Producers' Happy Hour

In This Episode: Covid Protocol Filming Tips Sister Christian and Lawrence give their tips for filming under current Covid Protocols. We all know the AICP gold standard Covid safety guidelines, but navigating those on a real job can reveal many unanticipated surprises. Sister Christian's Tips: • Expectations - Start managing everyone's expectations from the start. Not only Agency and Client, but a...

In this episode: Pre-Covid Interview with Susan Linns, Production Designer We flashback to the Pre-Covid days and one of our vaulted episodes! We interview NY based Production Designer Susan Linns. Susan redefined the aesthetic of hip hop and pop music videos throughout the 90's and 2000's, working closely with the likes of Hype Williams, Kanye West, Notorius B.I.G., Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Missy El...

In this episode: Pre-Covid Interview with Romeo Santiago, Location Manager We flashback to the Pre-Covid days and one of our vaulted episodes! We interview LA Location Manager Romeo Santiago and learn about how to best support a Location Manager, and what they need to do their best job. We also chat about the new era of film production and filming during a pandemic. SAG-AFTRA’s Unite for Strength...

In this episode: Interview with Max Normand, PA & AD Max Normand currently resides in North Hollywood. I've been around the film industry virtually my whole life. His father, David Normand, is a 1st AD so he grew up on set and was handed his first walkie at 12 years old. Since then he's PA'd countless jobs, and has moved up to the AD department. He was recently on a shoot that was shut down du...

In this episode: Interview with Josh Jupiter & Teddy Yoon, Covid Compliance Officers Josh Jupiter is a NY Producer/Production Supervisor, and Teddy Yoon is a NY Location Manager. Both are now certified Covid Compliance Coordinators and worked together on a recent shoot. We learn from them what worked and what didn't work, and the bigger issues with production working through this pandemic. Fac...

In this episode: Interview with Lindsey Clough & On Set Safety Today we are chatting with Lindsey Clough who is a union Costumer and has worked in commercials for 15 years. She has been holding Zoom calls with the film community called “Safe Return to Set”, and she has recently completed a full scale job and has a lot to say. Urgent Letter to our Union Leadership https://docs.google.com/forms/...

In this episode: Interview with Paul Papanek & what film production looks like today. Paul Papanek has freelanced as a TV commercial executive producer, line producer, and 1st AD for over 30 years, and from 2010 - 2016, was a senior advertising production consultant at one of the largest consultancies around. Paul produced a shoot for Kia on location in Moab, in May. Way before any safety guid...

In this episode: Greg Jones discusses producing a full-scale shoot, safely. Greg Jones has been a line producing for about 15 years working on national campaigns for major brands such as Google, Visa, Apple, Geico, Hotels.com, and Amex just to name a few. Greg started as a music video Production Manager in the glory days of HSI (Paul Hunter, Hype Willams, Sam Bayer). He started producing music vid...

In this episode: Prepping a Job & Removing the Fear Sister Christian describes the process of prepping a job during a pandemic and all the considerations that need to be made to keep the crew safe. From testing to HIPAA compliance to contact tracing, she's shedding some light on the vast amounts of work involved in these modern filmmaking times. HIPAA & Covid-19 https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/f...

In this episode: Jason Manz, Producer & 1st AD Jason Manz fell into the industry by accident in 1998. He came up through the ranks of production on both coasts. In his early years as a production manager, he always shared an affinity for the duties of the assistant directors and the mechanics of running the set, so he joined the DGA in 2004.  Today as a producer and 1st assistant director, he...

In this episode: Chris Aiola, Story & Post Producer Chris Aiola is a New York-based story and post producer with over a dozen years of experience producing documentary, non-scripted, and competition series. His work has aired on Netflix, History, TLC, and Nat Geo, among others.  His most noteworthy project in this moment is the 6-part Netflix series Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak, which...

In this episode: Matt Faris, Agency Producer Matt Faris is a veteran producer of national work for brands including Wal-Mart and McDonalds, Matt joined 22squared from Bernstein-Rein in 2007. He went on to restructure the Broadcast, Interactive and Print Production departments to create the agency's first Integrated Production Department. Tasked to rebuild the production department at Havas Worldwi...

In this episode... As we explore a new voice for our podcast, we are flashing back to early 2020 when we recorded what was meant to be our Original Episode 4. This is a pre-Covid episode. We were brand new to podcasting, and we were on the hunt for what it means and what it takes to be a “good” producer.  Our interview guest was Jordan Levy who has been a cinematographer for over 20 years in comme...

In this episode... Mercedes Allen-Sarria is Helo’s Director of Production and Immersive Content in Los Angeles, overseeing production for all of the company’s commercial and experiential projects. A longtime producer and volunteer with AICP, she’s spent her entire career fostering relationships between production, agencies, directors, unions, and the commercial industry at large. Before Helo, Merc...

In this episode... While the US experiences social unrest, we wait for further instruction on the next stage of re-opening, and guidelines to film production. People are watching more television these days. But companies are spending less time, effort and money on TV ads. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/business/media/coronavirus-advertising.html Email us at producershappyhour@gmail.com Topics...

In this episode... We jump back in time again to our original Episode 2. This is another pre-Covid episode. We were brand new to podcasting, and we were on the hunt for what it means and what it takes to be a “good” producer. We interview Cheryl Ward, a Content Production Consultant at BBS with a 20+year career in film and advertising production. SAG-AFTRA, The DGA, and IATSE issued the following...

In this episode... Today is our 4th Crew Safety Roundtable. Today we focus on Producers. Our guests: Nan Pattridge Producer http://www.nicelittlepicture.com/ Sara Bailin Producer https://www.sarabailin.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sbailin/?hl=en Alanna Dillon Producer www.alannadillon.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alanna_dillon/?hl=en Unions are struggling to agree on film production guidelines...

In this episode... We reflect on over 40 hours of content we produced since the beginning of the pandemic and how we feel we have connected to our filmmaking community and learned so much more than we ever expected we could by starting this podcast. Thanks to all our listeners! California Guidelines for TV Production coming Monday https://www.indiewire.com/2020/05/hollywood-safety-white-paper-film...

In this episode... Today we are jumping in our time machine and going back to the top of the year when we recorded our original Episode 2. This is pre-Covid. We were brand new to podcasting, and we were on the hunt for what it means and what it takes to be a “good” producer. We interview Emily Plunket Fleischer a film industry pro who worked her way from PA to Producer, and worked with some of the...

In this episode... Today we are chatting with Eric Korsh who is the current President of Scout Productions which is an Emmy and Academy Award-winning production company known for groundbreaking television series and films such as Queer Eye, Fog of War, and their new show Legendary. LA County could see all businesses open as early as July 4th https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/la-county-leaders...

In this episode... We chat with Shad Melvin who is a 1st AD based in NY. He gives us his unique perspective from the non union workforce on how we can all safely move forward and get back to work safely. Join our Crew Safety Roundtable so Producers and Production Companies can hear your voice on what you need to see for set safety in order for you to feel comfortable enough to return to work. Emai...

In this episode... Today is our 4th Crew Safety Roundtable. Today we focus on Department Heads. Our guests: Jordan Levy Cinematographer http://radiantartists.com/jordan-levy/ Noel McCarthy Production Designer http://noelmccarthy.net/ David Chapman 1st & 2nd Assistant Director dchap28@yahoo.com For NY Unemployment Assistance: The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo of New York State NYS State Capitol Bui...

In this episode... André M. Zachery is a Chicago bred and now Brooklyn-based interdisciplinary artist, scholar, and technologist with a BFA from Ailey/Fordham University and MFA in Performance & Interactive Media Arts from CUNY/Brooklyn College. He choreographed and shot this amazing video: Just Past and Beyond: https://vimeo.com/409295769 Just Past and Beyond is a dance film responding to not...

In this episode... Scott Robinson is an Executive Producer at RFI Media Productions, a NYC based production service company working mostly with international clients producing commercials with a stable of wonderful directors. He has also created as well as hosts a live variety show on Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 8pm EST: Dispatches from the Social Distance. https://www.facebook.com/watch/rfinyc/15916...

In this episode... Today is our 3rd Crew Safety Roundtable. Today's guests: Randi Hokett Set Decorator (LA) randi.hokett@gmail.com Jeremy Bentivegna Propmaster (LA) jbentivegna@sbcglobal.net Pilar Reynaldo Set Decorator (LA) maripilim@gmail.com https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/coronavirus-tv-lockdown-networks-cnn-cbs-pbs-nbc-1234599864/ Join our Crew Safety Roundtable so Producers and Production C...