352 - Tips & Tactics for Producing an International Documentary - Indie Talk feat. Director Maggie Contreras and Producer Charity Wakefield

The MAKE IT Podcast

Hello, Hello!

In this special edition of Indie Talk, we miss Bonsai Nick but bring on two fantastic guest hosts. Director and Producer Maggie Contreras (https://instagram.com/maggiecontreras) and Actress and Producer Charity Wakefield (https://instagram.com/charitywakefield). Both worked on the incredible documentary Maestra, Executive Produced by David Letterman’s Production company, Worldwide Pants. We talk about:

• Pros and cons of filming in Cuba
• Why Producers are elite problem solvers
• How they got access to the musicians featured in their film Maestra
• What steps are required to produce in France effectively
• The tricks to getting the most out of a cast and crew
• The need for a Documentary Filmmaker union
• Producer Papa Bear once again stumps and educates us with an all-new Things We Should Know
• and much more...

Enjoy!

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The MAKE IT podcast amplifies the voice of the filmmaker by exploring the filmmaking journeys of actors, writers, directors, producers, and a host of other creatives from across the film industry. We provide a platform for filmmakers to provide advice, lessons learned, personal reflections, and insights through our Filmmaker Conversations, Mistakes in the Making, Industry Insights, Indie Talks, and Film Investment Series. We are the go-to film podcast for independent creatives!

More on Charity Wakefield

Instagram - @charitywakefield

Twitter - @charitywakefld

CHARITY WAKEFIELD’s resumé boasts a colorful spectrum of critically and commercially acclaimed work that illustrates her fantastic talent.

Charity stars in Hulu Original drama series THE GREAT, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. Written and executive produced by Tony McNamara (The Favourite) and directed by Matt Shakman (Game of Thrones, Succession), the series charts the rise to power of Catherine the Great and her explosive relationship with her husband, Peter, the emperor of Russia. The series has been nominated for Golden Globe, SAG, Emmy, MTV, and BAFTA Awards.

Since playing the romantic ‘Marianne Dashwood’ in the BBC mini-series of Jane Austen’s celebrated SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, she has appeared in some of our most noteworthy productions, including the critically acclaimed Channel 4 drama ANY HUMAN HEART, the Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated WOLF HALL, THE HALCYON (ITV), Ron Howard’s Emmy nominated GENIUS (Nat Geo); CLOSE TO THE ENEMYdirected by Stephen Poliakoff for BBC2, the global phenomenon DOCTOR WHO; playing opposite Jack Whitehall in Sky One’s BOUNTY HUNTERS, an ‘action-comedy-drama’ also starring Oscar nominee Rosie Perez. International projects include working alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in the Susanne Bier-directed SERENA, crime thriller THE PLAYER for NBC with Wesley Snipes, and supernatural drama MOCKINGBIRD LANE also for NBC.

Charity made history as the first woman to play Shakespeare at The Globe Theatre, London, in Nicole Charles’s ‘exhilarating’ all-female production of EMILIA, which had a West End transfer to the Vaudeville Theatre. Additional theatre credits include a ‘beautifully executed’ (LA Times) THE CHERRY ORCHARD at the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre, SEMINA, THE BLACKEST BLACK and NO NAUGHTY BITS all at the Hampstead Theatre; CANDIDA at the Theatre Royal Bath and THE RIVALS with Celia Imrie at the Southwark Playhouse.

As a producer, Charity’s credits include the female-led, jet-black comedy A SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO LIFE, which was long-listed for the Breakthrough Producer award at the 2019 British Independent Film Awards and can be viewed on all VoD sites (Apple TV, Itunes, Amazon, BT, Virgin, etc). Additional producing credits include short films WRAPS, which is now being made into a feature, and MEMENTO VITAE.

More on Maggie Contreras

Instagram is @MaggieContreras @MaestraMovie

www.MaggieContreras.com

Maestra is a new feature documentary following five internationally-based women as they prepare for and perform in ‘La Maestra’—the only competition in the world for female orchestra conductors. Personal stories of survival, passion, and perseverance are woven together with the drama and excitement of this one-of-a-kind event created to break yet another glass ceiling for women. Maggie Contreras' directorial debut had its world premiere in competition at the 2023 Tribeca Festival, where it won an audience award.

Previously, she was the producer behind documentary films tackling a wide range of topics, from comics to solar energy. Jonathan Scott's Power Trip (PBS Independent Lens ‘20) is the titular HGTV celebrity and activist's journey across the USA to examine the antiquated utility monopoly system and how solar holds the key to energy freedom. In 2017, Gilbert also premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was distributed by Gravitas Ventures with exclusive SVOD on Hulu. Her work has been seen on AMC, NFL, and Quibi.

Whether it’s working with brands or in the field on her next film, Maggie is fueled by the power of true stories.

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