“Part of being a producer is the unwavering faith and ability that you have the skillset to make something out of nothing.” - Jamal Watson
Goood morning!
As we head into a (hopefully) quiet and (mostly) restful Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to share these gems from producer Jamal Watson. He stopped by the show a few months ago to promote Him, a film that even though critics were not kind to, I appreciated (and I’m far from the key demo).
Having just listened to a fantastic Mel Robbins podcast episode on why young men are quietly giving up and what to do about it certainly framed the film for me.
As a boy mom, these topics interest me greatly. The episode helped reconsider the way I see the men in my life…and hopefully will help the men who listen reflect on how they see themselves. I’m still dying to dissect the movie with someone, so if that’s you, hit me up!
During our recording, Jamal shared two pieces of hard earned wisdom that every producer should keep close, which is exclusive for paid supporters. It was fascinating and inspiring to learn that Jamal started marking films to literally “figure out how not to die.”
ICYMI —> Workshop: Producers Unplugged
Before we get into that, I wanted to share our upcoming virtual workshop on 12/6 from 10A-1230P PST for anyone designing their 2026 project slate. Details on how to sign up here.
This workshop will bring together six brilliant minds who are actively redefining what sustainable production looks like—from Jesse Ozeri (fresh off The Brutalist) to Alice Ma (who’s pioneering web3-driven storytelling with Mad Realities) to Victoria Fäh (financing powerhouse behind A24, MK2, and XYZ Films).
We’ll dig into:
Curating a slate that’s both creatively ambitious and financially sustainable
The emerging financing models worth paying attention to
The tools to help manage the chaos of multiple projects
Now Back to Jamal…
His journey from South Central to Hollywood executive truly exemplifies the power of storytelling to transform lives. After finding inspiration in film during his youth, he started at Sony Pictures as a tour guide in 2003, building industry connections that would prove invaluable.
His career accelerated through roles at Deluxe Film Services and a pivotal 2010 internship at Overbrook Entertainment, where he spent a decade rising from intern to Vice President. During this time, he produced acclaimed projects including Disney’s Aladdin and Netflix’s Amend.
One of his proudest accomplishments is challenging Will and Jada to be a part of the solution and amplify indie filmmakers. Out of that, he was able to champion Storm Saulter’s Sprinter (BFF winner, African Academy Award nominee) and Minhal Baig’s HALA (Sundance and TIFF selection).
At Monkeypaw Productions, Jamal continued uplifting diverse voices through projects like the Scare Tactics reboot and the film Him, which premiered this past September. The film was an interesting conversation around toxic masculinity. It was bold and took risks. According to BoxOfficeMojo, it grossed $27.8 worldwide and broke even, depending on their P&A spend.
Jamal‘s trajectory demonstrates how passion for storytelling, combined with strategic relationship-building and unwavering dedication, can create pathways to success in Hollywood’s competitive landscape.
Here are his gems
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