Kara Durrett on HONK FOR JESUS. SAVE YOUR SOL.

The Indie Producing Hustle, Advice to First Time Directors, and The Future of AOP

September 21, 2022

Hi all!

Been a minute. Or rather, however many minutes are in 3 months since I last popped up in your inbox! How was your summer? Mine was consumed with fun work trips sprinkled with some personal travel. Grateful to jetset, but also very grateful to root. #homebody.

As we enter the final quarter of 2022, here's who is coming up on the podcast:

Elizabeth Cantillon - Producer of the 2019 reboot of Charlie's Angels who is now running a romance label for MRC.

Barbara Whitman - Producer of the Tony Award Winning Broadway musical, A Strange Loop. I saw this in NY last month and was blown away.

Roisin Audrey Maloney - Music Video & Commercial Producer who most recently produced Beyonce's Renaissance album cover shoot.On another more vulnerable note, this letter is a little longer than most because I'm entering a stage of transition.

Since I began the show in the Summer of 2018 (though hardcore fans of AOP will know we went live July of 2019!), I've been doing everything you see, read, and hear mostly solo. I often get a wild reaction here, like. "WOW! Incredible. How do you find the time?"

And the truth is, the lulls in my schedule when I was freelancing made it manageable. Now that I am a grown up with a full time job AND also planning a wedding (yay!), I've sort of reached my limits of how far I can go alone.So, after 4 years of being a one woman band, I'm ready to play with others.

I'm seeking brand sponsorship to hire a producer (ironic much!) so I can keep bringing you more episodes, create fun ways to connect with YOU, and expand our community. Know that I will only link arms with brands/partners/products I personally believe in and use.

Authenticity and intentionally will still be paramount!A special shout out to lovely listeners Whitney A. and Nina K. who reached out eager and willing to donate their time and expertise to help me these past few months. Their support and infectious enthusiasm puts wind in my sails.

Additionally, I'm thinking of creating a Patreon. It's scary to even write that because asking for money is hard! But, I often babble on about mental health, balance, and support on the show, so I have to take my own advice sometimes. :)For the price of $5 - $10/month, would you support me so I can continue to support our community?And hey, thanks for doing this life thing with me...

-Carolina

HIGHLIGHT EPISODE

This month I sat down with Kara Durrett, my buddy and fellow producer on HONK FOR JESUS, SAVE YOUR SOUL. The film is out in theaters and available for streaming on Peacock if you wanna check it out. Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall are brilliant together. 

Kara  is an independent film producer. She recently produced Celine Held & Logan George’s VANISHINGS AT CADDO LAKE alongside M Night Shyamalan, which is currently in Post Production. Past productions include Celine Held & Logan George’s TOPSIDE, as well as Alex Fischer & Eleanor Wilson’s SAVE YOURSELVES!We had a really good time!

 

At TIFF, Jordan reveals the secret sauce between some iconic shots from NOPE. The technology his team used could revolutionize production, making it more sustainable for filmmakers and the environment by:

- Eliminating night shoots- Increasing virtual production/decreasing location shoots- Saving the production team from additional work

READ

Elle writer Ann Friedman proclaims that hustle culture is dead. She poses the question, "Did American women’s drive go away, or has it morphed into something new—and maybe better?

I love how this article examines redefining ambition. This is especially important in the entertainment industry where the hours and expectations can be brutal; where status and notoriety are omnipresent.

INTERN PLUG

Are you a savvy social media person who has ideas to help expand AOP's online presence and create more engaging ways for us to connect? If so, please submit! You can be a young aspiring podcast producer, filmmaker, content creative, or just someone who's looking to learn more about the entertainment industry. 

WATCH

I had to shout out my boss lady Issa Rae and the HOORAE team on their hit new show, Rap Sh!t, which just got a season 2 pick up!If you missed it, it's a sexy and raw look at how Shawna and Mia, two old friends, form a rap group and  try to find success in the music industry.