one of Hollywood’s youngest showrunners
➡️How she drew inspiration and authenticity from her 12-year-old self
➡️The importance of community
🎧Tune in now via link in bio
#producer #filmproducer #latinafilmmakers #documentary #documentaryproducer #docproducer #TVproducer #theaterproducer #Broadwayproducer #filmpodcast #filmmakingpodcast #producerlife
At this year’s ☀️ Sundance festival ☀️, I met a wide array of talented people. Among them is Rocío Jadue, a Chilean producer that runs the Latin-American film division at Fabula. She is best known for the film A Fantastic Woman (2018), directed by Sebastián Lelio, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. 🎞
Special shoutout to Maylen Calienes, founder of Latino Filmmakers Network for graciously hosting AOP at her Sundance case. Gracias amiga!
Rocío’s career at Fabula dates back to 2012 when she executive produced Pablo Larraín's No, the first Chilean film nominated for the Academy Awards. She has now worked on 20 films, such as Neruda and The Club, that have premiered in festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Sundance.
Rocío had two incredible films premiering at this year’s festival; Eternal Memory, winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary directed by @MaiteAlberdi and director @ChristopherMurray's dark and decolonial coming-of-age tale, Sorcery.
Gems from this episode include:
-Rocío’s luck in landing her first big project, Pablo Larraín's “No,” which was nominated for an Academy Award
-Coming up in Chile’s limited film industry
-Reclaiming what it means to be a producer
📣 Helloooo 2023! Happy New Year Beyond excited to kick off the new year with my chat with UK producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor. A true multi-hyphenate, she produces, writers and directs.
She runs Joi Productions, a company focused primarily on Queer, Black and female work. In 2019, she produced the hit Blue Story, which became the top grossing film of its genre. In 2020, she was named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow and a BAFTA Breakthrough, as well as Joi Productions receiving a BFI Vision Award.
Yaaaapp, she’s very impressive!
At the end of 2021, she produced Aml Ameen’s debut, Boxing Day, the first all-Black Christmas film out of the UK 💪🏿💪🏾💪🏽More recently, Joy produced Champion for BBC and Netflix. In 2022, Ringside Studio acquired a stake in Joi Productions.
Speaking with Joy was especially wonderful because she has such a unique background. Her origin story formed her incredible perspective and give her a clear vision for the kind of stories she wants to bring to life.
We will dive deep into:
➡️How getting her start outside of the industry’s mainstream helped benefit her work
➡️How being kind and treating people well gets you further
➡️How challenges, such as seeking asylum and being homeless, drove her to succeed in her work
Very excited to share my chat with Herman Phillips (COO) and Heather Wagner (Co-Founder/Product Architect). They are two of the brains behind Cinapse, our sponsor for the last 3 episodes.
Cinapse is an app that streamlines workflows for film and television crews, cast members, and studio employees.
By digitizing the background voucher system, a painful process that usually requires a TON of forms, data entry, and frustrated individuals, Cinapse is revolutionizing production at large.
It's one of those unsexy time sucks in production that ADs, production and accounting deal. It's time that could be spent more wisely.
During our chat, we dive into the story behind how the idea came about, why producers should know about it and how this the technology it provides will positively impact the process of making a film for everyone involved---from crew to accountants.
To book a demo of Cinapse, got to www.cinapse.io/book-a-demo. Fill out a brief form, and a Cinapse representative will be in touch to schedule a Zoom call!
Beijos,
CG
This episode is brought to you by Cinapse. Cinapse is an app that streamlines workflows for film and television crews, cast members, and studio employees. What they are building is truly game changer and I’ll be doing a deep dive with them in the upcoming weeks. Follow @cinapse for more.
_______
Here we are, the final episode of 2022! I can’t believe how fast the year has flown by, can you? As we wind down and cozy up into this season of rest and reflection, I hope you truly take the time to celebrate your wins, learn from your blindspots, and continue to do your best daily. Wise people tell me that’s what life is all about.
Eva Price is a prime example of betting on yourself. She is a three-time Tony Award-winning producer with over 18 successful Broadway plays, musicals, and concerts under her belt. Notably called “Broadway’s Powerhouse Entrepreneur”, some of her award-winning shows include Oklahoma!, Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, Dear Evan Hansen, Peter and the Starcatcher, Colin Quinn Long Story Short (directed by Jerry Seinfeld.
Eva grew up in Boston and earned a degree in Political Communication at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. After five years as an assignment editor in ABC News, Eva quit her prestigious and lucrative job to pursue her dream of becoming a Broadway producer. A decade later, she’s now produced multiple Tony, Olivier, and GRAMMY Award-winning shows on Broadway!
Currently, Eva is producing an upcoming Broadway show & Juliet which opens on November 17. Eva is also preparing for a new important musical opening in Los Angeles in May 2023, called Transparent.
Gems from this episode include:
- Navigating the exhausting but fulfilling world of theater
- The importance of humility despite being a successful producer
- How producers empower their communities through art
Xoxo
CG
SAY HI
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instagram.com/angleonproducers
twitter.com/carolinagroppa
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This episode is brought to you by Cinapse. Cinapse is an app that streamlines workflows for film and television crews, cast members, and studio employees. What they are building is truly game changer and I’ll be doing a deep dive with them in the upcoming weeks. Follow @cinapse for more.
_______
Here we are, the final episode of 2022! I can’t believe how fast the year has flown by, can you? As we wind down and cozy up into this season of rest and reflection, I hope you truly take the time to celebrate your wins, learn from your blindspots, and continue to do your best daily. Wise people tell me that’s what life is all about.
Eva Price is a prime example of betting on yourself. She is a three-time Tony Award-winning producer with over 18 successful Broadway plays, musicals, and concerts under her belt. Notably called “Broadway’s Powerhouse Entrepreneur”, some of her award-winning shows include Oklahoma!, Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, Dear Evan Hansen, Peter and the Starcatcher, Colin Quinn Long Story Short (directed by Jerry Seinfeld.
Eva grew up in Boston and earned a degree in Political Communication at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. After five years as an assignment editor in ABC News, Eva quit her prestigious and lucrative job to pursue her dream of becoming a Broadway producer. A decade later, she’s now produced multiple Tony, Olivier, and GRAMMY Award-winning shows on Broadway!
Currently, Eva is producing an upcoming Broadway show & Juliet which opens on November 17. Eva is also preparing for a new important musical opening in Los Angeles in May 2023, called Transparent.
Gems from this episode include:
- Navigating the exhausting but fulfilling world of theater
- The importance of humility despite being a successful producer
- How producers empower their communities through art
Xoxo
CG
SAY HI
instagram.com/carolinagroppa
instagram.com/angleonproducers
twitter.com/carolinagroppa
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER!
bit.ly/aop_newsletter
This episode is brought to you by Cinapse. Cinapse is an app that streamlines workflows for film and television crews, cast members, and studio employees. What they are building is truly game changer and I’ll be doing a deep dive with them in the upcoming weeks. Follow them @cinapse for more.
Barbara Whitman is a theater producer who made her Broadway debut producing A Raisin in the Sun, starring Sean Comb and Phylicia Rashad,
An impressive lady, she has won multiple Tony and Drama League Awards for producing musicals like Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Fun Home, The Humans and of course, A Strange Loop, which I was lucky enough to see on Broadway back in August.
In 2021, she established the Barbara Whitman Award at Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, SDCF for sure. The award will be given annually to a female, trans, or non-binary early career director.
Currently, Barbara is producing Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright’s new play, GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR, starring Sean Hayes. The play will open on Broadway Spring 2023.
A native New Yorker, Barbara attended NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study and received an MFA in Theatre Management and Producing from Columbia University. With roots in the theater, it’s no surprise that’s she’s built a career around this art form. She has a deep passion for story, and especially for outlier stories that live outside the more commercial broadway fare.
Gems from our chat include:
- How the definition of a producer has evolved
- The importance of introducing audiences to live theater
- Tips on how to get started producing theater
Xoxo
CG
This episode is brought to you by Cinapse. Cinapse is an app that streamlines workflows for film and television crews, cast members, and studio employees. What they are building is truly game changer and I’ll be doing a deep dive with them in the upcoming weeks. Follow them @cinapse for more.
Barbara Whitman is a theater producer who made her Broadway debut producing A Raisin in the Sun, starring Sean Comb and Phylicia Rashad,
An impressive lady, she has won multiple Tony and Drama League Awards for producing musicals like Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Fun Home, The Humans and of course, A Strange Loop, which I was lucky enough to see on Broadway back in August.
In 2021, she established the Barbara Whitman Award at Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, SDCF for sure. The award will be given annually to a female, trans, or non-binary early career director.
Currently, Barbara is producing Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright’s new play, GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR, starring Sean Hayes. The play will open on Broadway Spring 2023.
A native New Yorker, Barbara attended NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study and received an MFA in Theatre Management and Producing from Columbia University. With roots in the theater, it’s no surprise that’s she’s built a career around this art form. She has a deep passion for story, and especially for outlier stories that live outside the more commercial broadway fare.
Gems from our chat include:
- How the definition of a producer has evolved
- The importance of introducing audiences to live theater
- Tips on how to get started producing theater
Xoxo
CG
This episode is brought to you by AOP's first official sponsor, Cinapse.
Cinapse is an app that streamlines workflows for film and television crews, cast members, and studio employees. What they are building is truly game changer and I'm stoked to partner with them. Check 'em out @ cinapse.io.
Thrilled to share my chat with the fierce Elizabeth Cantillon. She is a producer and principal of Bisous Pictures, a romance label under MRC Film. She most recently produced an adaptation of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION starring Dakota Johnson which is streaming on Netflix.
An LA native, Elizabeth has extensive experience working as a studio executive and a producer. She also had a brief stint at UCLA where she taught screenplay development for producers. She recommended a few excellent books and resources that I highly recommend you check out. Links are in the show notes on
angleonproducers.com
She previously served as EVP, Production at Columbia Pictures. During her tenure there, , she oversaw Academy Award winners THE SOCIAL NETWORK, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and the last four installments of James Bond movies CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, SKYFALL and SPECTRE.
Overall, the films she has worked on as a studio executive have garnered more than $300 million at the box office worldwide.
In 2014, Elizabeth left Columbia Pictures to go back to her first love of producing with a first look deal at Sony under, “The Cantillion Company.”
Elizabeth is resilience and patience personified. Gems from our chat include:
- The difference between a studio executive’s role and a producer’s role
- How true gender parity in film production can be achieved
- The importance of setting boundaries for yourself
Xoxo
CG
This episode is brought to you by AOP's first official sponsor, Cinapse.
Cinapse is an app that streamlines workflows for film and television crews, cast members, and studio employees. What they are building is truly game changer and I'm stoked to partner with them. Check 'em out @ cinapse.io.
Thrilled to share my chat with the fierce Elizabeth Cantillon. She is a producer and principal of Bisous Pictures, a romance label under MRC Film. She most recently produced an adaptation of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION starring Dakota Johnson which is streaming on Netflix.
An LA native, Elizabeth has extensive experience working as a studio executive and a producer. She also had a brief stint at UCLA where she taught screenplay development for producers. She recommended a few excellent books and resources that I highly recommend you check out. Links are in the show notes on
angleonproducers.com
She previously served as EVP, Production at Columbia Pictures. During her tenure there, , she oversaw Academy Award winners THE SOCIAL NETWORK, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and the last four installments of James Bond movies CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, SKYFALL and SPECTRE.
Overall, the films she has worked on as a studio executive have garnered more than $300 million at the box office worldwide.
In 2014, Elizabeth left Columbia Pictures to go back to her first love of producing with a first look deal at Sony under, “The Cantillion Company.”
Elizabeth is resilience and patience personified. Gems from our chat include:
- The difference between a studio executive’s role and a producer’s role
- How true gender parity in film production can be achieved
- The importance of setting boundaries for yourself
Xoxo
CG
Kara Durrett is an independent producer who recently produced Adamma Ebo's HONK FOR JESUS, SAVE YOUR SOUL which premiered at Sundance 2022.
Kara is the reason I was brought on to HONK as a physical producer and in the process of making that film, she became a bud. She is fun to work with, in fact, she is a great time! (direct quote from Kara!)
Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown give phenomenally funny performances worthy of an hour and 42 minute of your time. The film premieres on September 2nd in theaters and on Peacock. So excited for the world to see it! Check it out and tell me what you think!
Kara also produced Celine Held & Logan George’s VANISHINGS AT CADDO LAKE alongside M Night Shyamalan, which is currently in Post Production.
Past productions include Floyd Russ’s AYAR, which premiered at SXSW 2021, Celine Held & Logan George’s TOPSIDE, winner of both Best Technical Achievement at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, the Special Jury Award for directing at SXSW 2020, and Alex Fischer & Eleanor Wilson’s SAVE YOURSELVES!, which premiered in competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and sold to Bleecker Street.
Upcoming projects are David Craig and Brian Crano’s I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU, alongside producer Joel Edgerton; As well as Laurel Parmet's THE STARLING GIRL produced alongside 2AM.
Durrett’s short film work has been nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival, and has screened in competition at Sundance Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, New York Film Festival, and in the Narrative and Midnight Competitions at SXSW. Her award-winning short film CAROLINE was short-listed for the 2019 Academy Awards. Watch the short here: https://vimeo.com/295591903
Some gems include:
-Why she loves working with first time directors and the advice she has for them
-The value of learning by making mistakes
-The deep respect we share for crew and how much of themselves they give to bring stories to life
Beijos,
Caca
Sign up for my newsletter email: http://eepurl.com/gx0gvn
Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angleonproducers
Kara Durrett is an independent producer who recently produced Adamma Ebo's HONK FOR JESUS, SAVE YOUR SOUL which premiered at Sundance 2022.
Kara is the reason I was brought on to HONK as a physical producer and in the process of making that film, she became a bud. She is fun to work with, in fact, she is a great time! (direct quote from Kara!)
Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown give phenomenally funny performances worthy of an hour and 42 minute of your time. The film premieres on September 2nd in theaters and on Peacock. So excited for the world to see it! Check it out and tell me what you think!
Kara also produced Celine Held & Logan George’s VANISHINGS AT CADDO LAKE alongside M Night Shyamalan, which is currently in Post Production.
Past productions include Floyd Russ’s AYAR, which premiered at SXSW 2021, Celine Held & Logan George’s TOPSIDE, winner of both Best Technical Achievement at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, the Special Jury Award for directing at SXSW 2020, and Alex Fischer & Eleanor Wilson’s SAVE YOURSELVES!, which premiered in competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and sold to Bleecker Street.
Upcoming projects are David Craig and Brian Crano’s I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU, alongside producer Joel Edgerton; As well as Laurel Parmet's THE STARLING GIRL produced alongside 2AM.
Durrett’s short film work has been nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival, and has screened in competition at Sundance Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, New York Film Festival, and in the Narrative and Midnight Competitions at SXSW. Her award-winning short film CAROLINE was short-listed for the 2019 Academy Awards. Watch the short here: https://vimeo.com/295591903
Some gems include:
-Why she loves working with first time directors and the advice she has for them
-The value of learning by making mistakes
-The deep respect we share for crew and how much of themselves they give to bring stories to life
Beijos,
Caca
Sign up for my newsletter email: http://eepurl.com/gx0gvn
Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angleonproducers
Amy Baer currently serves as President of Landline Pictures, a label within MRC Film that makes feature films about and for the 50+ audience. Launched in 2020, their first movie, JERRY & MARGE GO LARGE, directed by David Frankel, who did MARLEY & ME, is streaming now on Paramount+.
Starring Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening, the film is based on the true story of a married couple who used a loophole in the Massachusetts State Lottery to win $27 million. I watched it with my dad a few weeks ago and it’s incredibly fun and heartwarming.
While Amy grew up in a showbiz family, she still had to carve her own path. One thing was certain: she did not want to be an actor.
During her stint at CAA in 1988 as an assistant to the late Jay Moloney, she discovered the studio executive route.
She eventually became President & CEO of CBS Films. She also spent 17 years at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where she oversaw impressive films such as:
MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING (1997)
ADAPTATION (2001)
S.W.A.T. (2002)
SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE (2003)
THE HOLIDAY (2006)
MONEYBALL (2011)
Amy’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to raise seven figure development fund and launch Gidden Media, one of the industry’s only female-led, independently financed content incubation companies.
Her first film as a producer was the 2013 hit LAST VEGAS, starring Michael Douglas, Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline, which grossed $136MM worldwide.
A devoted wife and mother of two, Amy has also found time to be Board President of Women in Film since June 2018.
A few takeaways from our chat include:
- Soaking up as much as you can when you are in a job you dislike
- How leaving the studio system forced her to develop an entrepreneurial muscle
- And how to not take things personally
Celebrating 75 episodes of the show!!!
Jordana Mollick is Semi-Formal’s President of Development and Production.
Originally from Milwaukee, she’s worked in theater, film, television, and digital media, as well as literary management.
She co-founded Black Sheep Management and Productions, which then merged with Haven Entertainment where she was a partner.
In 2018, she joined forces with Michael Showalter to form Semi-Formal Productions. She produced Susanna Fogel’s first film LIFE PARTNERS, NIGHT OWLS by Charles Hood, as well as HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS for which she won the producer's award at the Independent Spirit Awards.
She produced IT STARTED AS A JOKE which premiered at the 2019 SXSW film festival, and THE LOVEBIRDS, starring Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae, which was released on Netflix in May 2020. Most recently, through Semi-Formal, Jordana Executive Produced THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE for Searchlight, starring Jessica Chastain who took home the Academy Award for Best Actress, THE SHRINK NEXT DOOR starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd for Apple TV+, and the critically acclaimed miniseries, THE DROPOUT, starring Amanda Seyfried for Hulu.
This week, we dive into the importance of embracing your firsts, the parallels between producing and motherhood, and how to avoid the traps of self comparison.
Jenifer Westphal is the Founder and CEO at Wavelength, an Emmy-Winning film studio committed to developing, producing and financing films that tell great f**king stories.
She raised and homeschool ed her 3 now adult sons — including one who is in Autism Spectrum. Once the youngest had gone off to college, she looked around her empty house and said to her husband, “I’m going to start a film company.”
Jenifer was in her 50s when she decided to make the leap to producing films.
Named one of Variety's "10 Producers to Watch" in 2020, Jenifer has served as executive producer for countless award-winning documentary and independent films, including the smash hits KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?, and Emmy-winners FEELS GOOD MAN and ATHLETE A.
Through the WAVE Grant program, she focuses on breaking barriers by taking a special interest in fostering female talent, first-time filmmakers, and creators of color.
A former member of the Women of Sundance Leadership Council and Chicken & Egg Pictures, Jenifer has served as a participant on numerous panels at festivals, including Sundance Catalyst.
Outside of her work in film, she serves as an advisory board member and grantor for the Good Work Foundation, an organization with the mission to lead a digitally-empowered education model for rural Africa and the world.
She previously worked on political campaigns (including Walter Mondale’s 1984 run for the White House) and engaged in philanthropic work, raising funds for various individuals and events.
A few takeaways from our chat include:
- Navigating agism in Hollywood
- How motherhood prepared her to be a producer
- What financiers expect and want filmmakers to know
Dani Melia is an LA based producer. Her journey began with an internship at Big Beach where she eventually became an executive and worked on incredible films including Loving, Safety Not Guaranteed and The Kings of Summer.
Dani developed and produced Lulu Wang’s critically-acclaimed feature The Farewell starring Awkwafina, which went on to receive nominations for the Gotham Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, and won two Film Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Picture.
A beautiful bond was born and in 2021, she founded film and television production company Local Time alongside Lulu.
They aim to champion emerging storytellers and focus on narrative possibilities that can open audiences to new perspectives in storytelling. Local Time has a first look TV deal at Amazon Studios.
Dani is currently Executive Producing the Amazon drama series Expats, starring Nicole Kidman, based on the novel by Janice Y.K. Lee.
A few takeaways from our chat include:
- Navigating risk and trusting your gut
- The magic of her partnership with Lulu
- Knowing when it’s time to leave a job
Joy Gorman Wettels is a Partner at Anonymous Content, where her focus is “YI” content — Youth Impact, Intention & Inclusion.
Born in Yonkers, her early years in entertainment were spent at Miramax Films in NYC and at her own management and production entity, where she sold the first pitches & scripts of now longtime collaborators out of her apartment.
While at Barnard College of Columbia University, she sunk her teeth into producing with the 102nd Columbia Varsity Show written by fellow students Brian Yorkey & Tom Kitt. Subsequently, she helped shepherd their Pulitzer & Tony winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL to Broadway for over a decade.
Joy executive produced all 4 seasons of the hit Netflix/Paramount series 13 REASONS WHY created by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Brian Yorkey and directed by Oscar-winner Tom McCarthy (SPOTLIGHT). Released in 2017, 13 REASONS WHY started a global conversation around teen suicide, bullying and sexual violence.
Joy completed two seasons of HOME BEFORE DARK on Apple TV+ starring Brooklynn Prince & Jim Sturgess.
Gorman Wettels is currently producing a multi-part storytelling ecosystem for Warner Media inspired by Landmark Civil Rights docu-series EYES ON THE PRIZE in partnership with Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors, Melina Matsoukas, Dawn Porter and original producers BLACKSIDE. The first installment, EYES ON THE PRIZE: HALLOWED GROUND is now streaming on HBO Max alongside the original 1987 series with an all new curriculum & study guide.
Joy is a delightful human who also embodies some of my favorite qualities in a producer -- tenacious, persistent, approachable, and very Italian. :)
During this hour, we tackle:
-How the death of her mother altered the course of her career
-If faking it till you make it is good advice
-The huge risk she took of leaving management behind while at Anonymous to produce
Rachel Shane has build an incredibly inspiring career. In turn, her mission is to continue to produce inspiring and diverse projects. She currently oversees all aspects of feature film and television development and production for Madison Wells. A few of her impressive credits include: -Executive Producer on the Academy Award®-nominated HELL OR HIGH WATER (starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine and Ben Foster) -Producer on the Golden Globe-nominated MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN (written, directed by and starring Edward Norton). -Producer on THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE (starring Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield) -Executive Producer on ARETHA (starring Cynthia Erivio), -Executive Producer on PICASSO and EINSTEIN, the Emmy® award winning and Golden-Globe nominated series GENIUS. Rachel’s tenure at Madison Wells began as President of Production at OddLot Entertainment (aka MW), which produced and financed high-profile indie films including one of my all time favorite films, THE WAY WAY BACK starring Steve Carell, DRIVE starring Ryan Gosling, and Jon Stewart’s directorial debut, ROSEWATER. Prior to Madison Wells, Shane served as Executive Vice President of Production at Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher’s Red Wagon Entertainment. Gems this week include: -Dropping out of law school and falling in love with film during an internship in Mexico -The balance between financing and creatively producing -Knowing when to leap towards the next rung of the ladder Enjoy! Ca
Laura is the CEO and Founder of Rebelle Media. They are financing, creative and production partners for bold storytellers who put women and girls at the heart of their narratives.
Her focus has always been on finding ways to push against the “no” and getting stories, across all genres, about women and other marginalized voices made and seen.
Laura has twenty years of experience in film and television development, production, strategy, sales and financing.
She recently produced the feature film Long Weekend (Sony, 2020) and is currently in production on the upcoming Mr. Malcolm’s List (Bleecker Street / Universal).
Previous credits include Executive Producer on An Acceptable Loss starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Tika Sumpter and Co-Executive Producer on All About Nina, written and directed by Eva Vives, and Little Woods, written and directed by Nia DaCosta.
Prior to launching Rebelle, as a film finance and sales agent at Creative Artists Agency, Laura packaged and sold films such as On the Basis of Sex, The Wife, Jackie, Dallas Buyers Club, The Imitation Game, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Maggie’s Plan, Begin Again, Mud, and Still Alice, amongst many others.
Prior to CAA, she consulted with financiers on slate and individual picture film financing and worked as a development and production executive at Twentieth Century Fox and Edward Saxon Productions on films ranging from Away We Go to What Happens in Vegas.
This week, we dive deep into:
- Her transition from the corporate lifestyle to running her own company
- The dangers of self comparison
- Navigating the challenges of the business regardless of how much money one makes.
Carolina Garcia is Director of Original Series at Netflix.
She is a delight of human with a spirit so magnetic you just wanna drink all the wine in the world with her.
She oversees some of Netflix's top Overall Deal talent, including The Duffer Brothers, Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican Productions, Archewell, and Shawn Levy's 21 Laps to name a few.
In her current role, she oversees shows such as Stranger Things, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Atypical, Raising Dion, the upcoming Echoes from Brian Yorkey and many more shows you will soon come to love!
Gems include why she does NOT consider herself a producer, how to not be defined by your job, and the good ol’ impostor syndrome she felt when she embarked on her Netflix journey.
SAY HI
http://instagram.com/carolinagroppa http://instagram.com/angleonproducers https://twitter.com/carolinagroppa
Liz Cardenas is a 2019 Independent Spirit Award nominee and producer. She is also a writer, director and actor. She was included in the 2019 LATINXT, a highly curated list of emerging Latino creators from an initiative by Zoe Saldana, Robert Rodriguez and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Notable producing credits include Augustine Frizzell’s NEVER GOIN’ BACK (Sundance '18), starring Maia Mitchell, Camila Morrone and Kyle Mooney; David Lowery’s A GHOST STORY (Sundance ‘17), starring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck (both distributed by A24); and Daniel Laabs' JULES OF LIGHT & DARK, the 2019 Outfest Best US Narrative Feature, distributed by Wolfe Releasing.
Most recently, she produced for Duplass Brothers Productions, the rom-com, 7 DAYS, starring Karan Soni and Geraldine Viswanathan, which she shot in September 2020 and had its World Premiere at Tribeca 2021.
She’s written and directed two award-winning shorts and co-created a series of children’s films sold throughout the world. Under her Ten to the Six Pictures, she has a slate of four features and two shorts in various stages of production and development – filming in the US and abroad. A former reporter for The Dallas Morning News, she was raised by her Hispanic father, who immigrated to the US from Mexico, and Irish-American mother.
This week, we dive deep into:
- Embracing the nomadic lifestyle that allows her to pursue her passions
- Her secret sauce for creating and sustaining relationships with friends who are also collaborators
- Why it takes so long to find your people
Dan Cogan is one of the most prominent non-fiction producers working today. Both an Academy Award®- and Emmy Award®-winner, Dan founded Story Syndicate with Liz Garbus in 2019.
Previously, Dan was the founding Executive Director of Impact Partners. They provide the creative mentorship to help make films the strongest they can be, and the strategic guidance to achieve the widest possible audience for each film.
Impact has a unique model of equity investing into the documentary film community - pioneering a system where filmmakers and investors work together to achieve mutually beneficial goals of telling powerful stories, raising awareness about critical issues facing our world today, reaching mass audiences on a global scale, and creating revenue for their films.
He has produced more than 100 films and series, including:
Allen v. Farrow; Icarus, which won the 2018 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature; Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, which won the 2019 Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary; The Cove, which won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature; and the Apollo, which won the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Documentary.
Dan has been highly regarded by many colleagues, and while we’ve never worked together, I am a fan and advocate of how he amplifies filmmakers from all walks of life.
This week we dive deep into the documentary scene, discuss best practices for finding and maintaining investor relationships, and he explains the producer’s diagram for choosing projects.
Kelly Macmanus Funke is President of Littleton Road Productions, a television production company with an overall deal at Universal Content Productions (UCP).
Her career began in the 1990s, working for Cary Woods as he produced the first projects of today's most celebrated content creators, including Jon Favreau, Doug Liman, James Mangold, Alexander Payne, M. Night Shyamalan, and Scott Rosenberg.
Under her own company film generator, she was the associate producer on Jonas Pate's SHRINK and she championed the early works of author Gregg Hurwitz, Broadway and screenwriter Jon Hartmere, and television writer, Patrick Macmanus.
Then it all came to a halt.
In 2009, she said goodbye to Hollywood.
She spent the next decade in leadership positions in various industries. She served as Senior Vice President, Marketing for North America for the sportswear brand FILA. She was part of the global executive leadership team that returned the branded manufacturer from near-obsolescence in 2007 to a $5 billion dollar enterprise that won Shoe of the Year in 2018.
During her time away, she also shepherded the return of legendary brand ambassador Grant Hill to a lifetime deal; built an in-house ad agency from the ground up; and oversaw the creation and growth of the company's B2B and B2C eCommerce teams.
Immediately prior to her tenure at FILA, Funke was Director of Operations on a U.S. Senate primary in the '08 cycle and oversaw operations for Jamestown Associates, a nationally renowned political ad agency.
In the fall of 2019, her brother Patrick was inundated with projects for him and for the many talented writers he he championed with his overall deal at UCP.
Naturally he called up Kelly. Naturally, she said yes.
Two years later, they now have an overall deal, created the hit Peacock drama Dr. Death starring Joshua Jackson and are in the middle of production on the true-crime limited series The Girl From Plainville starring Elle Fanning.
Her story is just as remarkable as she is. Can’t wait for you to dive in and meet Kelly!
This week, we discuss:
- Parallels between production and the writer’s process
- Why producing is age agnostic
- Having faith in yourself
Julie Lynn formed Mockingbird Pictures in 1999, with Bonnie Curtis joining in 2012 after more than 15 years working with Steven Spielberg.
Together they produce film and television across a wide variety of genres, with movie budgets that range from under $1 million to over $100 million. They have produced for brand-new filmmakers as well as experienced, award-winning directors.
Julie worked as a First Amendment lawyer before embarking on a film career as a creative executive for producer Mark Johnson..
They first partnered under the Mockingbird Pictures banner after producing the Academy Award®-nominated Albert Nobbs in 2012.
They are still thinking about what non-profit work they are going to cook up together after they retire from filmmaking … but they are hopeful that day is still many years away.
They are most proud of all the “repeat customers” amongst their collaborators, as well as the fact that they were able to successfully take their families on a joint vacation, because they clearly don’t see enough of each other at work.
This week, Bonnie and Julie shine on light on:
- Creating a producer’s group
- Putting trust in your filmmakers
- How their unique partnership functions
The ray of sunshine from across the pond joins us on this week’s episode of Angle on Producers. Rowena Wallace is a UK producer who always dreamed of working in film. Her dreams came true as she climbed her way through the ranks, maintaining connections and working hard. She is a singular presence, and I’m not just talking about her love of negotiating (which we unpack). She started her Peach House, focused on shepherding up-and-coming artists and nurturing her ever-growing production slate.
Peach House is a female-founded talent management and production house est. in 2019 by George Monkland and Rowena Wallace and backed by talent management collective Tricycle Talent. Tricycle’s founder and media veteran Sara Curran is the Peach House chairman.
She is a mentor with the UK-based company Creative Access, and lucky for us, she did a bit of mentoring on this episode as well. We dive into the art of cold emailing, how to cultivate your luck and the benefits of leading with kindness. Oh, and much much more.
Veronica Beach is the Head of Production at Pereira O’Dell, a bi-coastal ad agency with offices in SF and NY.
She has over 20 years of producing experience, specializing in Advertising Production. She has produced some of the most viewed and famous campaigns historically over her career as well as won over 100 Cannes Lions and other multiple awards.
She came into my life in 2013 when I was raising finishing funds for my feature documentary, AUTISM IN LOVE. The subject touched her so deeply she corralled all of her industry contacts to help us raise a huge chunk of money to finish the film. She was one of those angels that was put on my path and helped me stay the course on what became my first feature producing credit.
Pretty cool, right?
When we intersected, Veronica was at DAVID The Agency where she was a founding member and Global Head of Production for over 8 years. This stint challenged her on many fronts including a move to Sao Paulo, Brazil to open the offices in South America, learning Portuguese, and deepening her understanding of culture in LATAM.
In the midst of a pandemic, Veronica re-launched, poolhouse a platform for Producers to connect, share information, resources, and find jobs. They currently they have over 3,000 followers on IG and over 750 producers on the platform.
Please note that this episode contains a very candid discussion on trauma, depression, and sexual abuse that begins around the 40 minute mark and lasts for about 10 minutes.
Veronica destigmatizes mental health issues in the entertainment industry by sharing her own struggles with trauma and depression. She speaks with openness and authenticity on how her mental health impacted her life and career, and how dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) helped her heal.
If you are struggling with your mental health there is no shame in getting help. Visit MakeItOK.org to get resources, tips for talking about mental health, and more.
If you or anyone you know is struggling, there's help available, any time. It's free and you'll reach a trained volunteer. You can reach the Crisis Text Line by texting the word HOME to 741-741, or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
This week on the show we are joined by a legend of the indie scene, the one and only Christine Vachon.
She is an independent Spirit Award and Gotham Award winner.
In 1995, she co-founded the indie powerhouse Killer Films with partner Pamela Koffler.
Those of us who have been curious about producing most certainly have seen or read her books ‘Shooting to Kill’ and ‘A Killer Life’
Killer Films has produced over 100 films, including some of the most celebrated American indie features such as:
- Carol (nominated for six Academy Awards)
- Far from Heaven (nominated for four Academy Awards)
- Still Alice (Academy Award winner)
- Boys Don’t Cry (Academy Award winner)
- One Hour Photo
- KIDS
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
- Velvet Goldmine
- I’m Not There (Academy Award nominee)
Her highly lauded career spans thirty+ years and she continues to churn out zeitgeist shifting films at every turn, such A24’s summer release ZOLA. Directed by Janicza Bravo, the film follows a stripper named Zola (played by Taylour Paige) as she embarks on a wild road trip to Florida.
A self-proclaimed pragmatist, opportunist, and hustler, Christine possesses the special alchemy of an inherent producer.
In this very special episode we discuss:
-Her enduring relationships with partner Pamela Koffler and director Todd Haynes.
-How to sustain a life as an independent producer.
-The importance of not dwelling on the “what could have beens” but to look to the “what could be’s.”
Danielle DiGiacomo is the Head of Content at Utopia Media, where she leads acquisition, development, and packaging for incoming content and IP.
She is one of the coolest, realest ladies in the biz who has learned how to trust her gut to distribute the most exciting and daring films around.
She's open like a book and reads the industry like one, and we have the distinct pleasure of being privy to her knowledge and perspective.
DiGiacomo previously worked as senior VP of acquisitions and strategic partnerships at The Orchard and its rebranded company 1091. While there, she landed many buzzy independent films such as the Oscar-nominated documentary “Cartel Land,” the Sundance comedy “The Overnight” and the drama “Neruda” out of the Cannes Film Festival.
During this no holds barred conversation, we talk about the ins and outs of distribution, the art of negotiation, and how no one really knows what they're doing, so we might as well be kind to each other and have fun while we figure it all out.
Laura Brown is the Editor in Chief of InStyle, one of the world’s most successful fashion media brands.
I’ve been, stalking, I mean following her on IG for quite some time. I simply adore how authentically herself she is and it made me curious to know what is it like to produce a new magazine issue month after month, year after year.
So, in my true caca form, I found her well via her inbox, and low and behold, she said yes.
You may be wondering what the fancy Editor in Chief of a top international publication is doing on a podcast about producers?
Turns out the ethos behind producing a magazine is very congruent with producing a film.
The emotional labor, team effort, and creativity needed to pull off an issue is nothing short of a miracle. Sort of like the miracle required to make a film.
Laura spent 11 years at Harpers Bazaar before being appointed to this role in August of 2016. She is responsible for InStyle’s voice and helming a brand that reaches 30-plus million women. She also leads development of the ‘InStyle Badass Women’ platform and hosts InStyle’s weekly podcast ‘Ladies First’
Does she sleep? How much wine does she consume? How did she find time to squeeze me in? All great questions I don’t have the answers to...
But, what I can give you is her lovely insights into leading life and work with joy, making sure you are going into a profession for the right reasons, and how being yourself is your greatest weapon.
Enjoy the laughs & lessons.
Beijos,
Caca
Laura Brown is the Editor in Chief of InStyle, one of the world’s most successful fashion media brands.
I’ve been, stalking, I mean following her on IG for quite some time. I simply adore how authentically herself she is and it made me curious to know what is it like to produce a new magazine issue month after month, year after year.
So, in my true caca form, I slide into Laura’s DMs and low and behold, she said yes.
You may be wondering what the fancy Editor in Chief of a top international publication doing on a podcast about producers?
Turns out the ethos behind producing a magazine is very congruent with producing a film.
The emotional labor, team effort, and creativity needed to pull off an issue each month is nothing short of a miracle. Sort of like the miracle required to make a film.
Laura spent 11 years at Harpers Bazaar before being appointed to this role in August of 2016. She is responsible for InStyle’s voice and helming a brand that reaches 30-plus million women. She also leads development of the ‘InStyle Badass Women’ platform and hosts InStyle’s weekly podcast ‘Ladies First’
Does she sleep? How much wine does she consume? How did she find time to squeeze me in? All great questions I don’t have the answers to...
But, what I can give you is her lovely insights into leading life and work with joy, making sure you are going into a profession for the right reasons, and how being yourself is your greatest weapon.
Enjoy the laughs & lessons.
Beijos,
Caca
Mary Rohlich is the Head of TV and Film for Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Purple Pebble Pictures.
She came into my life thanks to the lovely Sarah Anthony, doc producer/friend/hero ho was also a guest many episodes ago.
At the time of this recording, which it baffles me to say was at the end of 2020, Mary was transitioning from being a free agent to her new position at Priyanka’s company.
She is a veteran film, television, and documentary producer. She is also an Executive Producer on the acclaimed Netflix series Atypical, which is in its fourth and final season.
She has produced numerous hit comedies (Horrible Bosses, Identity Thief) and award-winning documentary features (Gleason, Wrestle). Mary also enjoys serving as board chair for the non-profit film organization, Vidiots.
One of my personal takeaway was the reminder that there is no "there there." There is no one path. So, stay the course. Trust your own journey.
This week, Mary and I discuss:
- Earning your seat a table that actually aligns with your goals and values
- The integration of family, into set life and work culture
- The virtues of working with people you trust and admire
Thanks for doing this life thing with me!
Beijos,
Caca
Michelle Satter is the Founding Director of Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, the inaugural program of the Institute.
She's passionately ushered the world of independent film to new heights since 1981 as a founding member of the Sundance Institute.
Many consider her the fairy godmother of independent film; the hidden hand shepherding, developing and nurturing many filmmakers who've likely gone on to become your favorite storytellers today.
She continues to breathe life into the film industry both in the US and abroad and leaves her indelible mark on our industry at every turn.
She is an innovator, a trailblazer, and we are beyond lucky to have spent an hour with her.
Here's her full bio / some of the names she's been behind:
Under Satter's tenure, the Feature Film Program has provided year-round and in-depth support to the ground-breaking and award-winning filmmakers Radha Blank (The 40-Year-Old Version), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You), Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station), Dee Rees (Pariah), Marielle Heller (Diary of a Teenage Girl), Gina Prince Bythewood (Love and Basketball), Damien Chazelle (Whiplash), Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox), Taika Waititi (Boy), Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood), Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre), Paul Thomas Anderson (Hard Eight), Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry), John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs), and Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know), among many others.
Check out Sundance’s latest initiative: Sundance Collab
Kirsty Bell is a sensational human. She is also a producer, artist, director, and CEO of Goldfinch Entertainment, a production and finance house based in the UK.
She launched Goldfinch Entertainment to prove that investment in independent filmmaking was viable and opened up new possibilities within the arena for creative visionaries. She has funded over 200 Film and TV projects in the last four years. She has helped many first-time directors bring their films to life.
There’s hardly enough that can be said about Kirsty. She’s a pioneer that continues to raise the bar for producers and artists around the world. Her tireless effort in shepherding and supporting emerging filmmakers is exemplary.
Most recently Goldfinch launched their First Flights Features program and their Short Film Fund. Both programs perpetuate their ethos of discovering emerging filmmakers with bold and daring voices. Check it out! --> first-flights.com
Mollye Asher is an Academy Award winning Producer who takes on bold and sometimes risky projects.
We are lucky to be catching her at time when those risks have paid off in a big way.
“Nomadland”, her third collaboration with writer/director Chloé Zhao was the big winner at this year’s Academy Awards. The film took home Oscars for best picture, best actress for Frances McDormand and best director for Chloé, the first woman of color to win the award.
Her producing credits are vast, so I won’t rattle them off here, but some highlights include Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Swallow and Chloé Zhao’s The Rider, which premiered in the 2017 Cannes Directors Fortnight and won its top prize. It went on to be nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Picture, and won Best Feature at the 2018 Gotham Awards.
Mollye is also a co-founder of the production company, The Population alongside Derek Nguyen and Mynette Louie, another badass producer who was recently on the show!
This week, we dive deep into the what it means to be bold, how she circumvents the word NO, and the beginnings of her long time collaboration with Chloé Zhao.
Lynette Howell Taylor is an Academy Award and Emmy nominated producer and founder of 51 Entertainment.
She produced Bradley Cooper's directorial debut A STAR IS BORN, which was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Lynette served as Executive Producer on Derek Cianfrance’s HBO limited series I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE starring Mark Ruffalo, which is based on the best-selling novel by Wally Lamb, and earned Ruffalo an Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series. She produced the 92nd Academy Awards Ceremony alongside Stephanie Allain.
Lynette has produced over 25 movies in the last 15 years including:
- CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, written and directed by Matt Ross and starring Academy Award-nominee Viggo Mortensen.
- Brie Larson’s directorial debut UNICORN STORE.
- BIG EYES directed by Tim Burton
- Ryan Fleck's Oscar nominated HALF NELSON
- Derek Cianfrance's THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES and his Oscar nominated BLUE VALENTINE.
A special episode!
Matt Enlow and Oren Kaplan are directors and hosts of JUST SHOOT IT podcasts and I am honored to be episode #259.
When I was flirting with the idea of starting AOP, I frequently returned to their show. They've been at it for 6 years, which is mad impressive.
Enjoy this chat about my journey, all things producing, and the lessons I've learned in almost two years of doing my own podcast.
Check them out!
https://justshootitpodcast.com/
Matt Enlow is a director working in comedy / mrmattenlow.com
Oren Kaplan is a director and VFX artist / www.orenfilm.com
Jolene Rodriguez is the President at Broken English Productions, the newly launched film finance arm of Grandave Capital. They launched last June with a focus on movie and TV projects centered on Latinx stories, told by Latinx filmakers.
Previous to this new role, she was development and production executive art Sony’s Screen Gems’ for over a decade.
During her tenure, Jolene leveraged her position to build an impressive list of industry contacts, A-list talent, producers and film financiers. She played a critical role in setting up an Untitled Gabrielle Union rom-com, and Untitled Gigi Guerrero Latinx horror.
Jolene recently Executive Produced the 2019 high profile Cannes Marché feature, Keyhole Garden starring Zoe Saldana.
During her more than 10-year tenure at Screen Gems, Jolene was able to build an impressive list of industry contacts, A-list talent, producers and film financiers. She played a critical role in setting up an Untitled Gabrielle Union rom-com, and Untitled Gigi Guerrero Latinx horror.
In addition, she is on the Advisory Board of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF).
She’s was recognized as one of the Powerful and Influential Latinos in Entertainment of 2019 by the Imagen Foundation. The non-profit encourages the positive portrayals of Latinos in all forms of the entertainment media and to reward the excellence of those entities or individuals whose productions elevate the image and status of all Latinos.
Jolene’s origin story is inspiring as well. She held down a full time college class load, part time job, part time internship, while also parenting her two babies, one of whom was two weeks old at the start of her internship at Sony.
If that doesn’t say B O S S, I don’t know what does…
This week, we chat:
- How to stop making excuses for your dreams
- Navigating the high highs and low lows
- Her wish for Latinx stories in the next decade
Paige Simpson is the Head of Development and Production at Rachel Brosnahan's production company, Scrap Paper Pictures, which has a first look TV deal with Amazon Studios.
They recently produced YEARLY DEPARTED, is a one hour comedy special hosted by Phoebe Robinson starring Rachel Brosnahan, Tiffany Haddish, Patti Harrison, Natasha Leggero, Sarah Silverman, Natasha Rothwell, and Ziwe. The special serves as a funeral for the year 2020 where our comedians deliver eulogies about what we’ve lost this year including casual sex, TV Cops, wearing pants and everything in between.
Previously, Paige was the Manager of Scripted Television and Production at Will Packer Media. While there, she worked on AMBITIONS for OWN and BIGGER for BET+, along with numerous other development projects.
She also previously worked at Showtime Networks in Original Programming on The Affair, Billions, SMILF, Black Monday, Masters of Sex, and Dice.
Before that, she worked for Viola Davis in many different facets.
Paige graduated from Spelman College, majoring in Biology but found her true passion in storytelling while interning at BET with Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd and Michelle Adams in casting.
During her internship, she assisted in casting Fruitvale Station, Being Mary Jane, and The Start-Up.
Paige’s enthusiasm and love for this industry is palpable. I love that we seem to be cut from the same cloth; both having to blaze our own paths.
I laughed. I cried (during editing). It was refreshing to commiserate and celebrate the ups and downs of the hustle.
The hour flew by as we discussed:
•Lessons from working with the queen @violadavis
•The importance of keeping a group around you that loves and pushes you
•Depression & self worth
Mynette Louie is an Emmy-nominated, multiple Spirit Award-winning producer. A few of her movie credits include:
Heidi Ewing’s I Carry You With Me (Sony Pictures Classics, Winner of Sundance 2020 NEXT Innovator & Audience Awards, New York Film Festival selection)
Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Gotham Award-nominated Swallow
Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour's Black Box (Amazon Studios/Blumhouse)
Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation (SXSW 2015, Drafthouse/Netflix)
Knowing no one in the film industry, Louie began her film career by producing three NYU Tisch graduate thesis films–all written and directed by women–though she did not attend the school. She also worked at the Hawaii Film Office, where she authored the state’s production tax credit, oversaw the $7.3 million renovation of the state-owned film studio, and developed programs to foster local independent filmmaking.
Mynette is on the Board of Directors for Film Independent and serves as an advisor to the Sundance Institute, SXSW, Tribeca, and IFP. She was named one of Business Insider’s “12 Movie Producers at the Top of Their Game to Watch in 2020 and Beyond,” Ted Hope’s “21 Brave Thinkers of Truly Free Film,” and Indiewire’s “100 Filmmakers to Follow on Twitter.” Mynette won the 2013 Independent Spirit Piaget Producers Award and is a member of the executive and diversity committees of the Producers branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
A native New Yorker, Louie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University, where she studied Chinese literature and film.
@carolinagroppa
@mynettelouie
www.angleonproducers.com
DeMane Davis is a television director and producer. She wears many hats. In fact, her mother would say “she doesn’t have enough heads for all the hats that she wears.”
A special thanks to Women in Film for inviting me to host this lovely event.
Our time together filled with me, and certainly the participants, with immense joy, as her positive energy is absolutely infectious.
DeMane vibrates on a wavelength of gratitude and possibility. She believes in manifestation. So, it’s no surprise that years ago, Ava DuVernay slid in her DMs and invited her to direct two episodes of the second season of her groundbreaking TV series Queen Sugar which airs on OWN.
The magical and powerful Ava has changed the landscape by only hiring female directors and specifically hiring first-time female directors. She asked DeMane to be the producing director of season three where she also go to director.
Ava's done a ton of heavy lifting, but we agree that all of us must do your part to achieve gender parity on set.
Last year, Davis produced and directed the last two episodes of the four-part Emmy-nominated Netflix limited series “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker.” The period drama starred Octavia Spencer, Blair Underwood & Tiffany Haddish.
She is a co-executive producer and will direct the two-part season finale of the highly anticipated 2021 series, “Clarice.” The show shares the untold personal story of FBI Agent Clarice Starling as she returns to the field in 1993, one year after the events of “The Silence of the Lambs.”
Oh, and DeMane managed to get her start by directing her first two features while holding down a full time job as a copywriter in advertising. She leaned into all of those contacts to help manifest those projects. One of which became LIFT, starring Kerry Washington in her first leading role. Both of her films premiered In Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival and internationally at Edinburgh.
She’s truly unstoppable.
I absolutely adored this conversation and hope you also take away golden nuggets like:
-How a producing director differs from a showrunner
-The importance of doing it with joy
-How to fill your own well to keep your soul alive in the hustle
Beijos,
Carolina
Erin O’Malley is one of the coolest, raddest ladies you will ever meet. She’s a five-time Emmy nominated television and film producer and director. More importantly, she also has a healthy obsession with Broadway musicals. Which I am not mad at.
If you recall the famous character Molly Shannon created on SNL, Sally O’Malley, you’ll know why I saved Erin to be episode 50!
As you’ll hear me gush, Erin’s resume is extremely impressive, so saddle up.
Her producing credits include Da Ali G Show starring Sacha Baron Cohen which earned a Primetime Emmy nomination; The Sarah Silverman Program; Curb Your Enthusiasm, which earned four Primetime Emmy nominations as well as four Producers Guild Award nominations; The Grinder starring Rob Lowe and Fred Savage, and One Mississippi, the critically raved about Amazon Studios series starring Tig Notaro, New Girl starring Zooey Deschanel, Single Parents staring Taran Killam, Leighton Meester, and Brad Garret, and Bless This Mess starring Lake Bell and Dax Shepard. Also as a television director, O’Malley has directed episodes of Fresh Off The Boat, Speechless, New Girl, Single Parents, Bless This Mess and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Phew, right?
Empowering LGBTIQ+ and BIPOC men and women is one of her core values. Hearing her talk about her approach to the work, to the humanity of producing, was incredibly inspiring.
She has been nominated for a Women’s Image Network Award for Outstanding Show Produced by A Woman for her work producing New Girl. Bless This Mess was awarded a ReFrame Stamp by Women In Film as a mark of distinction in hiring female identifying people in four out of eight key arenas in production.
A graduate of USC’s School of Cinema-Television, Erin has made her roots in Los Angeles where she lives with her wife and two daughters.
This week, we chat how Larry David helped her with a big learning curve, what it’s like to be responsible for 400 individual jobs, and the path of a non-writing producer in TV.
Can't wait to hear what you think of this week's episode!
Beijos,
Caca
Constanza and Domenica Castro are sister filmmakers from Mexico City and founders of 271 Films, a creative production company based in Los Angeles.
Collectively, their worked has garnered over 2 billion views and they’ve produced numerous award-winning videos, short films, and commercial content that have been featured on MTV, Billboard, The New Yorker Screening Room, Nylon, Vice, Vimeo Staff Pick, Short Of The Week, and MTV Clubland, BET Networks.
They have produced content for world-renowned brands such as Gillette, TopGolf, Nuu Mobile, Rothy’s, Viacom, Coca-Cola, Under Armour, New Balance, Tumi, and Abbot Nutrition. Their work with Sandwich Video for Rothy’s, a sustainable shoe company, got featured in AD WEEK. Their latest work can be caught on BET as they did some promos for BOOMERANG, with Lena Waithe.
Their latest narrative project, Brittany Snow’s directorial debut, MILKSHAKE can be seen at film festivals through 2020 and premiered online Nylon.com.
They’ve produced music videos for artists Becky G, Die Antwoord, Boogie, Lil Jon, and One Ok Rock.
Their films have played festivals worldwide, including AFI Fest, Tribeca, Berlin, Sarasota FF, Palm Springs, Seattle FF, Austin FF, Rhode Island FF, New Hampshire FF, Newport FF, Atlanta FF, Nantucket FF, Hollyshorts, Nordisk Panorama, and many others, as well as the prestigious Tribeca Chanel THROUGH HER LENS program.
They are drawn to stories that put a spotlight on marginalized communities, question the status quo, push boundaries and provoke, inspire and entertain the audience. Their MO is to do things RIGHT.
Can't wait to hear what you think of this week's episode!
Beijos,
Caca
Ross Dinerstein spent his childhood immersed in the magical world of Blockbuster videos shelves and darkened movie theaters. Born and raised in Houston, his love for story ultimately led him to the big apple and in 2001 where he began his career in acquisitions at Miramax Films.
And yes, he did cross paths with Harvey Weinstein.
If you listened to episode 45 you may be thinking, “wait didn’t you already talk to a Ross at Campfire?” And you would be right. Leave it to Ross Dinerstein, the founder and CEO of Campfire, to have TWO Rosses at the same company.
Fifteen years into his career, he has produced or executive produced over forty projects – both scripted and nonfiction. His films have premiered at the most prestigious film festivals in the world including Sundance, South by Southwest, Tribeca, and Toronto. There are far too many impressive producing credits to list, but some highlights are a personal favorite, the doc JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI, the Emmy-nominated short form series SPECIAL on Netflix, and the non-fiction crime docuseries, THE INNOCENT MAN based on John Grisham’s only nonfiction book.
He pursued the rights to that book for 10 years. Which reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite philosophers, Seneca “The things hardest to bear are sweetest to remember.
Things take time. Art takes time. It’s important to remember the tremendous energy, patience, and endurance behind most projects that once began as an idea and now are lucky enough to exist on your screen.
So, this week we dive deep into the creative risks requires to run and sustain a young company like Campfire, how to avoid repeating past mistake, and how how to balance being patient and proactive.
Lizzie Nastro Adler is currently the Head of Development for King Bee Productions, the production company created by Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola. King Bee has a first look TV deal with eOne Entertainment.
She most recently produced I Am a Town, a documentary feature directed by artist Mischa Richter, shot on 35mm, which premiered at MoMA Doc Fortnight 2020.
She produced Skate Kitchen, a feature film written and directed by Crystal Moselle which premiered at the 2018 Sundance FF and was released nationwide by Magnolia Pictures. She is a producer on Betty, an HBO TV show, based on Skate Kitchen, currently in pre production on its second season. Additionally, she produced White Echo, the third collaboration with writer/director Chloë Sevigny. The short premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the main selection.
She produced One Cambodian Family made in conjunction with Refinery 29’s Shatterbox Anthology and TNT, starring Emily Mortimer. The short film premiered at the Sundance FF in 2019 and is in development as a series.
Nastro spent nine years at IFC Films as Director of Acquisitions & Co-Productions before becoming an independent producer. Some of the deals she negotiated include Lena Dunham's Tiny Furniture, Medicine for Melancholy directed by Barry Jenkins, The Pleasure of Being Robbed by the Safdie Brothers, and Myth of the American Sleepover, directed by David Robert Mitchell.
Laverne McKinnon is a film and TV producer with more than 20 years of experience.
She was the Executive Producer of the Netflix series GIRLBOSS starring Britt Roberson (who was also on the pod!)
She has spent a significant part of her career as Senior VP of Drama Development at CBS.
She was Head of Television at Charlize Theron’s production company, Denver and Delilah.
And now, she runs K&L Productions, the film & TV company she co-founded with Kay Cannon (writer of the PITCH PERFECT franchise) which has a first look production deal at Sony Television.
Her work has encompassed scripted comedy and drama series, documentaries, web series, animation, music events, comedy specials, and children’s programs.
Aside from wearing the producer hat, she is also an entrepreneur, a leadership and personal coach, a wife, a mother of 2 daughters, an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, and a passionate advocate for foster care and adoption.
A self-described life-long learner, recovering perfectionist and over-achiever, Laverne does and has accomplished a lot.
But what is most striking, and in my humble opinion, exceptional, about Laverne is her devotion to helping others across their finish lines.
A certified grief specialist, she also helps those dealing with non-death related grief. Whether it’s the loss of relationship, job, business, trust, etc.
Applying concepts of grief to the entertainment business, which is riddled with it, blew my mind. It shifted my perspective on what healing looks like.
I just simply adore her. She helped me listen deeply to myself and I hope this nugget of a conversation sparks something for you.
So, this week, we dig into how coaching transformed her as a producer, ways to build better relationships, and how being fired from CBS awaken her.
Can't wait to hear what you think of this week's episode!
Beijos,
Caca
Ross Girard is Executive Vice President of Production at Campfire, a film and tv production company, where he oversees physical production for a slate of premium scripted and nonfiction projects.
A graduate of Emerson College, his background spans music videos, commercials, scripted and nonfiction features and series, with premieres at both the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals. Ross recently produced the Emmy-nominated Netflix Original Series, SPECIAL. He is currently producing other Campfire projects for Warner Brothers, Netflix, FX, CNN, and HBOMax.
His career began at Partizan Entertainment where he headed production for the digital division. He produced content for clients including Target, Dolby, Wrigley, Absolut Vodka, Nokia, NFL, Pergo, and Fidelity Investments.
In music videos, he’s worked with artists including Usher, Daft Punk, Justin Bieber, Macy Gray, The Strokes, Enrique Iglesias, Kanye West, Fun., Band of Horses, Bloc Party, Maren Morris, and Superfruit.
At City Room Creative, an entertainment advertising agency founded by the filmmakers of JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI, Ross served as Executive Producer and built a physical production department from the ground up. Notable projects include the AOL original web series and production of the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival Selection, A FASTER HORSE, a feature documentary about the Ford Mustang directed by David Gelb, for which Ross was the Co-Producer.
Ross also served as Head of Production at Joinery, a commercial production company, where he oversaw physical production, including a campaign for Alliance Française De Singapour which won 3 Gold and 2 Silver Lions at the 2017 Cannes Festival.
What makes this week’s episode extra special is that I got to work with Ross on HYSTERICAL, the documentary I produced for Campfire last year that focused on female comedians. It’s a rare opportunity to interview someone who was technically my boss and discuss the most successful way to navigate that dynamic from both sides of the aisle.
We dig into transitions, particularly the challenges of going from commercials to film, the responsibility of producers to intentionally hire diversely, and what it’s like to be a head of production.
Can't wait to hear what you think of this week's episode!
Beijos,
Caca
Rachel Winter radiates with warmth and wholeheartedness. While we joke that her lighting during the interview was less than ideal, it wasn’t enough to dim her inner glow.
She is the Academy Award®-nominated producer of the acclaimed film “Dallas Buyers Club.” Based on a true story, the powerful film earned six Academy Award® nominations including best picture, winning three of them including lead actor for Matthew McConaughey and supporting actor for Jared Leto.
The film also received accolades from the Producers Guild of America, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globe Awards and the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s Critics Choice Awards.
Rachel also happens to be married to Terence Winter, the Emmy-winning creator of “Boardwalk Empire,” Emmy-winning exec producer of “The Sopranos” and Oscar-nominated writer of “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
She produced the feature film “Krystal”, directed by William H. Macy. The dramedy follows a young man who has never had a drink in his life who, upon meeting the woman of his dreams - an ex-hooker-stripper-junkie-alcoholic, pretends to be in AA in an attempt to try and woo her. The film stars Rosario Dawson, Macy, Kathy Bates, Felicity Huffman, and Ti.
Before that, Winter produced the indie drama “Stealing Cars,” inspired by the true events associated with a tragic car accident that sends a rebellious teen spiraling downward into the grim injustice of the juvenile penal system. The film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival and earned the festival’s Zeitgeist Award and was released by Sony Worldwide.
Winter has several project in development including the untitled LeBron James biopic for Universal, which she will produce with LeBron James and Maverick Carter, and a feature based on the life of daredevil motorcycle icon Evel Knievel at Paramount written by William Monahan (Academy Award winning writer of “The Departed”) with Leonardo DiCaprio attached to star.
She is also producing “The Chameleon” which is set up at Netflix with Christopher MacQuarrie attached to direct a script by Terence Winter and Carl Capotorto. Her previous film credits include “Brooklyn Rules,” “Wayward Son,” “Bury Me in Kern County” and “The Lather Effect.” On the television side, Winter has projects set up at A&E Studios, FX and Disney.
This week, we hear about her humble beginnings via a hilarious Hollywood story that involves soft core porn. She gives a candid look into how challenging it was to juggle being a mom during producing on Dallas Buyers Club, and what actually happens to a producer after your film receives six Academy Award nominations and wins three.
Oh, and aside from being a badass she’s also one half of a power couple. her husband is Terence Winter, Emmy-winning creator of “Boardwalk Empire,” Emmy-winning exec producer of “The Sopranos” and Oscar-nominated writer of “The Wolf of Wall Street,”
NO. BIG. DEAL.
Her love and passion for producing, for story, reminded me to stay the course on a day when I really, really needed to hear it.
She’s funny, kind, and charming. Yes, I have a crush on her.
Can't wait to hear what you think of this week's episode!
Beijos,
Caca
This week, I sat down with indie film producer Arsalan Asli.
He is a friend. As a fellow film lover. As one of my producing partners. He is a true mentor and source of inspiration to me and anyone lucky enough to collaborate with him.
Arsalan Asli was born in Iran and raised in Canada and the US. He began his career in investment banking and real estate development through his family’s business in the Middle East.
With cinema, art and theatrics as his spiritual compass and lifelong passion, Arsalan transitioned into the entertainment industry after high school.
In 2016, Arsalan and his creative partners founded FIVE/4, a multi-faceted entertainment company engaged in the development, packaging and production of content across all genres of independent film, television and new media.
He executive produced HALA, AFTER SOPHIE , and PRETEXT - three renowned short films written and directed by trailblazing filmmaker, Minhal Baig.
His unyielding and impenetrable passion for film is palpable. I mean, I admit not knowing of half the filmmakers and movies he mentioned during this chat.
But this is just one of the ways in which he makes me better everyday.
I’ve grown tremendously as producer thanks to his patience, kindness, and uncompromising ethics.
This week, we go deeeppp on many fun topics such as adjusting our expectations around the business, how happiness comes from our relationship with the process, and the ways Hollywood can help the world alter it’s perception of black and brown people.
Can't wait to hear what you think of this week's chat!
Beijos,
Caca
Eli Ash loves things that most people hate: spreadsheets, organization, planning, and budgeting.
As Head of Production at Mustache Agency, she is tasked with the tremendous responsibility of juggling multiple projects and managing various production and post teams daily.
Eli came into my world when I was hired to produce a commercial for Secrets Resort & Spa in the Dominican Republic last summer. Long time listeners of the pod will hopefully remember me yapping about it.
It was one of the funnest jobs I’ve ever gotten to produce.
With deep roots in the advertising and commercial world, she has produced a variety of projects throughout her career.
She’s worked with companies like Complex Media, Vice, Warner Brothers Records, Nike, The Nobel Peace Prize, OXFAM and Crisis Action. She’s worked all over the world for networks such as NBC, A&E, BBC, MTV, The Travel Channel, The Food Network, Discovery Science and Sesame Workshop.
She has produced Music Videos for a variety of artists from G-Eazy, Halsey, Young the Giant, A$AP Ferg and Ceelo Green.
She’s worked with brands such as Nike, Dove, S'well, Clinique and Honda.
She’s very impressive. It’s no wonder that since this recording a few months ago, she started a new position in a similar role at Netflix.
This week, Eli dives deep into the transition from the freelance hustle to going in house at Mustache, how an agency functions, and the changes the advertising industry is facing.
Tune in and tell me all about it!
Beijos,
Caca
Michelle Purple is a classic movie lover who also happens to own a production company with her close friend, Jessica Biel.
They met on the set of STEALTH and became fast friends, bonding over watching films in Jessica’s trailer. When Jessica poked her to start a production company together, Michelle was hesitant. She was nervous to work with her friend and running an actor based company.
She eventually said yes. Twelve years later, Iron Ocean Productions is a thriving production company that enhances strong female voices.
Iron Ocean Productions’ most recent project was Facebook Watch’s “Limetown,” in which Biel starred opposite Stanley Tucci. The show premiered in Fall 2019 to over 10 million viewers in the first 72 hours.
Prior to this, the shingle had USA’s limited TV series THE SINNER, which has enjoyed three consecutive seasons resulting in multiple awards nominations, including Emmy, Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice award nominations for best actress for Jessica. The duo also received many nominations as executive producers. Season 3 of “The Sinner” starring Matt Bomer and Chris Messina is a well-crafted mystery that takes on toxic masculinity with care and is expertly realized by its performances. The show has been “The renewed for Season 4 and will return to USA in 2021.
They recently wrapped production on the pilot for EOne/FreeForm’s upcoming TV show “Cruel Summer,” starring Olivia Holt. It’s been picked up by the network and is going to series.
Michelle heart and passion for this industry is truly palpable and can be heard in this week’s episode. It was truly a joy to chat with her and I’m personally excited to meet her in real life whenever the world opens back up!
Tune in as she shines a light on what it’s like to work with Jessica, the grief and heartbreak that comes with producing, and what it's like to have a first look TV deal.
Jesse Baker is an award-winning journalist and producer who most recently led a large team of creative makers as Audible’s vice president of original content.
At Audible, she produced and developed a number of the company’s most successful original series, including West Cork and three seasons of Esther Perel’s Where Should We Begin?
As a huge fan of the iconic couples therapist Esther Perel, I was curious to learn what it’s like to create such an intimate podcast. I tried to kept my fangirling to a minimum!
We recorded this episode 8 weeks into quarantine, right when they were gearing up to launch season 4 of Where Should We Begin? and finishing a special “Lockdown” series of the show.
Jesse began her career in public radio in her early 20s. She was a producer on major NPR news magazines including All Things Considered and Weekend Edition. In many ways, NPR raised her.
She later created the popular NPR weekly trivia program Ask Me Another. Jesse also produced The Culture Gabfest while at Slate and worked for ESPN producing The Sporting Life with Jeremy Schaap.
With deep roots in the radio, audio, and now podcast world, we nerd out about the godfather of the art form; Ira Glass. She admits he’d hate being called that.
She reveals how Ira helped launch Where Should We Begin? thanks to his deep roots in the world of psychology. His mother, Shirley Glass, was considered one of the world's leading experts on infidelity. The New York Times once called her "the godmother of infidelity research."
This week, Jesse shines a light on meeting Esther for the first time, how the podcast market has evolved since 2014’s smash SERIAL, and how being laid off from Audible led to tremendous growth.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!
Beijos, Caca Subscribe! Rate! Tell a friend! Follow me on the socials! @carolinagroppa @lifewithcaca
“I firmly believe that you can’t fail if you never quit. I wholeheartedly subscribe to that.” - Jermaine Johnson
Jermaine Johnson is a manager and producer at the Beverly Hills-based 3 Arts Entertainment.
A fellow scorpio, he is and has always been unapologetically himself. I would know since we met during the early days of our LA journey. Originally from New Jersey, he moved to Los Angeles for the weather, but stayed for the film industry.
He graduated from Rutgers and has spent the last ten years building an impressive client roster.
I’ve often wondered what it’s like for a manager to produce. What does it actually mean? Why are others quick to assume they aren't doing any work and just "globbing on"? What is it like to guide the career of writers and directors? Lucky for us, Jermaine gives honest answers to these questions.
He also digs into the main differences between managers and agents while also sharing his secret for what makes a good manager.
Jermaine represents a wide variety of writers, directors, journalists, and comedians from many different backgrounds. Amongst these clients are Attica Locke (award-winning author of BLUEBIRD, BLUEBIRD), Azie Dungey (UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT, SWEETBITTER, TWENTIES), Cord Jefferson (WATCHMEN, SUCCESSION, THE GOOD PLACE), Fatimah Asghar (BROWN GIRLS, IF THEY COME FOR US), Eve Ewing (IRONHEART, ELECTRIC ARCHES), Justin Hillian (THE CHI), Jia Tolentino (TRICK MIRROR) and more.
He prides himself on finding fresh voices in places where others don’t often look, and giving them a platform to share their unique points of view and opinions.
Tune in!
Beijos,
Caca
Samantha Housman dreamed of making John Hughes type of films for her generation.
That wish took her on a journey west to Los Angeles when she was 16 years old. She came solo and without knowing a single soul in the business. The City of Angels quickly became her playground and it was by juggling a job a record store and playing the drums that she found her in to the business.
When a golden opportunity to be a drummer in commercials came knocking, she answered. The set experience exposed her to producers. A spark went off and she knew she had found her path.
Sam’s film education came on the job as an Independent Producer, Post Supervisor, Assistant Director and UPM. She has a detailed understanding of filmmaking at its most molecular level.
Over a decade later, she is now a producer at 51 Entertainment, a platform agnostic filmmaker-driven production company, founded by Lynette Howell Taylor. When she saw the kind of producer Lynette was, she knew she’d to anything to work with her. It’s impressive that Sam did and now works with her everyday.
Most recently, she produced the film WANDER DARKLY, written and directed by Tara Miele and starring Sienna Miller and Diego Luna, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in U.S. Dramatic Competition.
Under the 51 Entertainment banner, Sam is Executive Producing Apple’s straight-to-series female-focused CIA drama based on Amaryllis Fox’s memoir, starring and additionally executive produced by Academy Award winner Brie Larson. Sam will also produce LADY BUSINESS, alongside Brie, who is also set to star, for Netflix after optioning the original article with Endeavor Content.
In 2018, Sam produced 6 BALLOONS, a Netflix original feature, written and directed by longtime collaborator Marja-Lewis Ryan. Based on Sam and her brother, the film tells the story a woman driving across LA with her heroin addict brother in search of a detox center, with his two year old daughter in tow. It's a beautiful indie that I highly recommend.
Before that, Sam co-founded ONEZERO Films where she Co-Produced CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, written and directed by Matt Ross, starring Viggo Mortensen. The film won the Best Director prize in CANNES UN CERTAIN REGARD. She also produced Matt Ross' 28 HOTEL ROOMS, which premiered at Sundance in 2012. Sam’s other producing credits while at ONEZERO include Noah Buschel’s SPARROW’S DANCE which Indiewire named one of the best films of the year in 2012, GLASS CHIN staring Corey Stoll and Billy Crudup, RIDE written and directed by Helen Hunt, and Chris Messina’s ALEX OF VENICE.
Sam served as Vice President at Campfire, a film and television production company with a multi picture deal at Netflix. There she Executive Produced 1922, based on a Stephen King novella, SILICON COWBOYS, which made its premiere at SXSW; and oversaw production of several other titles.
While she’s been at it for many years, in many ways she’s still just getting started. I think John Hughes would be proud of the work she’s creating. And I’m not just saying that because she complimented my Marianne bangs lewk inspired by Hulu's NORMAL PEOPLE.
Tune in as we discuss my bangs, courage, vanity credits, and breakdown the post coordinator role.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!
Beijos, Caca
Dan Seaver is the Executive Director and a co-founder of ManifestWorks.
After a career in journalism and government, Dan spent a decade as a youth advocate while volunteering with kids incarcerated in Los Angeles County. ManifestWorks is a response to that experience, a solution to the problem of system-impacted people blocked from their potential.
ManifestWorks is an incredible immersive program that connects those impacted by foster care, homelessness and incarceration with job opportunities in entertainment. Through learning, real-world work experience, and a network of supportive professional mentors, ManifestWorks provides ongoing life and professional skills to support long-term success.
I’ve been fortunate enough to volunteer with he program for about two years. I’ve attended two of the classes and spoken tot he students, helped them learn networking skills, explained what an indie film producer does. I love that this program exists and while Dan is not a producer, he advocates for producers since they are the ones with hiring power in producer.
I wanted to shine a light the program and how we can lift up people up by showing them that their dreams in Hollywood can become a reality.
Tune in as we discuss humility, hustle and hard work.
Rishi Rajani is a voracious book reader and creator of protest art. He is President of Film/TV at Hillman Grad Productions, Lena Waithe’s production company.
Born in London and raised in Upstate NY and Portland, Oregon, Rishi discovered his love for producing while studying at NYU.
He got his start as an intern at 20th Century Fox's book to film division. Realizing that he needed to be in LA to actually become a producer, he packed up and landed in the mailroom at UTA.
He admits that while the assistant path is challenging, it is one he recommends since it’s an apprenticeship.
By 2018, he became President of Lena Waithe’s company and they have been breaking ground even since. He was an Executive Producer on the shows BOOMERANG and TWENTIES, produced the Sundance award winning film THE 40 YEAR OLD VERSION, and continues to manage Hillman Grad’s ever-growing slate of films, TV shows, podcasts, commercials, and music videos.
While inclusion and diversity are a focus of every studio and production company mandate these days, few are practicing what they preach.
Rishi, Lena, Alex Philips and the Hillman Grad team are invested in changing the narrative by giving new filmmakers a voice and creating content that pushes culture forward.
This week, we chat why creating protest art matters, how to level up, and our mutual optimism that the Black Lives Matter movement will bring drastic and tangible changes to our world.
Oh, and an exclusive! He also reveals the title of his memoir whenever he gets around to writing it: BROWN BOY LEARNS A LOT OF THINGS: THE LIFE STORY.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!
Beijos, Caca
Mel Jones is a multitalented producer and director.
A Howard University graduate, she earned her MFA at the American Film Institute in Producing. Jones worked in development at Participant Media under producer Jonathan King and marketing guru Ricky Strauss. A Project Involve Fellow, Jones assisted veteran producer and LA Film Festival director, Stephanie Allain – a gig which turned into a five-year stint as producer of Diversity Speaks, one of the festival’s signature programs.
You may recall the legendary Stephanie Allain from episode 14 of the podcast. Give it a listen!
She served Producer on Wade and Jesse Allain-Marcus’ FRENCH DIRTY, Gerard McMurray’s BURNING SANDS and Clark Johnson’s Netflix original film, JUANITA.
She made her directorial debut with LEIMERT PARK, an indie episodic that premiered at Sundance 2018.
During our hour together, she shares her journey on growing from an assistant to a producer at Homegrown Entertainment, dives deep into how she became an Associate Producer on Justin Simien’s Sundance hit, DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, and divulges her secret to being a freaking ray of sunshine.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!
Beijos,
Caca
Bronwyn Cornelius is a Sundance and SXSW Grand Jury Award-winning producer. She is also a fellow list maker and paper store enthusiast.
A champion of diverse storytellers, she is currently developing Kenyan political thriller The Czar; a feature adaptation of the YA novel When We Collided, starring Laura Marano; comedy sketch series A Brief History of Misogynyin partnership with Nina Tassler; a dramedy series Mad About Menwritten by Kit Steinkellner, and a comedy series inspired by her time working on Wall Street.
During our hour together, Bronwyn shines a light on following your intuition, how life changes after winning Sundance, and how to keep going when things get difficult.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!
-Caca
Sarah Anthony is a dear friend and an award winning documentary producer.
She produced the Netflix film Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator. She was the lead Producer on the Grammy-winning HBO documentary series, The Defiant Ones, and on The Price of Free (formerly titled Kailash), a documentary about child slavery which won the 2018 Sundance Festival Grand Jury Prize.
Sarah began her documentary career in London, with films on subjects ranging from the Iraq war to the Ming Voyages of the 1400’s. She was Associate Producer for PBS FRONTLINE on The Age of AIDS, a four hour series covering the history of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In 2007 Sarah moved to Los Angeles and joined Exclusive Media as the Co-head of Documentary Features.
Public art, music and social reform make her heart sing.
At Exclusive she supervised development, production and distribution on multiple documentaries including Martin Scorsese’s George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Billy Joel’s Last Play at Shea, and the Academy Award-winning Undefeated.
Sarah has worked extensively with director Davis Guggenheim and the Emerson Collective on a variety of social justice issues, from immigration reform to re-designing the American high school system.
This week, we discuss how she manages being on the front lines of telling stories that impact change, our mutual love for budgeting, and how George Harrison helped her become a better human.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!
Beijos, Caca
Dejan Poletan is a producer and creative director in the world of fashion and print.
Growing up near Frankfurt, Germany, he knew at a young age that he wanted to become an agent of change. Dejan graduated from the London College of Fashion with a degree in branding. In London, he intensified his creativity while working with prestigious brands such as Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Karla Otto, Ralph Lauren, Selfridges & Tom Ford.
Now days, he works out of New York & Berlin on creative, strategic, and production focused projects for editorial, fashion, and beauty.
Dejan is constantly searching for innovative ways to tell stories that are more beautiful and meaningful.
He recently produced the Vogue' Greeces anniversary issue with Bella Hadid on the cover
During our hour together, we compare the sprint of print shoots to the marathon of film/TV production, discuss what the fashion world really thinks about models vs. influencers, and he shines a light on the challenges of having to start over in NYC when he moved from London.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!
Beijos, Caca
**Jacqueline Dalunde** is the founder and Executive Producer of apparentlyjack, a production and development company based in LA.
I've known Jack for quite some time and feel fortunate to consider her a friend and ally. She was one of my first interviews when I started the pod. I was a HOT MESS. Talk about mistakes. I had major technical issues, the room we chose was echo AF. I felt really embarrassed. Think: overly dramatic/existential "why even bother doing this" vibes.
Yet, she stayed cool, calm, and collected. Classy lady.
We decided to re-record, however, mostly because it's been a year and a half since and so much has changed in her life.
She now lives in Sweden, which proved serendipitous timing. Nordic countries have been able to keep production active during Covid-19, so she gives us an insider look as to what that means.
Her background spans almost every aspect of the filmmaking process from development to delivery, in both the branded and Independent film/television spaces.
She got her start in 2011 working with producer Chris Gibbin. Together, they collaborated with top cinematographers in the business (Wally Pfister, Janusz Kaminski and Phedon Papamichael) on a content series called Advanced Filmmaking.
Some time later, she became Head of Production at LA-Based Agency Something Massive. She built the video & photo departments from the ground up while developing/producing features, shorts and branded content for Fortune 500 companies.
With 10+ years in the film and advertising industries, Jacqueline decided to go out on her own to form the content studio apparentlyjack. It’s mission is to produce and develop cinematic storytelling and storyline driven content in a variety of formats.
During our hour together, Jack shines a bright light on the importance of talking to each other. Seems obvious, but you'd be surprised. It is only through discussion (and action), that we can de-stigmatize mental health, grow from our mistakes, and get closer to achieving inclusion and gender parity in front and behind the camera.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!
Beijos, Caca
Stacey Feinberg is a producer and investor who is extremely passionate about supporting women.
She came into my life recently, and when a mutual contact mentioned she was an investor and producer on JAGGED LITTLE PILL on Broadway, I knew I had to talk to her. Especially after my last episode with Tony Award nominated producer Rachel Sussman.
Stacey sunk her teeth into business while assisting her father at his pioneering Sports and Entertainment Law Firm, Bob Woolf Associates.
In 1998, she co-founded the hedge fun JLF Asset Management, which on Barron’s 2007 list of the top 30 hedge funds in the world. In 2008, Stacey pivoted to pre IPO investing. Some her early stage investments include Facebook, Zico Water, and Peloton.
All of that is impressive and make my head spin, but what I love MOST about Stacey is that after making enough money to not only be monetarily incentivized, she shifted her focus to funding and empowering female entrepreneurs.
As she likes to say, women don’t need a hand out, they need a hand up.
She’s kind, she’s generous, and she’s also keeping her finger on the pulse of business by guest lecturing at Harvard Law School and executive programs like The Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports. It helps her stay current in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.
During our hour together, Stacey shines a light on where her fire comes from, why trusting your gut is crucial, and her advice to budding investors.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!
Beijos,
Caca
Rachel Sussman is a Tony Award-nominated theater producer who believes in hope, not optimism.
Rachel has been on my radar for a while and our interview was almost a year in the making. She got busy, then I got busy, and then the universe finally carved out a time for us to record last Saturday, after Covid-19 turned our world upside down.
She also happens to be in quarantine with her BFF, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel herself, Rachel Brosnahan. She is a delight of a human who radiates positivity. She is exactly what the show (and I) needed this week.
The world is a bit scary right now, so how are you doing? How are you feeding your soul? Normally, we try to take life one moment at time. Right now, it’s more like one breath at a time.
So, no matter what you are feeling during this uncertain time, know that it's OK. I'm here for you. I got you. And we will all get through this together.
If you are a freelance artist, here is a wonderful resource guide.
Now back to Rachel. She was born in Detroit and raised by a family of artists. Theatre has always been a tremendous part of her life, and lead her to study acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Shortly into her journey, she realized creative producing was the jam. In our chat, she outlines what a creative producer does in the theatre world. A co-producer of the Tony-nominated play WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, she illuminates the process of taking a show from concept to Broadway.
This week, we discuss democratizing the knowledge of producing in the theater, being taken seriously as a queer, young woman, and the abundance mentality.
Enjoy!
Beijos,
Caca
"What happens right now is that everybody wants to, you know, not get the coffee. Everybody has to pay their dues, and in paying your dues, it's about learning. That's what so important to me. It's like, you will get there. but you know, it's slow and easy and you don't want to be the person who goes in and basically gets the job in a year, year and a half but doesn't have the knowledge." - Merri Howard
Merri Howard has thrived as a TV producer for over 30 years. She became a part of the Shondaland family in 2011 working on SCANDAL since the pilot, along with THE CATCH and FOR THE PEOPLE.
Most recently, she was the Co-Executive Producer on Little Fires Hulu, a limited series for Hulu with Kerry Washington & Reese Witherspoon.
The timing is ironic as so much of our chat is about slowing down.
We also discuss the importance of paying your dues, your attitude and perception, and all the little fires she had to put out on little fires everywhere.
Merri's generosity is palpable and I'm incredibly grateful we get to spend this hour with her.
Enjoy!
Xoxo,
Caca
Cory Bennett Lewis is the Head of Physical Production at Bad Robot, J.J. Abrams’ production company.
Nestled inside a beautiful glass box lovingly referred to as “Sugar Shack” (behind it’s quintessentially J.J. headquarters), Cory gives us the three key ingredients for her recipe for success.
Ready?
- Deep breathing (generous portions)
- Visualization (to taste)
- Naps (as often as needed)
Cory began her journey as a set PA. She was certain she’d walk the path of a DGA assistant director. Sometimes doors open and you just have to walk through them. And so when Tommy Harper, a 1st AD, took her under his wing, she walked in, closed the door, and has not looked back since.
Together, they worked as freelancers for eight consecutive years on many projects under the Bad Robot banner. Some titles include Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Trek Into Darkness and The Cloverfield Paradox.
You know, small indies that barely found success. :p
Eventually, Bad Robot gave them the keys to the physical production kingdom by bringing them in house. Eventually, Tommy left and Cory has stayed put ever since.
Cory and I met at a general, which is when people in our biz drink oodles of coffee or booze to “get to know each other.” They can be awkward and uncomfortable, especially if there isn’t a connection beyond the professional. Yet, Cory was so easy to talk to and has such a calm demeanor, that I became very curious about her. I am so grateful so let me poke her further and record it to share with you all!
This week, Cory dives deep into the transition from being a freelancer to going in house at Bad Robot. She talks about the two films she made that had the biggest impact on her life.
We also discuss what FORCE AWAKENS taught her about her marriage, being a woman in the sci-fi space, and the importance of tact.
As Bad Robot enters a new chapter via an exclusive deal with WarnerMedia reportedly worth $250 million, I’m excited to see what magic they will continue to create.
Beijos,
Caca
Britt Robertson and Wesam Keesh are two faces you may immediately recognize.
As actors, they have built impressive careers for themselves. Hungry to explore other sides of their creativity, however, they recently produced their first project together.
This dynamic duo met on the set of Shondaland’s FOR THE PEOPLE on ABC, which unfortunately only lasted two seasons.
I have personally known Wesam for many years and have witnessed his relentless hustle, dedication, and commitment to his craft. He is truly a unique and inspiring oddball of an individual and I am grateful to call him a friend.
Side note/shameless plug…Wesam also hosts a great podcast on Idobi radio called WESAM’S WORLD and I got to be a guest last year!
Talent clearly runs in his family. So when his brother, William, wanted to make his first music video, he naturally hit up Wesam to direct who then naturally hit up Britt to produce.
Their collaboration went on to become Wesam’s directorial debut!
This hour we spent together showcases how supportive they are of each other, and that they clearly know how to have fun…even throughout the inevitable highs and lows of production, of life.
That’s the stuff dreams are made of, if you ask me.
After 20 years as a performer, Britt admits to being a bit bored by acting and that she found line producing a welcomed challenge. Sooo, this week we discuss going outside our comfort zones, the importance of preparation, and advice to actors who want to get into producing.
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this week’s episode!
Erica Kay is a badass UPM and Producer with over 20 years of experience in studio films and television.
A life long New Yorker who started in production right after graduating from Colby College, she recalls not knowing anyone in entertainment and discovering producing by accident.
It was via an internship on CENTRAL PARK WEST, the 90s drama created by Darren Starr, (yes, the mastermind behind SEX AND THE CITY!) that exposed her to this crazy world of filmmaking and storytelling.
She saw an opportunity to climb the ranks in the most traditional way producers get their start: the production office.
She started as an office PA and in no time, became the coordinator on films like ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND and ANALYZE THAT. She nabbed the production supervisor title on DAN IN REAL LIFE, SALT, and JULIE & JULIA.
Slowly but surely, she eventually became a DGA UPM films such as THE DICTATOR and HOW TO BE SINGLE. Then of course, there was Sam Esmail’s MR. ROBOT.
Most recently, Erica produced the first two seasons of POSE and FOSSE/VERDON for FX. Both shows were deservingly nominated for a myriad of Emmys and other awards in 2019.
If you have NOT yet seen Michelle Williams and Sam Rockwell create fire on screen in FOSSE/VERDON, I highly suggest pausing all life things short of eating and peeing, and binge watching it in it’s entirely.
It’s television gold!
In our chat, she breaks down the different roles in a production office, how tier jumping comes with a lot of luck, and why Fosse/Verdon was her dream job.
You’ll also hear her speak extremely highly of Nissa Diederich, EVP of Production at Fox 21 Television Studios who made that Fosse/Verdon dream a reality...
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this week’s episode!
Beijos, Caca
Academy Award nominated producer **Chelsea Winstanley** fell into producing.
Her career actually began as a writer/director almost 20 years ago. Producing accidentally became a means for allowing her to direct. And then she found out she was quite good at it.
Google results also reveal that her husband is Taika Waititi. The writer/director/actor just took home the Academy Award for Best Adapted screenplay for JOJO RABBIT....which Chelsea produced. This makes Waititi the first person of Maori descent to win an Oscar. He was also the first ever indigenous person to be nominated in the category.
Backing up for a minute.
Chelsea and Taika, who are both of Maori descent, met in 2010 when she interviewed him for a documentary profiling Maori artists.
By the time their paths crossed, Chelsea had lived through more life stuff than most of us can imagine.She's spoken openly about how the lessons from childhood trauma shaped her.
At 20 years old, she found herself pregnant, abandoned by her partner, living on government aid, and surviving a car accident that left her unable to walk...all before graduating college.
Eventually, Chelsea learned to walk again...and now, dare I say it, she is soaring.
While the team did not take home the Best Picture Oscar, 2020 is Chelsea's year. With the launch of her new production company, aptly named, This Too Shall Pass, she will focus on writing/directing projects that give a voice to indigenous stories.
I can’t wait to see what she does next.
In this week’s chat, we discuss putting yourself first, self care, and the importance of letting creative ideas run their course. Case in point, JOJO RABBIT was a long labor of love that started in 2011. Imagine if they have forced a satire about boy with Hitler for his imaginary friend into existence before the world was ready.
She reminds us that it all comes and goes, so try not to hold on to anything.
We also laugh about Taika’s crisis when he was a stripper on television and contemplated if this was it for him. How’s that for humble beginning? Photo evidence. You’re welcomed.
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this week’s episode!
Beijos,
Caca
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Fiona Walsh Heinz redefines multi-tasking. Prior to our interview starting, she juggled making snacks and getting her 21-month-old daughter ready for an outing with dad so we could record WHILE growing another human inside her.
NO. BIG. DEAL.
It was inspiring to witness a producer, a mom, a pregnant woman…in her power.
Originally from the Bay Area, Fiona has 14 years of experience in feature films, documentary and episodic television.
She co–produced Chinonye Chukwu’s CLEMENCY which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2019, Emerald Fennell’s PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN which premiered at Sundance 2020 and Miguel Arteta’s BEATRIZ AT DINNER which premiered at Sundance 2017.
A fellow scorpio, we’ve had similar paths as physical producers earning our stripes in the trenches of indie filmmaking. She’s raw, she’s real, she drops many F bombs. She’s a gal after my own heart.
Fiona gets into the nitty gritty of creative vs physical producing. She opens up about setting out to be a capital P producer and then finding herself in the physical producer track.
She gives an extremely thorough explanation of how a line producer differs from the UPM (unit production manager) role; two jobs that are often done by the same person.
Fiona also dishes on balancing motherhood with production and the advice she wishes she was given when she started out.
JENNIFER GLYNN is a film and commercial producer. She's had her hand in many indie films, including one of my favorites, SOUND OF MY VOICE written by and starring my girl crush, Brit Marling. We gush over how Brit was destined for greatness.
A practical nuts and bolts producer, she explains why the UPM and line producer roles are often confused on smaller projects.
This particularly chat was recorded in October of 2018, so you may notice that I was still learning to not talk over people....Rough to hear, y'all, but such is life with caca. Gotta show you the progress!
This week, we discuss knowing and owning your financial worth, the main differences between making commercials and films, and creating loyalty in Hollywood.
Oh, there will not be an episode next week because I'll be at Sundance the premiere of my film, SYLVIE'S LOVE starring Tessa Thompson.
Glad you're here and can't wait to hear your thoughts on my chat with Jennifer!
She has since produced and line produced multiple award-winning films. One of her early credits also happens to be one of my favorite films, Zal Batmanglij’s SOUND OF MY VOICE, written by and starring Brit Marling.
Speaking of Brit, who also created the short lived THE OA for Netflix, (Yes, I’m still bitter about the cancellation!), we gush over our mutual admiration for her. It's impressive and inspiring that she taught herself writing, created roles not being written for women, and carved out her own path.
Since then, she has co-produced Neil LaBute’s SOME GIRLS starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell which premiered at the 2013 SXSW Festival. She also produced BURN COUNTRY starring Dominic Rains, Academy Award Winner Melissa Leo, and James Franco.
Additionally, she wrote and directed the short SMORGASBORD starring Academy Award Winner Brie Larson and Sarah Ramos as part of the prestigious American Film Institute Directing Workshop for Women.
Jennifer has also produced a number of commercials, music videos, short films and digital campaigns. We compare short form vs long form content, and why she prefers commercials.
She also does a great job of breaking down why the UPM and line producer roles are often confused on smaller projects.
We explore finding and owning your financial worth in the marketplace. We commiserate on feeling stuck and the lack of loyalty that sometimes exists in Hollywood.
"You’re not getting no's because your stuff isn’t good. It’s probably good, it’s just not great. So how do you separate yourself from a lot of good material that is out there in the digital era? How do you cut through the noise? You cut through the noise by trying to put something exceptional together and not stopping short of anything exceptional." -Khaliah Neal
--
Picking up where we left off with part 2 of my chat with the cool, calm, and collected producer Khaliah Neal.
If you missed part 1, please take a moment to check that out first and then come back.
As I mentioned in last week’s post, at the time of this recording, she was finishing up THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO alongside Plan B and A24 which premiered in competition at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. The film won the Grand Jury Awards for Best Direction and Best Creative Collaboration and is in theaters now.
Director Joe Talbot also got nominated for a well deserved DGA award last week!
We do get super real and raw this week…we talk about the hardships of the producer lifestyle, the never ending imposter syndrome, and not always feeling supported because mentorship is hard to come by. It’s tricky to reveal where you are still growing, but that is the only way we can blossom. Khaliah found safe space to grow in friends like Alana Mayo, who help her navigate the growing pains of this business.
Excited to kick off a new year, new decade, with the marvelous and inspiring Khaliah Neal!
She is an independent producer most recently known for producing THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO alongside Plan B and A24 which premiered in competition at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. The film won the Grand Jury Awards for Best Direction and Best Creative Collaboration and is in theaters now.
It is easily one of my favorite movies of 2019. Oh, and Barack Obama’s too. it is still one of the best pitch deck’s for a movie I’ve ever seen.
In part 1, she tells us how she hustled her way into an internship at Michael Moore’s production company, a leap that catapulted her to where she is today….even if at the time it didn’t seem like it. She reveals how she earned her stripes working at the Weinstein Company (pre Me Too movement) and the wealth of knowledge she gained from her time at Jean Doumanian Productions and Focus Features.
She’s a busy, busy bee who has worked on very impressive projects with fancy people, but what I loved about Khaliah is her calm demeanor. Real talk, it is not a typical personality trait for us producer types.
Yet, she steers her ship with an infectious kindness, resilience, and integrity. It’s a beautiful thing.
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this week's episode!
Beijos,
Caca
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
Happy Holidays! A quick note that I'm taking a wee break for the holidays, but am excited to resume with more incredible guests and chats in 2020.
Until then, this week I sat down with Emmy nominated filmmaker Xan Aranda. She's a producer/showrunner/director/writer who has been described as a unicorn: a producer with both the logistical and creative brain.
We've been circling each other a quite some time, so this meeting was a few years in the making. And let me tell you…it was worth the wait. Her resume is varied and impressive.
Most recently, she was the EP on season 1 of HBO’s Room 104 alongside the Duplass Brothers, two of my indie heroes.
In many ways, she’s been a producer for over 25 years. She’s spent her 20s and 30s working non-stop, and now finally fresh into her 40s, she’s slowing down a bit. On her terms…which for most producers usually means simply being able to eat lunch in silence.
This hour is filled with gems and inspirational anecdotes. We discuss the importance of associate producers, how she's taking part in paradigm shift post #MeToo, and what real wealth means in Hollywood.
Enjoy!
Beijos, Caca
Zoe Jaeger is a senior in high school and aspiring producer.
She is also going to be our intern for a few weeks on a school assignment. She’s interested in learning how she can contribute to equality and inclusivity behind the camera.
While she was born in Champaign, Illinois, she’s spent most of her life moving around. Her mom, a pastor, and her dad, a retired film professor, eventually settled in Burbank, CA.
She’s very impressive and quite accomplished despite her young age. She grew up watching obscure movies with her dad. Her favorite film is LOVE AND DEATH directed by Woody Allen, which she realizes is a bit controversial.
By the age of 12, she already had a career as a professional contortionist.
At 15, she left the circus and along with fellow contortionist/friend Georgia Brian, started YES (Youth Empowerment Social) Circus, a non-profit providing free workshops to underserved kids.
At 15, I bleached my hair blond for the first (and last) time and got my belly button pierced.
Now, Zoe is in the final throes of high school, gearing up for promising future. She’s curious about producing, but admits being open to wherever her path may take her.
During this week’s chat, she opened my eyes “climate grief”, something her and many kids of her generation experience. We also discuss making an impact she asks me for life advice.
I do my best.
It was a gift to spend this time with a bright, young mind. I’m grateful our paths have crossed (thanks Eric!) and can’t wait to see what she does next.
Robin Hopkins is in the middle of a big life transition.
She’s been a producer for Spotify’s "Amy Schumer Presents: 3 Girls, 1 Keith" podcast since 2016. Now in it’s 4th season, the show features Amy and her hilarious comic friends Rachel Feinstein (whom I adore and met thanks to the Women in Comedy doc I’ve been producing!), Bridget Everett, and Keith Robinson dish about their lives, pop culture, politics, and stand-up comedy.
Alas. Her time at Spotify is coming to an end this year.
You see, she just did something incredible. With the help of knee pads (aka an investor), she managed to let go of the guard rails and leap towards her dream of focusing on IF THESE OVARIES COULD TALK, a podcast she co-hosts with Jaimie Kelton where two lesbians chat about how to make babies and non-traditional families.
An artist at heart, Robin stumbled her way into producing when she realized realized she had the skills to also be meticulously organized, juggle multiple balls while keeping 47 tabs open, and truly, make something out of nothing.
Producers are sort of magical, mystical creatures. Some part of you has to believe the impossible is possible to pursue any shade of producing.
In this chat, Robin explains the career trajectory of an in house producer, which she equates to the show runner role in traditional network television. And what it means to lead by example by chasing after her dreams.
Can't wait to hear what you think of the episode!
Bobbi Sue Luther is a one-of-a-kind multifaceted human. She’s loud, she’s relentless, and she’s a dear friend. We’ve done two movies together MISS VIRGINIA starring Uzo Aduba which just premiered this year, and SYLVIE starring Tessa Thompson coming to a theater near you in 2020. She has been a wonderful mentor and has taught me how to find my “inner Luther” aka fierceness. She doesn’t care what you think about her, but she does care about what you feel. She teaches with a firm, but kind hand. And as Eva Longoria says, she’s a bulldog. Born in Maryland, Bobbi was an ice cream maker and a firefighter before moving to LA in her early 20s. She enjoyed a long career in front of the camera as an actor and TV host before making the switch to producing. True to her Bobbi nature, she dove right in and produced a music video for In This Moment called “A Beautiful Tragedy”, which was nominated in 2007 for Music Video of the Year on MTV’s Head Bangers Ball. She eventually found her way into line producing, working on the horror film LAID TO REST, which went on to become the highest selling title of the year for Anchor Bay/Starz. The there was FEAR CLINIC which led to Bobbi’s nomination for the prestigious Producers Guild, Producer Challenge award. She spent 4 years in house at the Oscar winning film production company Smokewood Entertainment where she operated as Producer on the slate and as the Executive in Charge of Production overseeing the highly anticipated family film “Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer”, “Crazy Kind Of Love” starring Virginia Madsen and Smokewood’s Documentary and philanthropic effort “Amongst Brothers.” Eventually, Bobbi jumped back into the freelance world where she is now. She has worked on A24’s THE LAST MOVIE STAR, Mark Pellington’s NOSTALGIA starring Ellen Burstyn, Jon Hamm and Catherine Keener, and the Edward James Olmo features THE DEVIL HAS A NAME, starring Alfred Molina and Kate Bosworth. Phew! That’s a lot of credits in a short amount of time. Like most producers, we all struggle with slowing down. In this week’s chat, we discuss how Bobbi has found a way to enjoy the ride, “feast or famine” of the freelance lifestyle, and imposter syndrome. Beijos, Caca
Mathew Ferrante is the VP of Physical Production at Paramount Pictures.
Listening and editing this week’s episode felt a bit like uncovering a time capsule.
At the time of this recording way back in January of 2019, Mathew (yes, with one T because he’s cool like that) had been at Paramount for 5 years.
So, it’s wild to think in a few short months he will have been there for 6 years. The bullet train that is time…
Originally from Arlington Heights, IL, just outside Chicago, Mathew got his start as a PA on one of my favorite indie films, WAITRESS, starring Keri Russell and Andy Griffith. Eventually, he found his way to the Physical Production Management Trainee Program at Warner Bros. where he quickly grew into a staff coordinator for the president of physical production.
Currently, Matt oversees titles ranging from $5 million to $20 million dollars. His most recent credits include OVERLOAD and THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX with JJ Abrams’s Bad Robot, Johnny Knoxville’s ACTION POINT.
Our chat gets a bit inside baseball at times as he explains titles within the studio and deconstructs the importance of tax incentives. We also tackle the challenges of being an executive and making it home in time to put his daughters to bed.
So, in this hour together, you’ll get a taste of a day in the life of a studio executive and a peek behind the curtain from someone who has been at Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures.
You’ll learn:
- How the Physical Production department works alongside with the Creative department to greenlight a movie
- How being at a studio allowed him to be a family man
- How Keri Russell encouraged him to keep going
- His time at Harvard and being a part of Hasty Pudding
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this week’s episode!
Beijos, Caca
Stephanie Allain is a legend. She is the OG of what she describes as the “true badass bitch era of Hollywood”, power suits and all.
Not gonna lie, it was the highlight of my month to spent this hour with her.
Through her production company Homegrown Pictures, she’s produced Hustle & Flow, Something New, Beyond the Lights, Dear White People, Burning Sands, French Dirty, Leimert Park, Juanita and The Weekend.
Pretty. Impressive.
Consider, however, that even though she grew up near Miracle Mile in LA, she didn’t really know anybody in the business.
Her humble story begins as a reader/story analyst at CAA, a job she held while also adjusting to life at home with a newborn. Her honesty and candidness are refreshing as she reflects on feeling like she messed up the first time around by spending too much time working.
After many years as a reader, she realized there were many paths available. It was thanks to her mentor, Amy Pascal, that she chose to follow in her footsteps towards the trajectory of a studio executive. Watching Amy in the room taught her how to go to the next level. She realized quickly, however, that where she was going was not exactly what she thought it was going to be.
And then John Singleton walked into her office at Fox with a script called BOYZ N THE HOOD and changed her life. Making that movie with John taught her how to be a true producer because he was “gangster straight” to protect it. It cemented her desire to work with writer/directors because of their singular, clear vision.
Their professional relationship eventually branched out into a friendship with solid roots.
Years later, she found herself at a crossroads in her life. She had the family, the nice house in Hancock Park, the career; she had it all. But she found herself wondering, “is this it?” And that’s when a little indie film about a pimp with a dream called HUSTLE & FLOW entered her life. Her and John Singleton decided to financed and produce the film together; prompting her to sell her house. It was a dark time.
Her passion and her hustle got me thinking…how far would I go for my dream? Could I ever bring myself to take similar risks? How far would you go for yours?
Natalie Metzger has a spark for producing that is palpable. The joy oozes out of her pores, and despite the inherent challenges, she loves being a producer.
Natalie was a dancer before she set her foot in the world of filmmaking. She freelanced for a while before finding at home as at Vanishing Angel as the VP of of Development and Production.
In her journey, she’s produced and directed a ton of notable projects, most recently Jim Cummings’ newest film THE WEREWOLF (MGM/Orion) and GREENER GRASS (Sundance, SXSW), which comes out this Friday Oct 18th, in theaters and on demand!
She also produced the hilarious music video for Lil Dicky’s FREAKY FRIDAY, which boasts over 554 million views on YouTube.
A multi-hyphenate, she’s also directed documentaries, such as the ALONE IN THE GAME for AT&T, SPECIAL BLOOD, and numerous award-winning commercials and short films.
In this week’s chat, Natalie and I uncover how to find your tribe, creating a more inclusive work place, and the dirty secret to cold emailing.
Alana Mitnick is a freelance commercial producer.
She was born and raised in Los Angeles. Though she acted in commercials as a kid, she knew from a young age that she preferred to be behind the camera. After four years at Northwestern, Alana returned to the sunny skies of LA to climb the production ladder.
And climb she did!
Over the last 14 years she’s worked all over the world and overseen budgets ranging from $15,000 to $5 million. She’s produced spots for Nike, Target, Prudential, Corona, Lexus, Old Spice to name a few.
She’s also worked on a few PSAs. The most rewarding spots she worked on last year, Ignite PSAs for Prettybird (production company) and directed by Megan Park.
What I love about Alana is her endless curiosity for learning and that she finds time for EVERYTHING. I have no idea how she does it.
Three years ago, feeling the need for a space so she could authentically build relationships and network with women in production, Alana started HER, which stands for Helping Each other Rise, to bring women in entertainment and advertising together in a meaningful way. It’s actually how we met!
In this week’s chat, we breakdown the world of commercial producing, explore mindfulness on set, and the importance of setting personal boundaries.
Can't wait to hear what you think of this week's episode.
Beijos,
Caca
Natalie Qasabian is an impressive person. She is the producer of SEARCHING, starring John Cho, a movie she made for $1m that made $75m worldwide in the box office. A very hard thing to do these days given how people don't watch movies in theaters anymore. She is an Armenian-American hustler. She is a go getter. She is the only producer I know who was also getting her MBA from Pepperdine University while also in production. So, yes, she’s a badass in it’s truest form. Currently she's producing "RUN starring Sarah Paulson for Lionsgate alongside her SEARCHING producer Sev Ohanian and director Aneesh Chaganty. In this week’s chat, we dive deep into getting her start with the Duplass Brothers, chasing the high of making your own projects, and the wrap blues every producer feels when a project ends.
"...and Guillermo [del Toro]. I remember that the weekend that MAMA opened and it was #1 in the U.S., Guillermo told us...well guys, now you get to make one more movie. Because it's one movie at a time, you know!" -Barbara Muschietti
Excited to continue my chat with producer extraordinaire @barbaramus of @itmovieofficial & #MAMA.
By the way, #ItChapter2 is breaking all sorts of records in the box office this weekend! It's got the second best global opening for a horror film of all-time with $185M, right behind 2017’s IT which debuted to $189.7M.
People love them some scary clowns! 🤡
If you missed part 1, I recommend giving that a listen and then circling back.
Beijos,
💋Caca
Barbara Muschietti. What can I say about this fierce Argentinian woman? She’s the producer of horror films I’d never thought I’d watch, much less enjoy.
She is a true inspiration and a freakin’ delight.
Barbara produced the record-breaking box office hit “IT,” an adaptation of the Stephen King Novel. The film scored the biggest opening weekend ever in more than 30 markets, crossing the $700 million milestone and making it the highest grossing horror film of all time.
The highly anticipated second installment, IT, CHAPTER TWO. comes out this Friday, September 6th.
I am terrified and exhilarated and I simply cannot wait.
Prior to IT, Barbara produced/co-wrote the feature film MAMA, based on the short film of the same name. The film starred Jessica Chastain and had Guillermo del Toro as the executive producer. It was one of the top earners of 2013.
What’s unique and special about Barbara is that she has worked with her brother, writer/director Andy Muschietti, for over two decades. They have collaborated on all of their projects, across film, TV, and commercials.
They owed a commercial/TV production company in Spain called Toma 78, where she produced hundreds of commercials for clients like Coca Cola, Mercedes, Pepsico, Ford, and the California Lottery.
During part 1 of our chat, we discuss ambitious about oneself, understanding what is ‘soft money’, and how we both jumped the fence into Hollywood.
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this week’s episode!
"Follow your dreams, but don’t forget to live your life.” -Giulia Caruso
Giulia Caruso is an LA-based Italian producer and founding member of Nonetheless Productions. With partner Ki Jin Kim, she was nominated for the 2018 Piaget Producers Award. Giulia won an Independent Spirit Award for Andrew Ahn’s debut feature SPA NIGHT and a LA-Emmy for producing KCET’s docuseries Lost LA. Her latest feature COLUMBUS (directed by Kogonada, starring John Cho, Haley Lu Richardson and Parker Posey) was nominated for several Gotham and Spirit Awards. Both COLUMBUS and SPA NIGHT premiered at Sundance. Giulia produced award winning short films and content for clients such as Focus Features, MTV, Intel, GoPro.
During out chat, we tackle the beauty and hardships of independent movies, why producers should value themselves, what it’s like to work with your significant other, and how being a mother fuels her passion as a producer.
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this week’s episode!
Beijos, Caca
Mark A. Burley is a four time Emmy nominated producer and director.
A veteran of television, he was born in Berlin and was raised in London.
He discovered his love for narrative storytelling in university at Bristol, and moved to LA in his 20s to pursue the film business. There was a slight detour, however, and he dabbled in advertising before finding his way into commercials. He worked for many years as an assistant director and quickly got into the DGA. For a good chunk of his career, he also worked as a UPM (unit production manager), which is what I often do on sets.
His path eventually crossed with writer/producer/show creator Jenji Kohan, and he’s been a part of her ecosystem since Weeds in 2005.
He’s produced and directed on GLOW, Orange Is The New Black, Murder, She Wrote and Simon & Simon. He has also worked on a number of TV movies of the week including Mrs. Santa Claus (1996) and Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes (1990).
During our chat, we take a deep dive into the murky waters of television to understand all of its producer titles. We also discuss how Netflix changed the game for storytellers worldwide and patience…something that I am constantly working on
Maggie McLean is a music video and short form content producer.
Born and raised in LA, the industry called her from a young age since her mom is a production accountant.
Together, they started Cheeky Films, a production company.
She came up the trenches in one of the most traditional ways—as a PA, who then became a production coordinator, and then a production manager, and eventually, a producer.
She produced commercials for a while before finding herself loving music videos. She’s worked with artists such as LCD Soundsystem and Cardi B.
This year, she’s produced too many cool videos with fancy artists she can’t name. She made magic happen with a PSA for Planned Parenthood to promote their new comprehensive sex education chat bot - Roo.
You should check it out!
During our chat, we go deep on how lonely freelance can be, why kindness on set is crucial, and growing from our mistakes.
Oh, and pivoting when your microphone breaks seconds before you start recording... Thanks for your patience with the audio challenges on this one.
M. Elizabeth Hughes is a freelance film producer who grew up in south Georgia.
After graduating from magna cum laude from Wesleyan College, she moved to Orange County and earned her M.F.A. in Film and Television Producing from Chapman University.
Since then, she has made her career producing a wide variety of films and series with various filmmakers and financiers. She co-produced one of my favorite all time movies, SHORT TERM 12. She’s produced many studio features such as GIRLFRIEND’S DAY written by and starring Bob Odenkirk and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY starring Ben Schwartz and Noël Wells.
Most recently, she produced the Amazon docuseries, LORENA, which reframes the infamous story surrounding Lorena Bobbit.
During our chat, we take an unfiltered look into the challenges of working in physical production, the magic of making SHORT TERM 12, and reflect on the choices that got her to where she is today.
This week on the show we hear from the hella amazing Deniese Davis, producer AND the COO/co-founder of ColorCreative, a production company she started with Issa Rae that focuses on under represented voices.
Deniese was born and raised in the blue collar work force of Las Vegas. She knew from a very young age, 16, to be exact, that she wanted to be a producer. Since no real entertainment industry existed in Vegas, she enrolled in AFI’s Producing Program and packed her bags for Los Angeles.
After graduating, she earned her stripes working as a freelance line producer, working on MANY shoots with budgets under $100k.
It is no small feat and speaks volumes to her work ethic and determination.
The stars eventually aligned and she crossed paths with the equally as hardworking and ambitious Issa Rae. Together, they brought The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl to life.
The show was a huge hit on YouTube and eventually became the blueprint for INSECURE on HBO, a hilarious comedy about female friendships and growing up.
During our time together, we discuss why it’s important to take time to re-calibrate and reset your soul, why she is sensitive about the producer title, and how she finessed her hustle.
Can't wait to hear what you think!
Beijos,
Caca
Excited to pick up where we left off with the fierce Alana Mayo.
If you missed part 1, check it out as this convo is very much a continuation of that juicy talk.
This week, we explore how film production is similar to running a household, the challenges of building a diverse team, and her cautionary tales for anyone wanting to break into Hollywood.
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@lifewithcaca
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Beijos,
Caca
On the premiere episode of the show, host Carolina Groppa sits down with the incomparable Eva Longoria. She wears many hats—actor, producer, director, entrepreneur, philanthropist, mother…you may be wondering, when does she sleep? Eva is constantly honing her craft, seeking new projects, and opening doors for women in the industry. She's passionate about paving the way for future female and minority producers, directors and industry leaders in Hollywood and beyond. You may be surprised to know that she’s been producing and directing for the past decade. Women barely make up 7% of all working directors today. Eva leaned into her role as a producer to make a groundbreaking shift in the episodic world by hiring women to direct a majority of the series’ episodes. She then went a step further and hired all women for the director of photography and assistant director positions – departments which are notoriously male dominated. Eva is talking the talk and walking the walk...in heels. She is a delight and a bottomless well of inspiration.
Life With Caca is a weekly podcast of intimate and, sometimes, brutally honest conversations with producers from all corners of the entertainment industry. Along the way, your host and Emmy nominated producer Carolina Groppa will demystify what exactly a producer is by giving listeners a glimpse into what it's like to walk in our shoes. The clean, curated version of people’s lives we hear about rarely tells the whole story so I’m here to talk about the messy parts, the hard stuff... the "caca!"