Interview with Producer Natalie Camou

I was recently able to get a hold of Blue Chalk Media's Natalie Camou about what her experiences have been working in the film industry. Here's what she had to say:

(Q) Is directing your main title? Or do you like to take on other roles like producer or an editor? Is it important to be diverse in skills, or better to stick to one job?

(N) My main title at Blue Chalk Media is "producer." As a producer for documentary projects you often take on many of the responsibilities one would normally associate with the role "director." We often pitch the idea as you'd imagine a journalist pitching an idea for a story. Once our pitch is approved we move onto pre-production which involves several days of phone calls and emails. This correspondence is necessary to confirm your subjects ahead of time for any given story you may be filming. Often times these contacts will determine the timeline for when the piece can be filmed and the length of time it will take to produce. As the producer, we also oversee the edit of the film after the fact and carry it all the way through to completion. Sometimes I work as an editor, but only the projects of others. Blue Chalk is quite fond of the collaborative environment where all can contribute, but once you've been assigned a role for a particular project you tend to carry out the responsibilities of that role to the very end.

(Q) What motivated you to enter the film industry?

(N)The desire to change the sensibilities of others drove me to enter the film industry. I believe there are very few mediums as immersive as film.

 

(Q) How have you found ways to work with new people for new projects?

(N) Every project is an invitation to work with new people. If I think to the past five projects I worked on each had a different director of photography, editor, and was filled with different people as it pertained to different subject matter.

(Q) Where have you been successful in finding funding for your projects?

(N) I work for a production company, so my burden of finding funding is quite light. The company has several people dedicated to the pursuit of new clientele. The quality of our portfolio allows us to get the high paying clientele we need to cover the costs of staff and passion projects.

(Q) What advice would you give to students looking to become a director, or just entering the field in general?

(N) If you are considering becoming a director welcome every opportunity to work in as many different roles as possible on a set, including that of a lead actor. One cannot know how to manage such people until they've experienced what it is to be in those roles. Taking on the role of lead actor can also be most instructive in honing your ability to elicit true, authentic emotions before the camera. My second bit of a advice is take from Aristotle's Poetics, always remember to serve the story not yourself.