Angle on Producers with Carolina Groppa

**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:

1. Jobs that aren’t exactly what you want to be doing can provide a foundation for the jobs you want

2. Filmmaking is a collaboration - be prepared but remember you’re not alone

3. 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: 

1. Be nimble and flexible, but never compromise yourself.

2. Lean into frustration

3. 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:

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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

On this special episode, I answer three of your questions, such as:

1. How to crack the line producer path.

2. My biggest “DON’T’s” for someone trying to break into the industry and work as a producer

3. 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

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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 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

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

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