Industry Pro: Production Company Executive Vice President Rachel Shane
Having grown up in Winnepeg, Canada and launched her entertainment career in Mexico, Rachel Shane now works at arguably the epicenter of the industry, a studio-based production company which makes movies with some of the top talent working today. Her story is one of opportunities wisely taken, a keen sense of when she was on the right path (and when she wasn’t), and a very brief stint as a Mexican television star. (Very brief.) Read on to get the whole story…
Current position/projects: I oversee development and production for Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher’s Sony-based Red Wagon Entertainment. Current projects include THE WETTEST COUNTY, a gangster movie set against prohibition, starring Shia LeBeouf with John Hillcoat directing a script by Nick Cave. Another very fun project is a remake of BYE BYE BIRDIE written by Lorene Scafaria at Sony with Adam Shankman.
Hometown, college & degree: I grew up in Winnipeg, Canada. I received an honors degree in political science from the University of Manitoba with a minor in theater and dropped out of law school after one year at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
Internship: My very first internship was painting sets on Guy Maddin’s (the experimental, Winnipeg based filmmaker) TWILIGHT OF THE ICE NYMPHS.
First job in the entertainment industry: My first job was in Mexico City through a NAFTA exchange program between the Canadian and Mexican governments. It was at Televisa, which I believe is the largest TV production company in Mexico. I was a jack of all trades. I worked for a producer, Juan Williams, doing research for a news show he produced. I was a PA on a soap opera starring George Hamilton (no joke). I did set dressing. I even acted in a comedy show at one point—I was the “gringa.”
What made you want to work in development/production? After Televisa, I was hired as the production secretary on THE MASK OF ZORRO, which shot in Mexico. I loved it. It was challenging and really fun. After the shoot, one of the producers asked me to come to LA and work for him while his assistant was on her honeymoon, which I did. I had taken a year off of law school, but around this time, I officially dropped out. I then decided to see if I’d be interested in entertainment law and luckily began working as the assistant to the head of legal and business affairs at Morgan Creek. A very eye opening experience, but six months in I knew for sure I wasn’t interested in the legal end of the business. But I had discovered the development world.
I started to investigate that area of the business and my first development job was as an assistant at Imagine on the film side. I left Imagine with my boss when she went to work with Betty Thomas and Jenno Topping at their company Tall Trees. Ten years ago, I started as a CE at Red Wagon and I’ve been at the company ever since.
What made you think you’d be good at development/production? Well, the production side of it is just really common sense and that came easily for me. As far as the development side, I’ve always loved to read, loved film, loved theater, loved reading plays, always had crushes on writers, so it just seemed like a very natural area to be working in.
Big break: I think my big break was working on THE MASK OF ZORRO. I offered to work for free. I did well and, at some point, they hired me officially. Being on that film opened up a whole new world and led me to what I’m doing now.
Eureka moment: Probably the first time I discovered the development side of the business.
Describe a typical work day in your current position: My job is to shepherd and oversee movies and TV shows from infancy to their release in theaters or on TV. Every day is very different. It can involve having a four-hour story meeting with a writer on a project or going to a make-up house and investigating proposals for effects or driving around to different studios to pitch movie ideas to their executives. Or even flying off to another city to oversee a production.
Worst job (or day) in entertainment industry: I’d say the worst day was when, on a movie that I was very emotionally invested in, the financier pulled the plug and decided not to shoot the most important scene in the (still unfinished) movie.
Best job (or day) in entertainment industry: The best experience was being on location for my first big budget movie, STUART LITTLE. My so-called office was in the middle of Central Park!
Best thing about your current job: The people with whom I’m able to meet and work.
Worst thing about your current job: Adjusting to the new reality of the studio system. With the economic downturn and piracy, fewer types of movies are getting made at the studios, which leaves producers to find other sources of independent financing, which is also currently scarce.
Brush with greatness: Will Smith giving me a kiss on the cheek. That was nice.
Secret of your success/advice to the newbie: Diligence and hard work make all the difference. There’s no easy ride. I think also being able to understand human nature, and connecting and relating to people is really important.
Next move: My hope is that I keep producing. I want to be making meaningful movies that people will actually go see and will hopefully impact their lives.
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Tags: Rachel Shane, Red Wagon, Sony Pictures, The Wettest County
