Indie Film Producer Mynette Louie On Failures and Longevity

The Entrepreneurial Spirit of Indie Film Producing

February 02, 2021

Oh hey, it's February!

While January felt 45 days long, I am happy we've finally made it here.

Kicking off a this very important month with an incredible conversation with producer Mynette Louie. I've admired her career from the sidelines for years and it was a delight to spend this hour shining a light on her journey.

We dissect how failures are actually just lessons and why the indie producer hustle never ends...even when you are lucky enough to ink a first look deal with Topic Studios. I can't wait to hear your takeaways!

Stay tuned for episodes with inspiring producers such as:

  • Paige Simpson

  • Lynette Howell Taylor

  • Christine Vachon

-Carolina

HIGHLIGHT EPISODE

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"Independent producing is very entrepreneurial. You create something from nothing and you keep doing it. I'm sort of addicted to that, to imagining what a movie would be. It's almost like you have a dream and you make it real."

- Mynette Louie

Mynette Louie is an Emmy-nominated, multiple Spirit Award-winning producer. Movies are her love language. 

A few of her movie credits include:

  • Heidi Ewing’s I Carry You With Me (Sony Pictures Classics, Winner of Sundance 2020 NEXT Innovator & Audience Awards, New York Film Festival selection)

  • Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Gotham Award-nominated Swallow - Streaming on Hulu

  • Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour's Black Box (Amazon Studios/Blumhouse)

Knowing no one in the film industry, Louie left a career in corporate American to pursue a career in film at age 28. She earned her stripes by producing three NYU Tisch graduate thesis films–all written and directed by women–though she did not attend the school.

She was previously the President of Gamechanger Films, a financing company that financed women-directed narrative features. She also worked at the Hawaii Film Office, where she authored the state’s production tax credit, oversaw the $7.3 million renovation of the state-owned film studio, and developed programs to foster local independent filmmaking.

A native New Yorker, Louie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University, where she studied Chinese literature and film.

PRODUCER'S CORNER

Bernadette Rivero, President and Executive Producer at the, The Cortez Brothers, is badass. She put together an immensely helpful document on breastfeeding while on production. It includes tips for producers on how to support a breastfeeding mom on your project/team as well as guidance if you happen to be a breastfeeding mom. 

If you have nursing tips to share, please ping Bernadette directly

READ

 by Cicely Tyson.The legendary actress, who passed last week, broke many barriers, leaving behind an elegant legacy. As Black History Month begins, take some time to learn more about her life, her struggles and her achievements.

“In her long and extraordinary career, Cicely Tyson has not only succeeded as an actor, she has shaped the course of history.” 

– President Barack Obama, 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony.

DISCOVER

Alan and Alex Morales are the home grown Angeleno brother duo behind Civil Coffee, one my favorite places in LA.  From their single origin offerings to their delicious speciality drinks, like The Arroyo made with the best darn lavender syrup you’ve had, going there is like going home.So, as LA reopens, it's a good day to be civil and support your local small business. If you are in the area, please pop by and and pick up a a tasty treat!

WATCH

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

ammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.

Produced byJess Wu Calder, Keith Calderand Jody Klein