Produced By October | November 2018 by Moon Tide Media

NIGHT MOVES – RUNNING THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT. p. 40

PRODUCEDBY THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA // OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2018

DONNA

GIGLIOTTI “Being thrown in the deep end, you either figure out real fast what film production means, or you’re looking for a new job.”

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THE COVER: DONNA GIGLIOTTI

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

30 THE COVER: DONNA GIGLIOTTI

10 FROM THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS

Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been pushing stories about strong women for decades. The world finally caught up.

46 FAST BREAK Michael Ratner looks beyond the sports/entertainment model he pioneered in the digital space.

55 MAN ON A MISSION Brian McLaughlin works to win hearts and minds for vets in entertainment.

GOING GREEN Stopping the paper chase

Healthy priorities

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Stream a little stream

MARKING TIME

MENTORING MATTERS

Eight days on the line

60 FAQ: THE PRODUCERS MARK

OPEN DOORS

NEW MEMBERS

MEMBER BENEFITS

40 BETTER LATE THAN EVER Veteran news producer Chris Licht finds a home at the helm of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

ODD NUMBERS

Gaining momentum

ON THE SCENE

PGA at TIFF; Dodger Day!

66 THE BEST ON-SET PHOTO OF ALL TIME

ABOVE & BEYOND

Better together

RISK TAKERS Channeling the zeitgeist

Shot/reverse shot

COVER PHOTOGRAPHED BY NOAH FECKS

PRODUCED BY

PRESIDENTS Gail Berman

Lucy Fisher

VICE PRESIDENTS, MOTION PICTURES Reginald Hudlin Jon Kilik VICE PRESIDENTS, TELEVISION Gene Stein Lydia Tenaglia VICE PRESIDENT, NEW MEDIA John Canning VICE PRESIDENT, AP COUNCIL Carrie Lynn Certa VICE PRESIDENTS, PGA EAST William Horberg Kay Rothman TREASURER Megan Mascena Gaspar SECRETARIES OF RECORD Mark Gordon Hawk Koch PRESIDENTS EMERITI Gary Lucchesi Lori McCreary NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COO Vance Van Petten ASSOCIATE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COO Susan Sprung

IN FILM FRIENDLY LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK CONTACT US AT DIANA.CHERRYHOLMES@SUFFOLKCOUNTYNY.GOV

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NATIONAL BOARD James P. Axiotis Nina Yang Bongiovi Stacy Burstin Yolanda T. Cochran Donald De Line Mike Farah Melissa Friedman Donna Gigliotti Gary Goetzman Jennifer A. Haire Marshall Herskovitz Charles P. Howard

OF DIRECTORS Lynn Hylden Rosemary Lombard James Lopez Kate McCallum Chris Moore Bruna Papandrea Kristine Pregot Jethro Rothe-Kushel Charles Roven Peter Saraf Jillian Stein Ian Wagner

EDITOR Chris Green

PARTNER & BRAND PUBLISHER Emily S. Baker CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ajay Peckham

COPY EDITOR Peggy Jo Abraham

PHOTOGRAPHERS Noah Fecks ADVERTISING Ken Rose 818-312-6880 | ken@moontidemedia.com MANAGING PARTNERS Charles C. Koones Todd Klawin Vol XIV No. 5 Produced By is published six times a year by the Producers Guild of America 8530 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 400 1411 Broadway Beverly Hills, CA 90211 15th floor 310-358-9020 Tel. New York, NY 10018 310-358-9520 Fax 646-766-0770 Tel.

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FROM THE CHIEF OP ERATING OFFICERS

HEALTHY PRIORITIES

hen we talk to PGA members about their primary concerns, one of their most consistent answers, time and again, has been HEALTH CARE—its availability and cost. Even for those of us with access to relatively affordable health insurance, the legislative battle around the topic has left many producers uncertain whether that coverage will remain effective or affordable. For those without insurance altogether, the promise of reasonably priced health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been complicated—if not broken outright—by the political wrangling around the law. Now more than ever, our members are hoping the PGA will be able to offer solutions. Safe to say, if there was an easy fix for this situation, the Producers Guild would have implemented it already. Our non-union status means that the PGA has not been able to underwrite a guaranteed access plan like our colleagues receive through their union memberships. That being said, you need to know that many PGA members do have access to employer-paid health coverage, though that coverage is conditional rather than guaranteed. For many of you who work on studio motion pictures or broadcast or premium cable television series, the “non-affiliate agreement” with the west coast office of IATSE can provide access to first-rate, employer-paid coverage through the Motion Picture Industry Plan (MPIP). This coverage is available only for certain job titles and requires recipients to work a minimum number of hours, but if you qualify, the PGA will provide guidance for completing the paperwork and getting approval from your employer.

For those of you who don’t meet the conditions to qualify for the MPIP coverage, our Guild is continuing to research options for you. One such option is available through Open Health, a company oriented towards health care solutions for workers in the entertainment industry. Open Health offers plans which are ideally suited for small production companies. If you’re an employer who owns a company with three or more employees (one of whom can be yourself), we strongly encourage you to call Open Health at the number on the opposite page, and ask about their offerings. In fact, the PGA was sufficiently impressed with Open Health’s coverage that this is the health insurance we offer to our own office staff. If neither of the above options applies to you, consider contacting The Actor’s Fund, which has helped professionals

in the entertainment industry—not just actors!—find affordable health coverage. While plans obtained through The Actors Fund and Open Health are self-pay plans rather than employer-paid plans, they may give PGA members better value than they would otherwise find on their own, and can provide assistance in navigating plans provided via the ACA. The updated chart on the opposite page summarizes this information and provides important contact numbers. It will be reprinted in every forthcoming issue of Produced By. Meanwhile the PGA is pushing forward with its research as health insurance offerings continue to evolve. We hope that someday soon, we’ll be able to promote a plan that guarantees health benefits to every PGA member at a fair price. We know what a priority this is for so many of you; that makes it our priority as well.

Susan Sprung

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STREAM A LITTLE STREAM ARE YOU READY FOR PLATFORM OVERLOAD?

ith Disney poised to launch its own OTT streaming service in the near future and Apple not far behind, we found ourselves pondering some open questions about the crazy future-world we’re now living in…

AFTER McDonalds DISNEY AND APPLE, WHAT Nike CONSUMER BRAND/ Six Flags COMPANY IS MOST LIKELY Nestle TO LAUNCH ITS OWN Samsung STREAMING PLATFORM?

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WHEN THE NEXT GENERATION OF TECHNOLOGY ARRIVES, WHERE ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE VIEWING STREAMING CONTENT?

Wristwatch Microwave oven Bathroom mirror The insides of your eyelids

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EIGHT DAYS ON THE LINE The PGA Shadow Program offers education through immersion. Written by Andrea M. Reyes

here’s a large group of us in the PGA who were just cutting our teeth in scripted television when the 2007 writers strike hit. I am one of these. We work under the non-union umbrella and aim to produce scripted content, but the industry doesn’t know how to fit us in. Having worked my way up in reality television and now serving as the co-founder and non-writing executive producer of an independent scripted production company, I knew I needed practical knowledge and a reintroduction back to the scripted world. When I found out veteran executive producer Harry Bring was offering a shadow opportunity, I knew I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor to learn from. As a line producer turned executive producer, Harry has worked on notable episodic programs such as Melrose Place, X-Files and Army Wives. His current show, Criminal Minds, was where the shadow opportunity would be. Harry expressed his excitement in meeting me and complimented my current resume; I never told him, but that compliment meant so much and eased any nerves. Harry relayed I would be incorporated into one episode’s day-to-day schedule. For every episode, there are 15 days total from prep to shoot, and I was to be Harry’s shadow for eight of them. The first prep day, the episodic director started with an all-departmenthead script read-through; Harry proudly introduced me and we were off and running! I joined in every meeting, including the location scout, tech scout, casting session and cast read-through. In between the meetings, we had opportunities to sit in his office and discuss what our job as line producer entails. My favorite line Harry shared that I will keep with me is, “Our job is to steer the ship. If it starts to pull, you work out the problem and get the ship back on track.” It was eye-opening to recognize that the duties of a non-union vs union line producer are virtually the same, including budget creation and management, working with department heads and being the main contact for the network. One difference I noticed was the use of Movie Magic Scheduling by scripted producers. Given how “reality” has expanded over the years to include what we call “softly scripted” elements, wider training on MM Scheduling for reality line producers would be a great way to link them into the scripted world. I recognized my need to learn MM Scheduling and have already signed up for classes. Harry offered to answer future questions that may arise whether I’m budgeting, scheduling or simply need guidance; for that gesture alone, I am grateful for this shadow opportunity offered through the PGA Mentoring Program. I hope I’ll be able to pay that experience forward to a fellow producer someday! ¢

“I joined in every meeting, including the location scout, tech scout, casting session and cast read-through.”

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GAINING MOMENTUM Advice on inclusive hiring and diversifying your below-the-line crew Written By Matthew Principe, Diane Houslin & Sasheen Artis

ach victory counts. That was one of the many takeaways from our conversation on diversifying crew and inclusive hiring with PGA National Board member and indie film producer Nina Yang Bongiovi and Matt Johnson, incoming Co-Chair of the PGA Power of Diversity Master Workshop and an executive producer of scripted and unscripted television. We reached out to these producers, who have made hiring diverse crews a priority, to share their words of wisdom on how they do it, what obstacles they continue to face and how those can be overcome. A lot of attention has been focused on folks in front of the camera, but it’s also important to have diversity behind the scenes as well.

Nina Yang Bongiovi and Matt Johnson

WHAT HAS THE VALUE BEEN FOR YOUR PROJECTS?

HOW DO I ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY IF A STUDIO OR NETWORK IS ADVERSE TO CHANGE?

Nina: Especially when you’re producing a movie that is steeped in a particular culture or history, getting a director that understands that lens is extremely crucial to the authenticity of the overall production. But everyone’s contributions will provide that extra edge. Matt: I recently joined an established network show as an executive producer, where the same crew had been hired year after year. I encouraged my line producer and department heads to present me with a new, diverse list of potential crew. After some pushback we ultimately hired a very diverse crew, including the show’s first-ever female camera operator. The energy on set was lively and fresh.

Matt: Assure the network that the production flow, level of work and budget won’t be interrupted by the change. Once the executives heard me clearly on those subjects, explaining to them that increasing diversity on the show was the right thing to do, they listened.

WHERE DO YOU FIND DIVERSE TALENT? Matt: Don’t be afraid to bring up the issue with your department heads and union partners. Let them know that this is a priority for your production. When they bring you a list, go over it in detail. Make sure diversity is represented in not only gender but also ethnicity. Ask questions. Nina: Have conversations with your assistant director team, and encourage them to hire someone under them who is a person of color. Have conversations with IATSE. Find out if they have pathways for people of color. Production assistants are a good way to start, but it can’t end there on union shoots.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR FELLOW PRODUCERS? Nina: Start by picking one or two positions to champion. I introduced Deirdra Elizabeth Govan, who worked with us on Roxanne, Roxanne, to Boots Riley for Sorry to Bother You. She had 18 years experience as an Assistant Costume Designer. It was important to promote Deirdra to Costume Designer and to open up our first time director’s network. Find allies and pick your battles. With each victory, we gain momentum. For more information on how to encourage diverse hiring practices, join the PGA Diversity Committee in your area and volunteer with the Power of Diversity Master Workshop based in Los Angeles. Connect with us at pgadiversity.org and on social media. Matthew Principe and Diane Houslin are the new Co-Chairs for PGA East Diversity Committee. Sasheen Artis and Matt Johnson are the Co-Chairs for the PGA Power of Diversity Master Workshop.

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ON THE SCENE TIFF NETWORKING MIXER, SEPTEMBER 9, OVEST The PGA International Committee’s third collaboration with the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival met with tremendous praise, thanks to the generous support of its newest sponsor, global VFX house Pixomondo. The crowd of over 200 international producers, directors and other multi-media creators assembled to share projects over great Italian wine and food, courtesy of Ovest restaurant. Special thanks to owner John Tedesco for keeping his doors open exclusively for the PGA for an additional two hours to make sure all those potential networking conversations could bear fruit. Throughout the event, International Committee Co-Chair Kayvan Mashayekh was seen busy recruiting new members.

International Committtee chair Kayvan Mashayekh with actress Daphne Alexander

Producer/director/writer Spike Lee chats with moderator Darren Walker.

BLACKKKLANSMAN SCREENING AND Q&A, AUGUST 14, ROBIN WILLIAMS CENTER PGA East members and guests packed the Robin Williams Center for a screening of Spike Lee’s new film BlacKkKlansman, followed by a discussion with the director and producer, moderated by Ford Foundation President Darren Walker. The conversation was a lively one, with Lee discussing aspects of his entire filmography as well as his most recent release. Many thanks to Focus Features for making the special event possible.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY ZARAH SALEKI

CMPA rep Marguerite Pigott welcomes the crowd. Far right: CMPA’s Jakub Jasinski

Pixomondo reps Henrik Fett, Mihaela Orzea and Lena Bahrs enjoy the festivities.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARION CURTIS/STAR PIX

Attendees enjoy the mixer. If you had beards this cool, you’d be happy too.

ON THE SCENE DODGER DAY, SEPTEMBER 1, DODGER STADIUM

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL Q. MARTIN

For this year’s trip to Dodger Stadium, PGA members came out to watch our Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a battle for the lead in the National League West. Pitcher Clayton Kershaw started for the Dodgers and pitched seven solid innings, despite giving up two solo home runs. The score stayed 2-0 for most of the game until the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp came to the plate and blasted an 8th inning, three-run homer to give the Dodgers the lead. Dodger closer Kenley Jansen shut down the D-backs in the 9th to seal the win, to the delight of the many PGA members in attendance.

PGA members Michael Q. Martin (left) and Bob Boden (right) with Marla and Rachel Boden

Let’s go, Dodgers!

D-backs pitcher Archie Bradley hands a fan a souvenir.

PGA member Sandy Pine (right) with husband David, sons Christopher and Nicholas

PGA members check out the sarcophagus of nonmember King Tut.

Why bleed Dodger blue when you can eat Dodger blue?

From left, PGA member Steve Pesce with sons Lorenzo and Leo, wife Amy Longo

KING TUT: TREASURES OF THE GOLDEN PHARAOH, AUGUST 19, CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER Almost 150 PGA members and their families all came together for a wonderful afternoon at the California Science Center. The group experienced the Endeavour space shuttle exhibit, saw the amazing IMAX film, The Mysteries of Egypt and walked through the display of many of the extraordinary 5,400 items buried with the famous King Tut. It was a great way to spend time with other PGA members on a summer weekend.

From left, Events Committee Chairs Karen Covell and Joe Morabito, committee member R.J. Hume at the California Science Center

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A B O V E & BEYOND

BETTER TOGETHER The PGA’s new Capital Region runs on passion and commitment

or this issue’s Above & Beyond entry, we spotlight two volunteers in the DC area who helped the chapter grow into the Capital Region it is today. Relatively new to the Guild, Kerri Sheehan hit the ground running. She began by volunteering for screening events and moved into a leadership position with the Education Committee. She is excited to be involved with creating programming that helps members learn new skills and grow professionally. “Our local market is competitive, and so often clients are looking for someone who can do everything in the production workflow. We can’t all be a one-stop shop,” Kerri says, “but the more skills we bring to the

B BRIAN SAVOIE

job, the more attractive we are to potential clients and employers.” Kerri points to a real sense of community among the DC production corps and volunteers to help foster that spirit. She believes any professional organization works better when there are people passionate about creating and improving connections. “I’ve made new friends and booked new work while supporting our growing region,” she observes. “It’s one of the best experiences I’ve had in a professional association.” When Kerri is not volunteering, she works as a freelancer, producing marketing and communications videos for a variety of public and private sector clients in Washington, DC.

rian Savoie may be an award-winning writer and producer specializing in the educational marketplace, but over the last 10 years he’s also used his talents to create programming for fellow PGA members, with a focus on the impact of new technology and innovation on our industry. In 2016, Brian began serving as Co-Vice chair of the National Capital chapter and worked with leadership to transform the chapter into the Capital Region. He shares that, “Employment is a big focus right now for our region. With a large network relocating by the end of next year, our region has been focused on how the economic and employment landscape for our industry needs to evolve.” “We have all joined this organization because we recognize that we can help and be

KERRI SHEEHAN

helped by others in our amazing, diverse profession. When individuals in our Guild share what they are curious about, what excites them, or what scares them, we all benefit.” We couldn’t agree more and can’t say it often enough. Volunteers are everything to the Producers Guild. We wouldn’t have the social and networking events, screenings, seminars and workshops without the hard-working members who continually offer their time to help their fellow producers. To quote Brian: We are better together! If you are in the LA area and interested in volunteering, the next Committee Open House is on November 7. Similarly interested PGA East members are encouraged to attend the next New Member Breakfast, date TBD. Keep an eye on the PGA newsletter for more information. ¢

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R I S K TA K E R S

CHANNELING THE ZEITGEIST when personal stories embody cultural change, great things can happen

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ILLUSTRATED BY AJAY PECKHAM

PRODUCER ARRIVAL

EVERY PRODUCER HAS AT LEAST ONE “MOVIE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE.” WHAT’S YOURS, AND WHY? It’s hard to choose just one! But for me, the first movie that captured the combined power of great, entertaining filmmaking and its power to engender great compassion was Chaplin’s The Gold Rush. I saw it as a preteen with my parents at a screening at the University of Oregon, where my father taught. I can still remember where we sat in the theatre.

PARTICIPANT IS UNUSUAL IN HAVING A DEGREE OF SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS WOVEN INTO ITS MISSION. HOW MUCH OF THE COMPANY’S INTEREST IS SPURRED BY PASSION FOR A PARTICULAR STORY VERSUS PASSION FOR A PARTICULAR ISSUE? It’s an absolute balance between the two, and at times it’s hard to find that balance but incredibly rewarding when we do. Our passion is great storytelling that entertains but is also inspirational and speaks to audiences in a way that they find empowering. Our Presidents, Jonathan King and Diane Weyermann, have each been with the company for more than 12 years and deserve an immense amount of credit. They and their teams are highly adept at avoiding content that might be perceived by audiences as medicine or the movie equivalent of a plate of steamed vegetables.

WHAT’S THE QUICKEST WAY TO MAKE SURE YOU WILL NEVER BACK THE SCRIPT I’M PITCHING YOU? By purposefully going around our executives to get to me.

AS SOMEONE WHO’S WORKED AT THE INTERSECTION OF STUDIO AND INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING, WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT ALLOW CHALLENGING FILMS TO BREAK OUT OF THE “INDIE NICHE” AND ACHIEVE BROAD SUCCESS? Making a film independently offers filmmakers the opportunity to take chances not always offered within more mainstream production constructs. Of course while studios can also produce films that tap into current culture and trends, I find these ideas simply populate the independent space more frequently. Films like Moonlight or Spotlight literally anticipate and then capture a zeitgeist. It’s no coincidence that companies like Marvel welcome filmmakers coming off independent work, to help make a film intriguing and accessible to a wide audience.

WHAT’S A STORY YOU SAW OR READ OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO THAT REALLY CONNECTED WITH YOU? Recently Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal has really moved and empowered me. It’s a reflection of where my friends and I are right now and a reflection on how a cultural moment can also be very personal. It’s simply “about” our current experience, right at this very moment. Of course one cannot begin to experience all that is out there in this era of great content creation. That is the benefit and challenge of being a producer today: You have to make more tough choices than ever when it comes to what projects you choose to pursue. I have great respect for any artist who has a vision to tell a story that embraces the human condition or shows us a side of life we are not accustomed to seeing.

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GOING GREEN

STOPPING THE PAPER CHASE dead trees are so 20th century...

espite predictions that the digital revolution would make paper obsolete, many film and television production sets are still dependent on paper for on-set communication, scripts, call sheets, one liners and on-boarding documents. While omnipresent and seemingly infinite in supply, the impact of paper consumption and disposal is large and growing.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REDUCE PAPER USE? Today, an estimated 40% of the industrial wood harvest goes into paper products and by 2060, paper product consumption is expected to increase by 100%. Additionally, the Food and

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Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that current land use change is resulting in approximately 50,000 square miles of deforestation annually. When considering the aggressive rate of deforestation, and the fact that here in the U.S. 67 million tons of paper (13.3% of landfill waste) are thrown away every year, decreasing paper use becomes an important method for reducing the environmental impact of our TV and film productions.

HOW TO REDUCE PAPER CONSUMPTION Mitigating paper use is a critical part of the plan to reduce

GOING GREEN

Put down the ballpoint pen. Pick up the dry erase marker.

deforestation rates and divert paper from landfill waste streams, but how we do it and the tools we use are often unknown or underutilized. With film and television’s substantial reach and influence, the production industry sits in a unique position to set the standard for reducing paper consumption. Using these nine tips, we hope to give studios, producers, directors, eco supervisors and set sustainability champions the tools to improve set communication efficiency and document security while decreasing printing costs and reducing production paper use.

9 TIPS TO REDUCE ON-SET PAPER USE Set a Low-Paper Production Directive: Within the film and television production industry, the most successful paperreduction mandates have come from the top, down. Paper reduction initiatives should be set at the studio or production company level, so directors and producers are aware of the need to limit paper use long before a production begins. Default to Digital: When onboarding production crew, department staff and actors it’s important to communicate that all set documents will be provided digitally unless printed copies are requested. While some people may prefer having a physical copy, most individuals will switch to digital if printing a document requires an extra step. Use Erasable Boards: For in-office information sharing, use dryerase or chalkboards. Use an Eco-Font: If something needs to be printed, use a thinlined eco-font to avoid wasting black ink. Examples of eco-fonts include: Century Gothic, Garamond, Courier and Times New Roman. Print Letter-Size: Format documents to print in letter-size instead of legal-size. Reuse Single-Side-Printed Paper: Use the backside of paper only printed single-sided for set communication or other

personal uses. For example: print on the back of old script pages. Note: Do not use printed documents containing classified or private information for this application. Do Not Print with Banner or “Cover” Pages: A small eco-font header will serve the same purpose as a banner or cover page. Purchase Recycled and Responsibly Harvested Paper: Buying paper made from recycled pulp diverts paper from landfills, maximizes the use of recycled materials and discourages the use of virgin tree fiber. If purchasing white copy paper, 100% postconsumer recycled content is widely available. In the case that a higher grade or colored paper is required, look for either PEFC or FSC certifications to ensure the paper’s pulp has been derived from responsibly managed forests. Consider a Digital Production Tool: Reduce waste, reduce cost, keep documents updated and increase security by using a digital production tool or application. With the proliferation of tablets and smartphones, digital production applications like Sync OnSet, Scriptopia and Scenechronize® are becoming much easier to adopt. By declaring a top-down, low-paper or paperless set directive at the beginning of the production; educating the crew on the benefits of reducing paper use; applying paper-use reduction methods; purchasing paper from recycled or responsible sources and utilizing digital production tools, film and television productions can greatly reduce on-set and office paper use. While a daunting task at first, the decision to move away from paper-intensive methods will improve communication efficiency and document safety, decrease printing costs and reduce the environmental footprints of our film and television productions. On the path to a green set, reducing paper use is a simple step in the right direction. ¢ For more green production tips see the PEACH Best Practices Checklist available at www.greenproductionguide.com.

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C O M I N G ATTRACTIONS

PGA EAST

PRODUCED BY: NEW YORK NOVEMBER 10

PHOTOGRAPHED BY INVISION

The PGA’s biggest event of the year on the east coast returns for its fifth go-round, and its last hurrah at the Time-Warner Center at Columbus Circle. Attendees can expect big changes this year, from an expanded Producers’ Masterclass series—featuring four separate sessions (including an all-documentary panel) showcasing the nature of creative collaboration on some of the year’s most celebrated films—to a brand new series of “Deep Dives”, with seasoned authorities leading small-group discussions into such topics as shooting on location and creating unscripted content. And of course, the event will feature the networking, cocktails and sweeping views of Central Park that attendees have come to cherish.

PGA WEST

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JULIE JANATA

MASTER CLASS: UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUND NOVEMBER 1

PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAI KONKALA

What does it take, sound-wise, to achieve something artful, believable, and impressive? With insights from The Formosa Group, the award-winning sound team behind Game of Thrones, this Master Class will excite and inform producers about the importance and impact of sound, and the critical role that good sound plays in creative content. From prep to physical production through post, sound concerns will impact your budget and timeline, while understanding the creative nuances of sound can make the difference between a story that merely plays out in front of the viewer versus one that fully immerses them in the world of your characters.

MASTER CLASS: PRODUCER SERVICES—UNDERSTANDING THE “RED TAPE” BEHIND YOUR PRODUCTION NOVEMBER 3 Successful producing isn’t just a collaboration between teams of artists and craftspeople, it represents a collaboration between organizations as well. While no one became a producer because they love filling out paperwork, that labor provides the institutional infrastructure underlying all production. Featuring reps from Complete Production Group (CPG), this Master Class will not only familiarize you with the requirements for working with other guilds, unions and payroll companies, but help producers understand what that paperwork means and why it matters.

Top: Attendees network at PBNY 2017. Middle: The Power of Diversity Master Workshop, 2018 participants and co-chairs Above: Members meet employers at PGA East Job Forum Below: Members Carolina Pacheco, Rebecca Graham Forde, Anand Patel at the PGA Oscar Party

Experience an exclusive tour of Two Bit Circus, Los Angeles’ innovative new micro-amusement park! Meet the staff and hear first-hand how Two Bit Circus started, along with their plans to grow it into a successful franchise of locations around the country. Learn how the venue incorporates VR and interactive technologies as the cornerstones of their operation and discover the secrets behind their successful approach to customer fun and enjoyment. Enjoy a continental breakfast and networking with fellow PGA members, then join Two Bit team members for a guided tour of the facility and time for questions and answers. The experience ends with free time to network with fellow attendees and enjoy more games and attractions.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL Q. MARTIN

TWO BIT CIRCUS NOVEMBER 17

PGA MEMBERS: For more information or to RSVP for events, please consult producersguild.org.

THE COVER

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“I’ve done a lot of interviews in my time,” Donna Gigliotti tells us. “This one is making me nervous. Because I’m not sure, in all honesty, that I have anything that’s even remotely interesting to say.” Well there’s always that time she spun a chance encounter with Robert De Niro into a gig working as Martin Scorsese’s assistant on Raging Bull. Or that time she spent two years in Europe directly overseeing a half-dozen movies— anywhere from two to four productions on any given day— during the prolific heyday of Miramax. Or that time she won the Oscar for Shakespeare In Love, her first-ever “Produced By” credit. Or the decades since, which have seen her emerge as a champion of women’s stories, resulting in work that’s received critical acclaim, delivered huge box office numbers and scored a further trio of Oscar nominations, for The Reader, Silver Linings Playbook and Hidden Figures. Fact is on her dullest, most boring day, Donna Gigliotti is still the liveliest conversation partner you’ll have all month. Sure she’s an outstanding storyteller in the way that all great producers are storytellers, putting compelling characters up on the screen. But she’s as great a storyteller on the personal level, a legit raconteur whose years in the New York production trenches give her accounts the force, directness and rough edges of her home city. Feel free to scrutinize the following interview for Hollywoodstyle blandishments. You’ll find none. Gigliotti has built her career on the strength of her own voice and instincts, which are proud and unmistakable reflections of her Gotham sensibilities. That predilection for the unvarnished truth might be just what our business needs right now. As the industry wakes up to the commercial viability of stories about women and people of color, it would do well to listen to producers who have been working that territory for the length of their careers. Gigliotti is already banging the drum about clearing the next hurdle for inclusion within the industry—diversity among below-the-line crew. “Thirty-two percent of below-the-line on Hidden Figures were either women or people of color,” she says proudly. “That was very difficult to do but you really have to make an effort as a producer.” Donna Gigliotti knows how to tell a good story onscreen, and she knows how to tell a good story to an interviewer. But the story she’s chosen to tell with her career and the sum of the choices she’s made stands to be the best and most important one yet.

D O N NA G I G L I O T TI Interview by chris green || photography by noah fecks

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Diverse stories begin with the writer. The Made in NY Writers Room Fellowship provides mentorship and a stipend to emerging New York City-based television writers whose work offers new and diverse voices to the landscape.

Submissions Open November 2018 wgaeast.org/writersroom

COVER FEATURE: DONNA GIGLIOTTI

SO AS A YOUNG PERSON, WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH MOVIES? The movie that was seared into my brain— and I’m not unique in this regard—was The Sound of Music. Maybe I was 8 when I saw it. I remember the opening helicopter shot very clearly and Julie Andrews spinning around, singing on the top of that mountain. I was thinking, “Whoa, where am I?” The movie brought me somewhere else. I can close my eyes even now and remember sitting next to my mother in the movie theater. That movie made such an impression on me that I actually came out of the movie theater and thought that I wanted to become a nun. [laughs]

NO MOVIE HAS DONE MORE FOR NUNS, I THINK, THAN THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Mercifully I righted myself and became a film producer. [laughs] But I think that movie had a big effect on a lot of young women who saw Julie Andrews as a rebel spirit.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT’S TRUE. BUT IT’S A LONG WAY BETWEEN WALKING OUT OF THE SOUND OF MUSIC AND THEN DECIDING TO ACTUALLY MAKE A CAREER IN FILM PRODUCTION. HOW DID YOUR EARLY CAREER BEGIN? I graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and I had it in my head that now somehow or other I was going to be in the movie business. I didn’t quite know how I was going to do that. But I had three directors that I wanted to work for: in no particular order, Martin Scorsese, Robert Altman and Francis Coppola. This was 1977, and I was swinging for the fences. I wrote a letter to Bob Altman and I never heard back. I began to question whether I should leave Francis Coppola on my list, because he was in the midst of Apocalypse Now, and the effect of that film on him was not necessarily salutary. That left Martin Scorsese. By a stroke of luck, I literally bumped into a man who

turned out to be Robert De Niro. And when I realized who I had just bumped into, I didn’t say, “Oh, my gosh! You’re Robert De Niro! You’re a movie star!” I said, “You know Martin Scorsese!” [laughs] I wrote my phone number down on a piece of paper and I said, “I really want to be his assistant. Is there any way that you can help me?” He took the piece of paper. I don’t know what he thought about me. But I will say this, all props to Bob De Niro because he called me two weeks later and he said, “Marty is looking for an assistant.” I called the phone number Bob gave me and I went to see Martin Scorsese. And I said to him, “There are two things in the world I really want. One is a Cartier watch. The other is to work for you. Not necessarily in that order.” And he gave me the job. And when I left two years later, he gave me the watch with a note that said, “Go get some new goals.” I still have that note!

way Marty’s enthusiasm as a teacher extended to anybody around him. He has a vast film collection. At the time, a lot of it was on VHS cassettes. And he would say, “Here is a cassette of I Know Where I’m Going!. You should watch this movie. You’ll like it. Afterwards, I’ll tell you all about the movie.” And so I would go home and I’d watch Powell and Pressburger’s I Know Where I’m Going!, which to this day I love. And La Terra Trema, Visconti … I remember that film so clearly because it was this grainy black-and-white VHS. And then I’d come in and I’d say, “Well, I watched it. I don’t get it.” Or “I loved it and here’s why.” Then I’d get 20 minutes from Marty on the subject of whatever film it was that I had just watched. That was an invaluable education.

THAT’S KIND OF THE ULTIMATE APPRENTICESHIP. For sure.

AW, THAT’S LOVELY. JUST FOR MY OWN CURIOSITY, WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH YOU BUMPED INTO ROBERT DE NIRO? I was in a screening room—the wrong room, it turned out—and the lights were dimmed. I thought he was the projectionist. When he stepped into the light, that’s when I realized he was Robert De Niro.

THAT’S WILD. SO WORKING FOR MARTY, WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THAT? I MEAN, THAT’S THE EDUCATION IN FILMMAKING THAT EVERY MOVIE BUFF DREAMS OF. Sarah Lawrence is a terrific school, but very little of its film offerings were grounded in the reality of how the movie business works. So one piece of my education was just going through a production, which turned out to be Raging Bull. It was a matter of learning very quickly, “This is what a call sheet is. This is what a casting session is.” Learning the real, practical elements of making a movie. Maybe more interesting was the

SO NOW, WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION AND THE CARTIER WATCH ON YOUR WRIST, WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE? HOW DO YOU BUILD FROM THERE? It’s a problem for any kid that starts off being somebody’s assistant, because a lot of my job involved going to the dry cleaner and collecting Martin Scorsese’s suits. Don’t get me wrong; I was learning a lot. But when I left, what was I really qualified to do? I was qualified to get dry cleaning. So I thought, “Okay, where and how do I fit into the scheme of things?” And again, in part, it was luck. This is such a crazy story. My friend Tom Bernard called me up and said, “I have to go to this cocktail party and you’re the only person I know that would have the right dress to wear. Will you come with me?” So I did. At that time Tom had just gone to work for United Artists Classics and at the cocktail party, he introduced me to his boss. In the course of the conversation, I said I was looking for a job. He asked what I wanted to do. Now why it popped into my head to

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COVER FEATURE: DONNA GIGLIOTTI

say “acquisitions and development” is still a mystery to me. I don’t know why, but that’s what came out of my mouth. And he said, “Oh, you should come and talk to me.” So I went to United Artists at 729 Seventh Avenue and I had a conversation with Nathaniel Kwit, and I elaborated on this idea of a job that I had sort of made up. And he gave me a job. So Tom Bernard and I were running United Artists Classics. Tom was doing distribution and I was doing acquisitions and development. This is something I tell young people over and over again: When you are looking for a job, you have to be specific about what it is you want to do. The more specific, the better. United Artists was at that time was going through a very tumultuous period. Transamerica Corporation had purchased the company and it seemed like they were going through presidents every other week. After Heaven’s Gate bombed, it wasn’t a place that felt very stable. I said to Tom, “I don’t think we have a future here.” Now Tom Bernard doesn’t like change. [laughs] In case you haven’t noticed, he’s been at the same job for the last, I don’t know, 28 years. It took all of my willpower to convince him that we should pay attention to an offer from Orion Pictures. Finally, we went off to see Arthur Krim at his beautiful Upper East Side townhouse, and he made us an offer. Along with Michael Barker, who came with us from United Artists, we formed Orion Classics. We were very, very successful at that time, really the preeminent specialty division at any studio. But personally, after doing the acquisitions job for seven years, I was itching to make movies, not just buy them. So I decided in 1989 that I would take a leap. I didn’t exactly know where I was going to leap to, but I had some idea that I should start a production company. I thought that the company should make specialized films and that those films should have a top-end budget of about

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I remember Marty literally springing off the couch and saying ‘That’s nonsense! There are good actors wherever there are good actors! There are good actors in Tashkent!’ And I thought, ‘Oh, god. This is never going to go anywhere.’”

$13 million. I thought that I probably needed partners to do this. So I went to Marty and I said, “You just produced The Grifters. You have an interest in doing these kinds of films. How about we do this together?” And he said, “Yes. Good idea.” I told him I wanted to include somebody else who I thought would be a good balance—Steven Spielberg. Marty said, “It’s great! It’s great! Steven is ‘white,’ I’m ‘black’! Steven is ‘A,’ I’m ‘Z’! It’s all terrific!” So we went to see Steven, and he said, “Oh this is a terrific idea. Yes, we should do it.” [laughs] Those turned out to be famous last words. Steven told us there was a lot of independent financing out there, particularly in Asia. I thought sure, why not? We’ve got Marty Scorsese and Steven Spielberg ready to produce lower-budget, creative, artistic movies. Of course we should be able to raise money.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WINNING PROPOSITION. Not quite. [laughs] I put together a business plan. It was a year of meeting and greeting. There was one set of Japanese investors that I actually introduced to Marty and Steven. We were going to base the company in New York. I think Steven still owns the fourth floor at 375 Greenwich, and that’s where we were going to base the company. These Japanese investors wanted to know why the company would be in New York. I thought that was an odd question, so I asked, “Why does that concern you?” They said, “Well, because we understand that all the good actors are in Los Angeles.” And I remember Marty literally springing off of the couch and saying, “That’s nonsense! There are good actors wherever there are good actors! There are good actors in Tashkent!” I remember that so clearly, him saying there were good actors in Tashkent. And I thought, “Oh, god. This is never going to go anywhere.” And at the end of the day, it didn’t

COVER FEATURE: DONNA GIGLIOTTI

go anywhere. We were a little ahead of ourselves. I think that’s really what it amounted to.

From left, Donna Gigliotti, Ivana Lombardy (Chernin Entertainment) and Mimi Valdez (I Am Other) on the set of Hidden Figures

I’M SURE THAT MUST HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTING. HOW DID YOU BOUNCE BACK? I live in New York and I didn’t want to move to LA. It was 1993 and Disney had just bought Miramax. I thought, well, maybe they’re on more solid ground than they used to be. Because you always used to hear stories about how they could barely make payroll at Miramax. So I had my attorney at the time phone Harvey [Weinstein], and that began two years of another extremely interesting education in film production. I really didn’t know anything about film production and at Miramax, I was thrown into the deep end. I don’t even remember what my title was. I only know that I ended up going and spending a lot of time in Europe making a million movies in the two years that I worked there. I’ll say this: Being thrown in the deep end like that, it’s true--you either sink or swim. Either figure out real fast what film production means, or you’re looking for a new job.

I’M CURIOUS, WHAT ANSWER DID YOU COME UP WITH TO THAT QUESTION? WHAT DOES FILM PRODUCTION “MEAN” IN THAT ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU’RE OVERSEEING MAYBE HALF A DOZEN MOVIES AT ANY GIVEN TIME? I don’t know that this is an answer to that question, but here’s an example. One of the films that we were making was called Restoration, which starred Robert Downey, Jr. and was directed by Michael Hoffman. It takes place in 1665. The production design was just beautiful. Eugenio Zanetti, the production designer, had created this long passage of rooms, one after the other, on the H stage at Shepparton Studios. The design was immaculate; the finishes were amazing. Mike created a shot that was on the Steadicam, following Charles II down this long, elegant

enfilade. Harvey Weinstein looked at the rushes, and he called me up and he said, “Donna, there was no Steadicam in 1665.” That’s all he said. Weirdly, I understood that note. He was 100% right. The movement of the Steadicam felt inconsistent with the subject of the film and the style of the movie. After that one scene, it was never used again in the film. But I’ve never forgotten that because at the time, I knew that something about the scene wasn’t right. But I didn’t understand that it was because of the Steadicam. Making as many movies as we were in those days, those are the kinds of things that you’re learning, and you’re learning them real fast.

RIGHT. A lot of making movies, producing movies, is about having the big idea. Three black women mathematicians work at NASA in 1961 and help get John Glenn

into orbital space. That is a big idea. I recognized that idea from 55 pages of a book treatment and said, “I’m going to make that into a movie.” The other side of it is you make sure that hair and makeup, lighting, production design, costumes, all of those things in their smallest details have to be accurate and feel right and authentic to the movie. Many period pieces are undone, I think, by feeling less than authentic. When that gets in the way, you’ve got a problem, because the audience can’t connect to it. This goes back to La Terra Trema, Marty Scorsese. It goes to Raging Bull, the grittiness, Bob gaining all that weight, right? I connect it back to the education that I got from Marty. I can still remember him discussing the collars on the shirts of all of the actors and what those collars were going to look like. There’s no detail that is too small. I don’t know if that answers your question or

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COVER FEATURE: DONNA GIGLIOTTI

not but that’s the gist of what film production came to mean for me.

SURE. The other thing I learned was that you should never be overseeing six movies and overseeing them in the way that one did at Miramax. It was an amazing education, but it was exhausting. At the end of two years, I just didn’t want to do it anymore. But there was this script called Shakespeare in Love that I had known about for a very, very long time. Harvey had this way of trading stuff. He had options on talent or material that he would trade to other companies. Anyway he had an option on Peter Jackson, and Universal wanted Peter Jackson to make a movie for them. And I said to him, “There’s this script over there that we should get as part of the trade.” And it was Shakespeare in Love. That was really my first experience producing a movie.

WHAT A MOVIE IT TURNED OUT TO BE. It was all there on the page, from Tom Stoppard. I seriously think it would have been hard to mess it up, because it was so funny and smart and clever. What we shot was 98% satisfying. We went back in and did one day of additional shooting. That picture made $300 million worldwide and then won 8 Oscars.

I DON’T THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THAT MOMENT IT WON THE OSCAR, AND FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE CAME TO THE STAGE TO PICK UP AN AWARD. THAT WAS THE MOMENT THAT REALLY CRYSTALIZED THE NATURE OF CREDIT PROLIFERATION FOR BOTH THE ACADEMY AND THE PRODUCERS GUILD. HOW DID IT SHAKE OUT THAT THIS PRODUCTION CAME TO HAVE SO MANY “PARENTS”? Well David Parfitt was the line producer. There was me. There was Harvey, who wrote a check to Universal for $4

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Cast member Selena Gomez snaps a selfie with Donna Gigliotti on the set of The Fundamentals of Caring.

million—that was half of the turnaround costs. I think he felt by virtue of the fact he had signed his name on that check, he was deserving of a producer credit. Mark Norman had written the original screenplay. Ed Zwick was the original director when the picture fell apart at Universal. The truth is, it was completely legitimate for the Academy and the Producers Guild to look at that stage and say, “We have to do something about this.”

SO WHEN YOUR FIRST REAL PRODUCING GIG WINS A BEST PICTURE OSCAR AND IS A MASSIVE WORLDWIDE HIT, WHERE DO YOU GO FROM THERE? HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT UP AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING SUSTAINABLE? Well at least in my case, you don’t. The truth is, I made a left turn in my career that was a mistake. I think that I suspected it was a mistake when I was doing it, but Barry Diller is a very persuasive man, and I also liked him very much. He was just starting what was called USA Films. And he said, “Come and be the President

of Production and make movies.” And I did. I went back to being an executive and, in pretty short order, realized, “Ooh … that was a mistake. I don’t want to be an executive.”

RIGHT. THERE WAS A REASON YOU LEFT THAT BEHIND. Exactly, exactly. [laughs] I did that for two years, until I said to him, “I’m not happy doing this. I want to go back to being a producer.” Then there’s a long time where I went and made maybe one movie a year. It was hard. A) I lived in New York and B) They weren’t studio movies. So it was not easy to earn a living, is what I am trying to say. There are some wonderful films in there, but it was hard. I don’t know how I managed to make one film after another. It was really difficult. It finally ended after I’d produced a picture that James Gray directed in 2009 called Two Lovers. It was in competiton at Cannes and, like all James Gray films, it had a stellar reception at the Palais screening. After the screening, it was raining and we were all jammed together in the lobby of the Palais. It must have

COVER FEATURE: DONNA GIGLIOTTI

been, I don’t know, 10 years since I had last seen or talked to Harvey Weinstein. But suddenly this familiar voice was in my ear, saying, “Donna, Donna … beautiful picture. Will you come and talk to me tomorrow?” I thought he wanted to talk about acquiring the film. In fact, what he told me is, “I have a real problem. I have this film called The Reader. There is no producer on it. Anthony [Minghella] has died. Sydney [Pollack] has died.” Scott Rudin was a producer on it, but Scott’s not going and hanging out on the set. It was being directed by Stephen Daldry, who I love. And Harvey said, “Will you go to London and meet Stephen and maybe take over the film?” And I did. That took me down a whole different path, which culminated with Silver Linings Playbook. I took over The Reader, which was fairly contentious on a lot of levels with a variety of people. But lo and behold, it got nominated for Best Picture! And I have to point out this is in the days when there were only five slots for Best Picture.

THOSE BYGONE DAYS... The Reader made $125 million worldwide. I liked the film a lot. The next big one that comes up is Silver Linings Playbook, which was not an easy movie to get made for a variety of reasons, not least of which is that it’s a movie that is about a guy with a mental disorder, and it’s kind of a comedy, and kind of not. That one was really like pushing a rock up a hill. But again, worth it because it grabbed a lot of Oscar nominations, for me, for the cast. At that point in time, after Jennifer Lawrence won, I had a relatively unique distinction, which was that any time I had been nominated for Best Picture, the lead actress had always won an Oscar.

HEY, THAT’S RIGHT! [ LAUGHS ] That was great. So it was Gwyneth Paltrow, it was Kate Winslet and then Jennifer Lawrence.

WOW, THAT’S QUITE A PATTERN. You know what? It is a pattern. I mean,

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Donna Gigliotti at the 2013 Producers Guild Awards with fellow Silver Linings Playbook producers Jonathan Gordon (left) and Bruce Cohen.

I don’t take any credit for their performances or that they won Oscars. But it goes to the heart of what has always interested me: strong women protagonists. It’s pretty much a theme in everything I have done. That same quality is certainly true of Hidden Figures. It’s a pattern, it’s what interests me. And the good news is that clearly there’s a market for it. Nobody really wants to say that there is, but if you do the math, I think that my films, beginning with Shakespeare in Love, have taken in close to a billion dollars in worldwide box office. What I think that comes down to is that they’re interesting stories. But as an audience, women are now supporting movies that have strong women in them. Today it’s something that everybody has caught onto, and there are lots of producers that are trying to feature women. I’ve said it a million times, that women are an underserved market in Hollywood. The movies that I’ve made have strong women at the center of them, and they’ve made a lot of money for a lot of people. Because look, you need a certain amount of money to make the film look like it’s a “real movie” up on the big

screen, meaning it isn’t shot in one room with practical lighting. You need to have enough money to pay stars. Not their full rate, but something more than Schedule F. And if you’ve got a story that is interesting, then with what in Hollywood terms is a modest-sized budget, you can make a movie that makes a lot of money.

IT USED TO BE THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM THAT FEMALE-CENTERED MOVIES “DON’T TRAVEL” OR “DON’T OPEN BIG.” GIVEN THAT WISDOM HAS BEEN KIND OF DISCREDITED, ARE YOU SEEING A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THESE KINDS OF STORIES? ARE PEOPLE MORE RECEPTIVE TO THEM NOW? I think so. I mean, the same can be said of pictures with African-American leads. The first book that I ever optioned was in 1992. It was called Devil in a Blue Dress. I set up at Universal, but I remember Tom Pollock telling me, “You’re never going to be able to make that movie because you can’t sell it internationally.” I heard the same thing in 2016 about Hidden Figures;

COVER FEATURE: DONNA GIGLIOTTI

no foreign value. Ultimately Devil got made, and it became a touchstone for a lot of African-American audiences. Denzel was in it, Don Cheadle was in it, Carl Franklin directed it. Subsequently, Tyler Perry came along. I love that guy--he’s a genius. He understood better than anyone that the African-American audience was wildly underserved. Films like Hidden Figures and Black Panther, both gigantic hits, really changed the perception in Hollywood. Right now I have two projects that both have African-American themes or lead characters. And I’m going to tell you something, it’s not easy to find black writers right now. Everybody is busy. Their agents say, “No, she’s not available for the next 35 years. Call her then.” I ran into Geoff Fletcher, who won the Oscar for Precious. He said to me, “Donna, after I won the Oscar it was great, and I got some offers to write stuff. But now I don’t have enough hours in the day, I get so many choices.” Things have shifted. The same is true when it comes to women. Frankly I really think it was Wonder Woman that did it. As a movie, that had both social impact and huge financial success. I have the sense now that people in Hollywood understand that social relevance can turn into big box office. Over the course of the last two years, it seems easier to get a movie made with an all-female cast or female leads.

above-the-line if you have a diverse crew. I talk about this all the time, and I’m very proud of it: Thirty-two percent of belowthe-line on Hidden Figures were either women or people of color. That was very difficult to do, but you really have to make an effort as a producer. Believe me there were heads of departments on that movie who will recall my calling them up and saying, “So, who are you hiring in your crew? I want to know if there are women. I want to know if there are people of color.” That’s what you have to do in order to make this change. But it’s also a question of supply. There’s only one woman sound mixer in New York City. Guess what? She is booked for the rest of her natural life. So we’ve got to figure out how to increase the numbers of employable people. Because I’m sorry to say this, but as a producer, “taking a chance” on someone is not a Plan B. What I really want is to have a variety of qualified and talented people to choose from. It’s the next big challenge, I think, for our industry.

WELL THAT’S ENCOURAGING. TOO OFTEN IT SEEMS LIKE WE MAKE TEMPORARY STRIDES, AND THEN PEOPLE GO BACK TO HIRING THE SAME PEOPLE THEY’VE HIRED FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. BUT FROM WHAT WE’RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, IT FEELS LIKE SOME KIND OF CRITICAL MASS HAS BEEN HIT.

ONE WOULD THINK. IT’S NOT A BIG “UPPER BODY STRENGTH” KIND OF JOB.

Well I want to be very specific about this. I think it is true for above-the-line. Where it really lags is below-the-line. As producers I think this is the next arena where we really have to pay attention. But I think it’s easier to make a movie that is diverse

WELL I HOPE PEOPLE READ THIS INTERVIEW AND TRY TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME, EVEN IF IT TAKES A COUPLE OF EXTRA PHONE CALLS. It’s hard. But there should be more than one woman production sound mixer in New York. I mean, there just should be.

Exactly. Thank you. So figuring that out is a really big challenge for both our Guild and for all of us as producers.

BEFORE I LET YOU GO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIDDEN FIGURES AND SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT. A LOT OF THE WORK YOU’VE DONE HAS BEEN EITHER IMPLICITLY OR EXPLICITLY LITERARY, BASED ON NOVELS OR ABOUT LITERARY FIGURES.

BUT HIDDEN FIGURES IS ABOUT REAL LIVES AND REAL HISTORY THAT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. IT’S GREAT WHEN TOM STOPPARD CAN GIVE YOU A SCRIPT THAT’S 98% THERE, BUT HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE PATH WHEN YOU HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACTUAL EVENTS? Well I didn’t have any secret method. Hidden Figures was a 55-page book proposal. Everybody saw that book proposal, and nobody paid any attention to it. When I read it, I thought to myself, “This is unbelievable. Can this possibly be true?” Because it felt fake, to be honest with you.

YEAH. [ LAUGHS ] Nobody knew these women existed. I called six people that I know who are space geeks and asked them, “Have you ever heard of Katherine Johnson, of Dorothy Vaughn?” No, no, no. Nobody had heard of them. But I love research. That’s my favorite part of the whole process, because you’re always learning something new. You learn something about the black plague. You learn something about Shakespeare. You learn something about second-generation Germans after the war. There’s always something to learn. That kind of getting deep into the research weeds was number one. Number two was meeting Katherine Johnson. She was 96, I think, but sharp as a tack; I mean, a little bit frail, but she remembered everything. Just looking at the woman, listening to the way she spoke, how she carried herself, her demeanor … all of that informed the story. Research, research, research. The overarching rule of being a producer, in my opinion, is that you have to do your homework. If you are a good student and you do your homework, you will be successful as a producer. That’s what got us to the script of Hidden Figures that everybody signed onto. It was just a matter of doing the work.

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Veteran news producer Chris Licht finds a home at the helm of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Written by Sarah P. Sanders

“ You’re more of a sandblaster,” Chris Licht says of his work as a producer. “If there’s something that’s getting in the way of talented people, get rid of it.” A quick glance at Licht’s resume could make you think of a guy used to running things: In addition to his work with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he has been the showrunner and executive producer since April 2016, Licht’s career highlights include five years at CBS, most recently as vice president of programming for CBS News and executive producer of CBS This Morning, and co-creating NBC’s Morning Joe, where he served as the original executive producer. In person, though, Licht is insistent that being a producer is all about collaboration. Producing, he says, is “getting the best people you can in the tent and then removing anything that gets in the way of them doing their job.” Sometimes that means taking over more of the running of a show so the host (one Stephen Colbert) can focus on the comedy; sometimes it means getting rid of unnecessary paperwork for PAs; and sometimes it means providing maternity leave for employees—all of which he has done. “You can’t underscore enough that the success of [The Late Show],” he says, pausing to knock on the wood of his desk, “is really that the team that works on it has been allowed to flourish.” Licht’s regard for the whole team at the Ed Sullivan Theater is apparent. Coming to The Late Show from a news background,

the transition to late-night comedy represented a big learning curve for Licht, who says he’s learned everything he knows about the art of comedy, the rhythm of a monologue and the intricacies of working with a live audience, from the people in the building. Those people include not only, of course, Stephen Colbert, but also the creative executives, the field producers, the PAs, the writers, the digital team, the research team, etc. “You have, at every level of this organization, people at the top of their game.” Licht views a key part of his work as creating a culture in which each one of those people feels comfortable bringing their full voice and experience to the show. He is equally committed to making sure that those voices and experiences are coming from a genuinely diverse group of people. “It’s historically white dudes doing these shows,” he says drily—and he and The Late Show are trying to change that, though he acknowledges there is a long way to go. “When part of your job is to be inclusive—and you realize you have a position where you can effect change because you’re the boss—for me, it’s even more important,” he insists. “It’s part of the gig. It’s part of what you do. It really is. You can’t separate it.” In order to cultivate a work environment in which everyone feels free to speak, Licht has incorporated several structural practices into The Late Show. These include creating a comment section on their website where anyone involved can anonymously write to him and meeting with everyone across the organization in small groups once a season. But even beyond that, Licht recognizes that a lot of making sure people know their opinions are valued is a matter of behavior;

it’s “how you treat people in meetings — how you listen to people when people have a concern, when they come talk to you,” he says. “People feel comfortable based on what the reaction is when they say something.” Licht puts such an emphasis on hearing and connecting with individuals, not only because he believes in the importance of inclusivity and equity, but also because he knows that listening to new voices and ideas is an essential part of how the business works. “Every step of my career, I’ve had somebody who’s taken a chance on me,” he says. “And anybody who’s had any success has had somebody who took a chance on them.” Also he adds, it’s just practical. “The culture at this show is as important as what you do on the screen, because it affects what you do on the screen … If people are happy, then the show’s happy. We are a show of joy, so if you have people that are walking around miserable, then it’s not good for business!” Licht is adamant that, while he may be the EP, his opinions are not more important than anyone else’s. For the most part, he readily defers to the expertise of the show’s creatives and writers. “I don’t ever want someone to feel like they can bring a point of view or not based on, ‘Well, what’s the showrunner going to think?’ Doesn’t matter. Is it funny? Okay,” he explains. In keeping with that ethos, a typical day at The Late Show begins with a 9:30 a.m. editorial meeting that is intentionally large and includes people from numerous different teams. The meeting is made up of “people who read different things in the morning and have different kinds of friends,” he says, bringing an experimental diversity to the table in terms of what stories are considered and covered. The

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Executive producer Chris Licht (center) consults onstage at the Ed Sullivan Theater with stage manager Mark McKenna (left) and host Stephen Colbert.

deciding factor for what topics make it onto the air, in a show responding to an astonishing amount of daily news, is simple: “Are there jokes there?” “If the jokes are there, Stephen will talk about anything,” he says. “It’s been very helpful to have that guiding light.” In the two and half years since Licht came to the show, that formula has clearly worked: The Late Show is now the highest-rated late-night talk show in America and has been nominated for multiple Emmy awards for writing, direction and Outstanding Variety Series, while the team received a raft of separate nominations for Colbert’s November 2016 live election night special. Licht is especially proud of how the show has stayed relevant and instantly responsive to a news cycle that never seems to stop spinning. The day before I came in to speak with Licht, for example, Colbert had thrown out his planned opening monologue right before taping in order to address a certain anonymous Op-Ed that

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The New York Times had just published that afternoon. “If you’re seeing it in the news that night, we’re talking about it that night,” Licht says with pride. Coming from a news background, Licht is well-equipped for this kind of immediacy—he loves being involved in news as it’s happening. “All of my experiences that I think fondly on are when I’ve been in the mix, when I’ve been in the middle of something,” he says, highlighting Morning Joe’s coverage of the 2008 presidential election and Norah O’Donnell’s interview for CBS with President Obama right after the San Bernardino shootings as particularly memorable moments. “To be speaking to the President as that was happening, and then to leave the White House literally without a suitcase and fly to San Bernardino with her—that was an incredible experience, to see it from both sides, to cover the actual source of the news,” he says. Part of what Licht has brought to The

Late Show through his experience as a news producer is his ability to keep some emotional distance from the material they cover. When you produce news, he explains, “You do your best to not be emotionally invested in the mix because you have to be impartial, and you have to look at things from both sides. And so I’ve brought a little of that here.” Licht believes that distance provides a balance to the writers and performers on the show, whom he encourages to “bring whatever emotion and thoughts they have to the table … When you’re writing comedy or performing, it’s good to have an emotional investment in it, as opposed to news, where you’re not supposed to have an emotional investment.” But when it comes to making those tough editorial decisions on creative content, “I think it’s helpful if there’s someone like me,” he suggests, “who’s a little bit detached from the emotions.” The range of material The Late Show has covered since April 2016 has been vast and often emotional. The show provides

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“YOU DO YOUR BEST TO NOT BE EMOTIONALLY INVESTED IN THE MIX BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE IMPARTIAL AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM BOTH SIDES.” a kind of catharsis for viewers and for Colbert himself, as the jokes offer a “more palatable” way to take in the news of the day. “We are not trying to change the world,” Licht says. “We’re trying to change how people feel about the world.” Though covering daily news in a nation abuzz with political intrigue means a lot of talk about politics, Licht maintains that the show’s structure actually revolves around cultural relevance. “We’re talking about what people are talking about,” he says. “Right now politics is a huge part of what we do, but we’re not built to be a political show. We’re built to be a topical show.” However when the show is political, it is overtly so, unafraid of taking a stance on issues and, through its anchor in humor, critiquing the current administration. “I believe in taking a short-term hit on something controversial and doing the right thing, as opposed to kind of waffling and people not really knowing where you stand,” Licht says. “And luckily, you know, I work for a network that believes that and I work with a talent who believes that as well.”

No moment was more pivotal for their decision to “have a point of view” than Colbert’s live coverage of election night 2016, which Licht describes as a defining moment for his relationship with Colbert. “Stephen and I agreed: no scripts, no nothing here. Just go be you. Be raw,” he says. Knowing that Colbert felt comfortable doing so, from a production standpoint, was essential for him. “When you get that relationship, it’s incredibly helpful to producing down the road from there. You have to trust each other.” Two years later, that relationship is key to informing how many of the show’s decisions are made and values are shaped, including taking time away from the show. Licht is very grateful for his ability to go home and spend uninterrupted time with his wife and two children (smiling in framed pictures in his office), something he admits did not happen while he was on the “hamster wheel of news” and credits that to Colbert’s focus on his own family. “I remember the first weekend that I had this job, I said, ‘Well, you and I should do a phone call before

Monday just so we can get on the same page.’ And he said, ‘Well, I’m helping John with his homework. Sunday night’s kinda homework time, so let’s do it at this other time.’ And I was like, isn’t that interesting, how his priorities work. And you feed off of that.” Licht knows that this work-life balance is not easily maintained in the production world but advocates for taking time away from work if and when it’s possible. “If you have that ability to turn it on and turn it off, take full advantage of it,” he advises. That said, Licht is the last guy to be sitting back on his heels. In June he was elected to serve on the board of representatives for the PGA East, an experience he already describes as very fruitful. “It’s just been a great way to meet other producers who you can learn from,” he says. His admiration for the Producers Guild makes sense given the value he places on relationships and the open exchange of jobs. “The fact that there’s an organization that cultivates that is phenomenal.” Just think how much sand could be blasted away.

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hen I walked into OBB Pictures and met producer Michael Ratner, the question that kept rattling around my brain was: How has this guy already done so much? It’s a lot to take in, frankly. In a wildly short amount of time, Ratner has been able to go from a kid making student films, to an intern thrust into producing content at Relativity, to creating his own company that produces work with the biggest athletes in the world, to now making music documentaries, horror television, and comedy specials. And all within the past five years. Ratner is engaging and smart. This is a guy who’s thought about the business he is creating and how it can be a platform for him and his team to both be creative and profitable. He’s taken his share of gambles in a compressed timeline, and he’s been able to continuously leverage his success to grow from just being a sports content

creator into something of a mini-mogul. Ratner was a sports fan from childhood, but he didn’t set out to carve out a niche for himself in the sports world. He was making romantic comedies at NYU Film School, when a summer job at Relativity led to an opportunity to produce runand-gun material for athletes. “At the time, there was no other studio-slashsports agency that could create content in-house. There are union rules, but since [Relativity] didn’t rep directors and actors they could create the stuff there, for their athletes. It was supposed to draw athletes in by creating content in-house. But they didn’t have a practical mechanism to make that happen.” That’s where Ratner came in. While still in grad school, he was put in a position where as an intern at Relativity, he could write, direct, edit and produce content with top name athletes and release it quickly, sometimes in as little as 24 hours. This model has become

ubiquitous with the proliferation of professional digital content studios, but at the time it was unique, and with the sports angle even more so. “I was tasked with working with Amare Stoudamire or Miguel Cabrera,” he recalls. “They’re coming in, so come up with three ideas, and then create it.” This was successful enough that Ratner was offered a chance to stay at Relativity, perhaps turning this work into a profit center for the company. But Ratner took a gamble: He went back to school to finish out his degree. “I was asking myself, ‘Don’t you go to film school to get this opportunity?’ But at the same point, I wanted to go to New York and finish. My whole life was in New York, and I felt like just going and working at Relativity might not be as entrepreneurial as I thought I needed.” That early phase was not only a practical crash course for Ratner, it set the tone for what OBB would eventually become. “I love sports. I love telling

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Producer Michael Ratner consults with comedian/ host Kevin Hart on the set of interview series Cold As Balls.

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stories,” he says. “I got an opportunity where I could bring them together and do it in a really unique way. And I had this epiphany: I just spent 24 hours producing a piece with say, Iman Shumpert. And it got 300,000 views. And people saw it and loved it. At Tisch I spent every dollar I had just hustling around—six months—and made a romantic comedy that was seen by 50 people in a basement. And I thought to myself, there’s gotta be a way to bridge these things—storytelling, doing things the right way, and the ability to find a star and make things quickly on a digital scale.” Passing on a job could have been a major missed opportunity. That’s not how things played out. Instead, Relativity kept his seat warm, and he was invited back after graduating. He chose to do so, but on his own terms. “They offered me a sort of undefined executive role in Los Angeles, but I had this idea for a company in my head. I had the name OBB, which at the time meant nothing. I had the little logo. I just really wanted to build something. So I said I want to come, but I wanted a first-look deal.” This was a ballsy ask, by any standard; Ratner barely knew what a first-look deal was at the time. He got the reaction you might expect: “Whaaaat?” Ratner was looking for a measure of credibility, but was told his scheme was a tough sell. So he passed on the gig and committed to starting his own thing. Three months later? The deal was struck, with one condition. Ratner would have to uproot himself and his work and come out to LA. Things started moving quickly at that point. He sold a 30 for 30 to ESPN, and as he produced the piece he leveraged from Relativity the connections it afforded. “When I talked to a vendor? I was OBB. When I called up Sean Penn’s people to have him narrate the piece? I was with Relativity. I was able to really get stuff done.” This was all happening just before Relativity would go through its errors of stability, so there was an unusual autonomy afforded to the young producer. But he used it to make work happen, to hustle and to push his company forward.

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Interestingly, Ratner’s moment is one that could not be recreated now, mere years later. As Relativity was crumbling, there were myriad opportunities for a producer with Ratner’s skillset to get content out there. With the proliferation of platforms, Ratner says, “There had never been a bigger need for content, and the barrier to entry had never been lower. Maybe I wasn’t able to compete with the top showrunners in Hollywood at HBO, but you could be able to go and have someone take a bet on you if you were making pretty good stuff.” Ratner was able to sever OBB away from Relativity in amicable fashion and strike out fully on his own, maintaining the formula that he had developed. This was another roll of the dice: Would he be able to get deals done without the backing of a larger company? In this particularly fertile moment, that answer was yes. Among other projects, Ratner created the comedy anthology series The 5th Quarter, which connected him with a massive slew of the nation’s best athletes, streamed on the now defunct go90 platform. But it still wasn’t simple. Before he could proceed to making his own work, Ratner had to put a company together. This meant bringing in his brother Scott to help figure out all those details: employment contracts, workman’s comp, real estate ... all the things that make an independent production outfit a real company as opposed to a vanity shingle. They signed contracts with UTA and 3Arts and started working broadly, with everyone they could. Early in the process, Ratner made a savvy choice to do more than just project development. “I think I got very fearful of people calling bullshit on me,” he admits. “So what I saw was an opening for ‘concept-to-screen’ in this digital era, to make content from ideation to the moment someone is viewing it, whether it’s on a laptop or a phone. And with that, you could get something very cool done in a year, whereas with a film it could be four to as many as 10 years.” Ratner pinpointed opportunities that would be

able to go from concept to screen on his one-year-or-less timeline. That confluence of factors set OBB up to own the block on sports content. “Athletes liked us,” Ratner says by way of explanation. “People started looking good in the go90 show. People started saying ‘These are the new guys in sports content.’” But sports content was only the way in for Ratner. The man loves sports and the work he does with athletes, but OBB has become much more than just a sports content mill. Aside from the type of content they produce, what defines OBB is its people. Putting it bluntly, the place is filled with people who are very, very smart. He brought his brother Scott on board early as a co-founder, taking him away from the white shoe law firm Sullivan & Cromwell to run business development at OBB. Head of Production, Eric Cohen, is a Princeton grad who worked as an engineer at Microsoft before getting his MBA/MFA at NYU. “The infrastructure to me is everything,” Ratner says of the base he’s built at OBB. His definition of infrastructure is a broad one. It’s the ability to make work from idea to product. It’s having a space that can house a full company and also keep post-production close to the creators. It’s about being rigorous and forward-thinking in the use of analytics and how they can drive the OBB business. And it’s about having a team of really smart people that Ratner trusts to his core. A little bit about the OBB space: It’s nontraditional for a production company. When OBB outgrew its initial office space on Beverly, they decided to go big with their new home. Hence OBB Pictures now inhabits what was once Scooter Braun’s recording space in West Hollywood. What used to be Justin Bieber’s recording studio is now a pair of edit bays, where content like Kevin Hart’s Cold As Balls gets cut. They have a deck, which was blazingly hot on the summer afternoon when I visited, but felt like an ideal space to work outside or generally hang almost all year round. They share the space with

Like any good producer, Michael Ratner (with an assist from NBA star Blake Griffin) FAST BREAK knows how to keep a lot of balls in the air.

I thought to myself, there’s gotta be a way to bridge these things – storytelling, doing things the right way, and the ability to find a star and make things quickly on a digital scale.”

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the NBA’s Blake Griffin and Matt Kalil’s production company, keeping OBB close to two of the smartest and funniest athletes around. “I think we’ve got a farm system here,” Ratner says, “that can make products in-house that are platform-and duration-agnostic.” Having a team like this surrounding Ratner has allowed him to push the organization beyond its roots. And in fact he forced the company to take six months to develop exclusively non-sports related content. Were I in Ratner’s position, I would have been terrified to try to expand beyond what was obviously working for me. Instead he defined himself by expansion, and it’s paid off in numerous ways. “We’ve landed comedies. We have a horror show. We’re in production on a documentary about Jeezy. And it’s exciting as we’re now fully announced and market-facing in all these pillars.” Ratner could have simply owned the sports content block. But now OBB is more than that, and it’s growing all the time. What this does, ultimately, is free Ratner up to tell stories again. He still showruns and directs Cold As Balls. And as OBB becomes more self-sufficient as a company, he sees a longer-term possibility to get back to his feature filmmaking roots. “I want to be able to focus on projects that really, really inspire me. Where I need to use my specific voice.” Getting OBB off the ground made that tricky for Ratner. But with his youth, his fire and his business acumen, I wouldn’t put it past him to keep this company surging, while coming into his own as a full-fledged feature storyteller. So how has Ratner gotten all this done by his 30th birthday? (Yeah, he was only 29 when I spoke to him.) It’s hard work and it’s luck, and it’s timing, and it’s smarts, and it’s skill. It’s a really good team with a really savvy vision for the company. It’s all of these factors coming together in an organization that makes it work. Ratner and OBB’s story is already deep and complex. End act one.

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Michael Ratner preps for an upcoming segment with NBA star Joel Embiid.

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MAN ON A MISSION Brian McLaughlin Works to Win Hearts and Minds for Vets in Entertainment Written By Katie Grant

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know it’s a fault. I’m a compulsive volunteer, and almost always there’s not any kind of recognition. So if you’re doing it for the recognition, you’re probably going to be disappointed.” Brian McLaughlin, PGA member, producer, writer, one-time actor and proud Army veteran, has a candor and off-the-cuff humor that’s at once reassuring and refreshing. In a black vintage Captain America T-shirt, McLaughlin explains, “My parents volunteered for everything. There was a time we were at meetings probably four times a week—the PTA, the planning commission for the city, church things. They

[even] volunteered at the prison. I just do it because I feel like so many people have helped me.” As a Notre Dame grad and MBA from Boston University, McLaughlin was always a go-getter. He learned about discipline and hard work from the Boy Scouts, his time as a college gymnast and from his father, who attended West Point. That drive also came from his stint in the Army, where he reached the rank of Major, with 20 years total in active duty. McLaughlin says, “People think, ‘How can we help the veterans?’ And to me, veterans generally don’t want that. They’d rather we say, ‘How can veterans help them?’”

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Brian McLaughlin enjoys the company of a local family during an assignment as a civilian contactor in Afgahnistan.

Brian McLaughlin with producing partner and fellow veteran Penelope Korff

When asked why he chose the military, McLaughlin explains, “Part of it was, of course, it would pay for college. I always thought that would be a good thing for service to country. I thought it was good for me and I did it for fun.” He continues, “I was a business major in college, and I was going to be a finance corps officer. Then between junior and senior year, we went to what we called ‘summer camp.’ They showed us all the jobs in the Army, had us do these things, and I was like, this is so much fun.” He ended up in Special Operations as an Airborne Pathfinder. McLaughlin is quick to highlight the transferrable skills vets have that make them a perfect fit for the entertainment industry. “They bring good things to the production—strengths like leadership, teamwork, perseverance, responsibility, calmness under pressure, planning and organization, problem solving and confidence.” McLaughlin believes he already possessed those skills even before entering the military. “I think some of it is why people get drawn to the military,” he reflects, “because they have those tendencies anyway, like leadership and work ethic and organizational skills and supervisory skills. But the military rein-

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forces that.” However McLaughlin doesn’t typically lead with his vet experience. “When I got to LA, I didn’t think of myself like ‘I’m a veteran,”’ he recalls. “But then I got involved with Veterans in Film and TV, which is now Veterans in Media and Entertainment. [VME is] a great organization for networking and training, especially if you’re fairly junior. “In addition to the majority [of members] being in LA, they have New York, D.C. and Atlanta branches. So if you’re going to shoot something in those locations, then veterans can be a really good resource.” His contributions to VME include securing Peter Berg as a mentor for two veterans. Back when Lone Survivor, Berg’s true story film based on the book of the same name, was in production, McLaughlin’s PGA mentor suggested he reach out to Berg about working on the film. After multiple attempts, McLaughlin realized he wouldn’t be hired and instead offered his unsolicited professional advice on accurately filming a few of the scenes. Authenticity was a special priority for him in this case; Erik Kristensen, the basis for the character played by Eric Bana, was a friend of his. He remembers making recommendations

like, “Please don’t have them rappel or fast-rope into an open field where you could just ram a helicopter and have everyone hop out more quickly than having to go down a rope.” This garnered a response from Berg saying, “Thank you for these tips. I think we’re on the same page.” The two established a rapport. After that the director readily agreed to mentor not one, but the top two qualified applicants chosen. Besides sponsoring a few fellow vets for PGA membership, McLaughlin serves on the Guild’s Education and Diversity Committees, organizes volunteers (many of them vets) for the Produced By Conference, and helps recruit members by inviting fellow vets to the Emmy and Oscar watch parties. He’s also an organizer of the Producers Roundtables. Half of the participants at the Roundtable are PGA members, while the other half are vets who are, indeed, vetted to attend. Interested veterans must fill out an application demonstrating their commitment level in the business, complete with an essay question about why they should be chosen. One of the highlights of McLaughlin’s military career that merged his two worlds was acting as Media Production Advisor to General David Petraeus in

MAN ON A MSSION

Afghanistan, in support of the then-new counterinsurgency movement the General is now widely known for. McLaughlin produced a set of short films to educate and win the hearts and minds of the locals and current active military over there. “My boss said, ‘Go do whatever you think has to be done’” he recalls. “And [my predecessor] was making shorts so that was part of the job already. I just found other stories to tell.” McLaughlin produced a documentary about a woman from the Department of Agriculture who found a way to spend thousands instead of millions of dollars. “She was giving the Afghans what they wanted, instead of what somebody else wanted to give them, and it was turning them to support our cause like crazy. So that was screened for the Department of Agriculture and [the leader] said to the people there, ‘You don’t have to do what she’s doing, but if you don’t do what she’s doing, you’d better have a better idea.’” For most of McLaughlin’s life, film was just a form of entertainment. “I’ve always loved going to movies. It seemed like every Saturday we piled in the station wagon with the Smiths across the street, and they’d dump us [kids] off at the theater, and we watched whatever matinee they had going on. “Here’s the irony,” he smiles. “My grandmother grew up in the industry. She was an artist, a sculptor, for all her life. I guess she saw a way to actually make money off of sculpture. But none of us [kids] had the slightest bit of interest in what she did in the film industry. I don’t think I ever thought to go to set.” Madeline McLaughlin worked on the alien in Alien and the eel from The Deep, among other props. McLaughlin and his siblings would go see her movies but that’s where it ended. Once out of the Army, McLaughlin moved to Arizona for work in finance. It wasn’t until after answering an ad for actors in a local Tucson paper, just for fun, that McLaughlin ended up with an agent. His first gig was on William Shatner’s film, Groom Lake, and Shatner

himself called McLaughlin in to read. He got the part, but SAG refused to TaftHartley him on the grounds of his having no previous experience. Shatner personally apologized to McLaughlin and kept him on the film anyway, using him every chance he could. Agreeing to be an extra was an easy call. “You mean can I just go spend four days working on a William Shatner movie?” he laughs. “Yeah, I think I can do that.”

shooting at you, generally,” he deadpans. “Unless it’s a really bad play.” Early on, McLaughlin’s film community included none other than Roger Corman, who sponsored McLaughlin for PGA membership. “Patrick Roddy had worked for Roger out of college, so he sent Roger the first two films I produced and he directed. Roger loved them and said, ‘These are better than my films.’ One was made for $70,000, and he said, ‘Seems like a three

General David Petraeus and Major Brian McLaughlin

From there McLaughlin got the bug and began studying everything he could about filmmaking. He realized he loved producing the most and although he’s dabbled in writing and was a quarter-finalist for the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards, producing is where he feels most at home. He believes the storytelling process helps veterans in particular. “Some of the [vets] I know have been in plays and particularly plays that let them tell their own stories, or whatever story they want to tell. They talk about how cathartic it is, how therapeutic it is, and how being in that kind of communal environment, working toward a mission, is very similar to what they experienced in the military. But in a way that doesn’t involve people

to five million dollar film,’ which was high praise. That was Good Boy.” McLaughlin met Corman at the very first Produced By Conference in 2009 and Corman remembered his film. They stayed in touch and, “When it came time for sponsorship of my membership, I just emailed him.” McLaughlin has now produced four features and has seven in development with his company, Emerald Elephant. He continues to pay it forward, creating opportunities for veterans and young filmmakers alike—mentoring, volunteering and organizing whenever he can. As McLaughlin says, “It’s so great to be involved in everything, instead of just involved in nothing.”

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MARKING TIME The Producers Guild proudly salutes the following whose credits have been certified with the Producers Mark. This list includes films released in August and September. Certification via the Producers Mark indicates that a producer undertook a major portion of the producing duties on the motion picture.

ALL ABOUT NINA Natalie Qasabian, p.g.a. Eva Vives, p.g.a.

ASSASSINATION NATION Kevin Turen, p.g.a. Anita Gou, p.g.a. Aaron L. Gilbert, p.g.a.

BEL CANTO Caroline Baron, p.g.a. Anthony Weintraub, p.g.a. Paul Weitz, p.g.a. & Andrew Miano, p.g.a. Elizabeth Friedman, p.g.a. Karen Lauder, p.g.a.

BLAZE Ethan Hawke, p.g.a. Ryan Hawke, p.g.a. Jake Seal, p.g.a.

BLOOD FEST Seth Caplan, p.g.a. Will Hyde, p.g.a. Ezra Venetos, p.g.a.

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN Brigham Taylor, p.g.a. Kristen Burr, p.g.a.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS Nina Jacobson, p.g.a. & Brad Simpson, p.g.a. John Penotti, p.g.a.

THE DARKEST MINDS Shawn Levy, p.g.a. Dan Levine, p.g.a.

DOG DAYS Mickey Liddell, p.g.a. & Pete Shilaimonn, p.g.a. Jennifer Monroe, p.g.a. To apply for producers mark certification, visit us online at producersguildawards.com.

GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD Andy Fraser, p.g.a.

HELL FEST Gale Anne Hurd, p.g.a.

A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN Nicholas Simon, p.g.a.

THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS Bradley Fischer, p.g.a. James Vanderbilt, p.g.a. Eric Kripke, p.g.a.

AN INTERVIEW WITH GOD Ken Aguado, p.g.a. Fred Bernstein, p.g.a.

LIFE ITSELF Marty Bowen, p.g.a. & Wyck Godfrey, p.g.a. Aaron Ryder, p.g.a. Dan Fogelman, p.g.a.

THE PREDATOR John Davis, p.g.a.

SEARCHING Sev Ohanian, p.g.a. Natalie Qasabian, p.g.a.

THE SISTERS BROTHERS Pascal Caucheteux, p.g.a. Alison Dickey, p.g.a. John C. Reilly, p.g.a.

A SIMPLE FAVOR Paul Feig, p.g.a. & Jessie Henderson, p.g.a.

THE MEG Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, p.g.a. Belle Avery, p.g.a.

MILE 22 Peter Berg, p.g.a. Mark Wahlberg, p.g.a. & Stephen Levinson, p.g.a.

NIGHT SCHOOL Kevin Hart, p.g.a. Will Packer, p.g.a.

THE NUN Peter Safran, p.g.a. James Wan, p.g.a.

OPERATION FINALE Brian KavanaughJones, p.g.a. Fred Berger, p.g.a. Oscar Isaac, p.g.a. Jason Spire, p.g.a.

PAPILLON Joey McFarland, p.g.a. David Koplan, p.g.a.

PATIENT ZERO Vincent Newman, p.g.a.

SLENDER MAN Bradly J. Fischer, p.g.a. & James Vanderbilt, p.g.a. Robyn Meisinger, p.g.a. Sarah Snow, p.g.a.

SMALLFOOT Bonne Radford, p.g.a. Glenn Ficarra, p.g.a. John Requa, p.g.a.

THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME Brian Grazer, p.g.a. Erica Huggins, p.g.a.

SUPPORT THE GIRLS Houston King, p.g.a. Sam Slater, p.g.a.

UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION Matthew Baer, p.g.a. Mike Elliott, p.g.a.

WHITE BOY RICK John Lesher, p.g.a. Darren Aronofsky, p.g.a. & Scott Franklin, p.g.a.

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FAQ: THE PRODUCERS MARK those three little letters have a lot backing them up.

WHEN I SEE P.G.A. AFTER A PRODUCER’S NAME IN A MOVIE’S CREDITS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It means that according to the rules of the Producers Guild’s certification process, that producer performed a major portion of the producing functions on that particular motion picture.

DOES THE P.G.A. AFTER THE PRODUCER’S NAME MEAN THAT THE PRODUCER IS A MEMBER OF THE PRODUCERS GUILD? NO. A producer does not need to be a member of the PGA to receive the “p.g.a.” designation after their name. In many cases, the sets of initials you see in movie credits (such as A.S.C. and A.C.E.) indicate membership in an organization. The Producers Mark is different. It’s a certification mark; its purpose is to designate that the producer has met an officially recognized standard of performance on that film.

IF A PRODUCER DOESN’T RECEIVE THE P.G.A. MARK FROM THE PRODUCERS GUILD, WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR PRODUCING CREDIT? Nothing. The Producers Mark doesn’t control or affect the “Produced by” credit in any way, nor does it invalidate that credit by its absence.

WHAT IMPACT DOES THE P.G.A. MARK HAVE ON AWARDS? Determinations for the Producers Mark and for producer award eligibility are determined at the same time and via the

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same process. In addition to the PGA, AMPAS, HFPA and BAFTA all rely on the PGA process to guide their decisionmaking. However the final selection of nominees is always at the discretion of the organization giving the award. Overwhelmingly, these organizations concur with the PGA determinations, but occasionally, the decisions diverge.

WHAT’S THE PROCESS? The process is initiated by the copyright owner of the film. After the postproduction process has commenced, but 4-6 weeks before credits are locked, the owner submits a film for consideration via ProducersGuildAwards.com. Within 2-3 weeks, the PGA sends out eligibility forms to every producer credited as “Produced By” or “Producer” on the film and sends confidential verification forms to a wide variety of third parties associated with the production of the film: the director(s), writer(s), department heads, company executives and key crew members. Once forms have been returned, the PGA convenes a panel of arbiters, each of them active and experienced producers with numerous (and recent) credits, typically in the genre or category of the film under consideration. (i.e., If the film is a major studio tentpole, we try to utilize arbiters with considerable experience in making those big-budget studio pictures. If the film is a smaller indie movie, we rely on producers familiar with that type of production, etc.) An initial arbitration panel typically has three arbiters. The arbiters review all materials

returned to the PGA by the producers and third parties, with all names of individuals credited on the film redacted, so that arbiters can arrive at a judgment based on the testimony provided rather than the name recognition and perceived reputation of the producers. Following the determination, the PGA staff informs the producers of the decision. Producers who object to the decision have five days to notify the Guild of an intent to appeal. After giving producers the opportunity to add to or clarify their testimony, the PGA will convene a new panel of arbiters. All appellate panels consist of three producers. If the initial decision was unanimous, the appellate panel will consist of one producer from the original panel and two new producers; if the initial decision was not unanimous, the appellate panel will consist of three new producers. The decision of the appellate panel is final.

SO WHEN ARBITERS ARE LOOKING AT THESE FORMS, WHAT ARE THEY SEEING? The eligibility form filled out by producers asks them to indicate their level of responsibility for a variety of producing functions spanning development, preproduction, physical production and post-production. The form also includes a free-response section for the producer to more fully elaborate on the specifics of the production and their role on the film. The verification forms filled out by third parties typically ask the respondent questions related to the nature of their collaboration with the credited producers.

P G A AT YO U R SERVICE

(For instance, the verification form for editors asks the editor to designate which producer(s) consulted with the editor regarding dailies, gave notes on cuts or participated in screenings.)

WHO SELECTS WHICH ARBITERS VET THE CREDITS OF WHICH MOTION PICTURES? That determination is made by the PGA’s Associate General Counsel in consultation with the National Executive Director/COO.

WHAT IF THE PGA SELECTS AN ARBITER WHO (UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM) IS BIASED AGAINST A GIVEN PRODUCER OR FILM? The Guild takes proactive measures to prevent that from happening. Prior to convening the panel, the PGA provides all producers with a list of potential arbiters. Producers are free to strike any arbiter for any reason. Such arbiters will not be empaneled for that particular film. Furthermore, all arbiters are asked to affirmatively state that they have no interests in the films to be arbitrated that might result in a biased judgment. Even if all of those hurdles are cleared, an arbiter will be removed from the process if they or the PGA administrator feels that bias is affecting their judgment.

WHY CAN’T THE PGA BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE PROCESS? We maintain the strictest confidentiality around the identities of the producers, third parties and arbiters involved because such confidence is the only

p.g.a. way we can hope to get accurate and truthful information. Many producers are powerful figures in this industry and this might put pressure on third parties and arbiters to achieve a desired decision. Keeping those identities confidential is the only way to maintain the integrity of the process.

ONCE A PRODUCER’S CREDIT IS CERTIFIED WITH THE P.G.A. MARK, IS THAT CERTIFICATION APPLIED PERMANENTLY TO ALL OF THE PRODUCER’S FILMS? No. A Producers Mark appended to a producing credit applies to that film only. It represents the nature of the work performed on that film alone and does not “carry over” to future productions.

WHY DO SOME FILMS CARRY THE P.G.A. MARK, BUT NOT OTHERS? The Producers Mark is voluntary. Each of the major studios—Universal, Disney, Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount and Fox—has signed a contractual agreement to submit their films to the Guild for credit certification, as have Lionsgate, DreamWorks and DreamWorks Animation, Lucasfilm, Marvel, MGM, New Line and Pixar. If an independently owned film elects not to participate, we can’t

force them to submit for certification. The Producers Mark also is recognized by the WGA, DGA and SAG-AFTRA. The PGA has agreed not to license the Producers Mark for use with any combined credit (e.g., “Directed and Produced By …”)

WHO DOES THE PRODUCERS GUILD REPRESENT? The PGA is composed of over 7,500 professionals working in motion pictures, television and digital media throughout the United States and around the world.

HOW IS THE PGA DIFFERENT FROM ITS FELLOW GUILDS? Unlike the DGA, WGA and SAG-AFTRA, the PGA is not a labor union. This means that we can’t go on strike, set wage minimums, or negotiate collective bargaining agreements on behalf of our membership. As we are now the largest professional trade organization in the entertainment industry, the PGA provides numerous benefits for its members, including educational and training events, employment opportunities, social and networking functions, and a collective voice that represents and protects the varied interests of producers and their teams, including the Producers Mark. ■

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NEW MEMBERS The Producers Guild is proud to welcome the following new members, who joined the Guild in July and August, 2018.

PRODUCERS COUNCIL

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Pete Abrahams Jill Ahrens Ryan Ahrens Bridgette Ambrose Nick Bernardone Jonathan Berry Sal Carino Christopher Chapman Deborah Climie Myles Connolly Francisco Cordero Matthew Cuny Ben DeNoble Sheri Beth Dusek Jeffrey Edell Jay A Firestone Timothy Fornara Pamela Glennon Gardner Grout James Gubelmann Leah Holzer Kimberly Huber Stephanie Johnson Kevin Lafferty Elisa Lleras Kalpana Malviya 1 Jamie Martin Amy Nauiokas John Norris Jeffrey Orlowski 2 Michal Pietrzyk 6

Marcy Ross Louise Runge Errol Sadler Selina Santos Michael Sledd Stephen Stanley David Theodosopoulos Shane Tilston K. Elizabeth Tyson Brian Updyke Ronald Weisner Jim West David Wilson

NEW MEDIA COUNCIL Jeffy Can Lauren Child Bochan Kim 3 Patrick Mediate Stormie Miller 4 Bryson Pintard Joel Russo Lynne Southerland Joe Toronto

AP COUNCIL ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/ PRODUCTION MANAGER/ PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Khaliel Abdelrahim 5 Rachel Armiger Liz Edwards Marissa Ericson Deanna Goetz Gabriel Grimaldi Christine Guenther Will Halas Brittany Hapner 6 Lauren Heath Christine Holmes Robin Humbert Nicole Jackson Marci LaChance Ross Lindstrom Elizabeth Lyons Kelsey Marsh Kendall McCarthy Tommy Melvin Derek Miller Sean Murphy Felicia Rogers Sara Seligman 7 Sandra Sosa Andy Thompson Courtney Walden

SEGMENT/FIELD/ STORY PRODUCER Jennifer Antonelli Jonathon Benson Natalie Doerr Beau Grabner Robb Jacobson 8 Laura Martin

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Shira Auerhahn Leah Baker Elyssa Budd Patrick Cotnoir Elizabeth Day Allyson Kircher Amanda Lynch Amanda Prentiss

POST PRODUCTION Jessica Alan Tami Alfasi Sally Bayram Rory Brosius Nicole Juni Matthew Shapiro Christopher Verdu Tara Watts Adam Yeremian

VISUAL EFFECTS 7

Jessica Choi Andrew Lim Dayaliyah Lopez Rachel Mariscal Anastasia Starova Brian Tan Robin Williams

P G A AT YO U R SERVICE

MEMBER BENEFITS ■ Vote on Producers Guild Awards and receive discount tickets to the event, as well as DVD screeners for awards consideration. ■ Discounted registration for Produced By Conference and Produced By: New York. ■ Admission to special PGA pre-release screenings and Q&A events. ■ Full access to PGA website including events, calendar, social networking tools, members-only video library.

■ Eligibility for PGA Mentoring Program. ■ Listing of contact and credit information in searchable online roster. ■ Arbitration of credit disputes. ■ Eligibility for individual, family and small business health care options through Producers Health Insurance Agency. ■ Free attendance at PGA seminars.

■ Access to PGA Job Board, online resume search, employment tools and job forums.

■ Wide variety of discounts on events, merchandise, travel.

■ Participation in the Motion Picture Industry Health, Welfare & Pension Plan.

■ Complimentary subscription to Produced By.

LYNETTE HOWELL TAYLOR’S STAR IS RISING p. 58 PRODUCEDBY JUNE | JULy 2018

PRODUCEDBY THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA // JUNE | JULY 2018

CHARLES D.

CHARLES D. KING

KING

“Forward-leaning producers understand how to tell stories for the world, not for what they think their buddies in the halls of Hollywood want to see.”

volume XIV number 3

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THE BEST ON-SET PHOTO OF ALL TIME

SHOT/REVERSE SHOT

ome pictures are pretty. Some pictures are artful. And some pictures just make you want to ask: “Whoa, what the hell is going on here? What happened next?” This issue’s BOSPOAT is one of the third kind. We love the way it captures the weirdness of making motion pictures, the discontinuity of it, the sheer uncertainty. We constantly ask, “Did we get it?” when we don’t even know what “it” is until we see it in the footage. What the hell is going on here, anyway? Disembodied arms and hands push into the frame, the camera squares off against the gun, and the “dead body” throws off a Mona Lisa smile as it looks not quite at us. Seriously, it’s like David Lynch was moonlighting as someone’s unit photographer. The eye behind the camera in this case belongs to actress Billie Profitt. The bearded gent crammed into the corner is director Paul Overacker, who submitted the photo. Tammie Bird is holding the gun. And in the central role, as the corpse, is none other than PGA member Majorie DeHey. This was shot on the set of The Grey Conspiracy, Marjorie’s entry into the PGA’s own Make Your Mark Weekend Shorts Contest this August. Marjorie not only produced the film, but wrote the screenplay and took a key role as well. As is often the case, there was drama behind the scenes to rival the one that was taking place in front of the camera. Unbeknownst to the cast and crew, their producer had undergone surgery to remove a brain tumor the week prior to the shoot. Admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, August 15 and released after just two days (“Either a great operation or cheap insurance,” Paul jokes), a week later Marjorie wrote, produced and acted in The Grey Conspiracy. “I didn’t tell anyone on set about the surgery until the production was done,” Paul reports. “Needless to say, everyone was shocked at the news.” It’s no wonder the director says, “Marjorie DeHey is one of the most dedicated, smartest and supportive producers I have ever worked with in my 25+ years working in production.” Best wishes from Produced By for a swift and complete recovery, and much thanks to Paul for sending in the pic. ■ We know what you’re thinking. “Best of all time? No way. I’ve got an on-set photo way better than that.” If that’s the case, we dare you to prove it. Submit it to BOSPOAT@producersguild.org. Before you submit, please review the contest rules at producersguild. org/bospoat. Because no matter how great your photo is, we have no desire to get sued over it.

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