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 w...
Apr 04, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 73
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 ...
Feb 25, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 72
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 starr...
Jan 31, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 71
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 ...
Dec 13, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 70
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 Yo...
Dec 01, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 69
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 Aff...
Nov 09, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 68
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 - p...
Oct 11, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 67
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 sh...
Sep 21, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 65
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 Jo...
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 65
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. Pea...
Aug 23, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 64
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 c...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 63
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...
Jul 27, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 62
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...
Jul 14, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 61
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 internation...
Jun 29, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 60
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 Net...
Jun 15, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 59
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 ind...
Jun 01, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 58
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 ...
May 18, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 57
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 ratt...
Apr 27, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 56
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 ...
Mar 23, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 55
**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 come...
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 28 min
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. Sh...
Mar 10, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 54
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 ...
Feb 16, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 53
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 fil...
Feb 01, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 52
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 yea...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 51
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 b...
Nov 19, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 49
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...
Oct 26, 2020•58 min•Season 1Ep. 48
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 wa...
Oct 13, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 47
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 ...
Sep 29, 2020•55 min•Season 1Ep. 46
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 Campfir...
Sep 22, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 45
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 ...
Sep 14, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 44
