Shondaland's UPM Merri Howard on Building a Legacy Career
Setting boundaries isn't career suicide—it's career sustainability.
“Everybody has to pay their dues, and in paying your dues, it's about learning. That's what so important to me. You will get there, but you don't want to be the person who gets the job in a year but doesn't have the knowledge.” - Merri Howard
Happy July, everyone!
Welcome to this little corner of the internet where I share my musings and pontificate how we can sustain and dare I say thrive (?!) in the Entertainment Industry.
As we announced last week, this summer we are revisiting eight past episodes exclusively on our YouTube channel that helps us answer: What makes an exceptional producer?
Think of it as summer camp for filmmakers. Tune in each week on YouTube to unlock a treasure prove of producing wisdom to help you along in your filmmaking journey.
In case you missed it, here’s Episode 1 - Finding your Inner Compass with Erin O’Malley, Director and Executive Producer on shows like CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM and NEW GIRL.
This week, we're revisiting a conversation from November 2019—ah yes, simpler times.
Merri Howard came into my life thanks to a mutual actor friend who dubbed her "the most impressive and creative producer he'd ever met." I loved that he felt that way about a line producer/UPM, as there tends to be a damaging narrative that producers with strong physical skills aren't inherently creative. Cue eye roll.
It's one of the most frustrating myths of our industry and part of what led me to start this podcast—I was hungry to demystify the notion that brilliant, creative individuals can't also love logistics and spreadsheets.
As someone who's spent most of my career freelancing and constantly seeking that elusive work-life balance, my conversation with veteran producer Merri Howard left me both inspired and slightly envious. Here's a woman who's navigated 30+ years in television production—from Happy Days to MacGyver to Star Trek to Scandal and Little Fires Everywhere—while raising a daughter and maintaining her sanity.
What struck me most wasn't just her impressive resume, but her remarkably calm demeanor when describing what is arguably one of the most chaotic and under appreciated jobs in Entertainment.
When Merri walks into a room, her boss literally exhales in relief. That's the kind of collaborator we should all aspire to be.
It was a delight to revisit this conversation and highlight her once again so many years later. Merri continues to be one of the kindest, most generous, and hardworking women in showbiz.
Despite having a high-pressure job (or maybe because of it) she has mastered a calming, centered energy that makes her stand out for all the right reasons. She’s inspiring and cool and shares truly valuable insight on how to build great collaborations over a lifelong career.
Keep crushing it. Keep creating. And as always, thanks for doing this life thing with me!
🎞️ YouTube / 🎧 Spotify / 🍏 Apple Podcasts
Episode 2 - Pitching Your Career Tent with Shondaland’s UPM Merri Howard
“If you're in a phonetic, frenzied state, that's all everybody's going to see, and they're all going to see that the shows run through chaos.” - Merri Howard
These days, Merri continues to crush it. Most recently, she worked on Season 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me and is now Executive Producing Five Start Weekend for UCP/Peacock with Jennifer Garner.
Three Gold Nuggets:
1. Master the Art of Staying Calm
Merri's secret weapon isn't superhuman composure—it's strategic preparation. She doesn't work in chaos because she plans for it. Everything is scheduled, anticipated, and thought through ahead of time. As she put it: "If you're in a phonetic, frenzied state, that's all everybody's going to see, and they're all going to see that the shows run through chaos."
Her daily ritual of making and updating lists isn't just organization—it's sanity preservation. Yes, the churning happens internally, but her team only sees the smile and the plan.
2. The Coffee Run Is Not Beneath You—It's Your Masterclass
The story about the PA who brought back black coffee instead of texting about the missing soy milk was a perfect encapsulation of how we reveal our character in the smallest moments. It’s "Psychology 101" progressing to a "PhD"—every task is part of your education.
For anyone who’s been at the helm of making rushed judgment calls, this is a golden nugget of a reminder: "Being the person who goes and gets the coffee is a very important job... making that person happy because you got the right coffee, that's huge."
3. You Don't Have to Choose Between Success and Sanity
In 2019, I was single and childless, and I very much struggled to set boundaries even back then when time felt like an endlessly flowing river. Hearing how Merri intentionally built boundaries from the beginning especially now as a new mom was a necessary reminder. She negotiated being home for dinner, attending school plays, and having date nights—not as an established producer, but as someone climbing the ladder. Her philosophy: "As long as your job gets done, even in the middle of the day, if you have to leave for a couple of hours... you have to go do that because there's only one time you're gonna be able to see it."
In an industry where we're expected to be available 24/7, Merri proved that setting boundaries isn't career suicide—it's career sustainability.
What resonated most with you? Are you someone who thrives in chaos or do you crave Merri's systematic approach? I'm still working on finding that balance myself.
Coffee Meetup Series: Let's Connect IRL
I’m brewing up something special this summer by combining two of my favorite things: exceptional coffee and inspiring conversations.
There will be 3 coffee meetups for paid Patreon and Substack peeps at some of my favorite LA coffee spots. Think of it as your chance to connect, collaborate, and caffeinate with fellow producers while exploring different neighborhoods across the city.
The first one is July 27th!
Why These Meetups Matter: Sure, you'll get to chat with me about producing, filmmaking, and whatever's on your mind. But honestly? The real magic happens when you connect with the other incredible people in our community. I've watched friendships form and collaborations bloom from these gatherings.
You're not just meeting me — you're plugging into a network of passionate, talented filmmakers who genuinely support each other's success.
Our community is filled with producers, writers, directors, actors, and creatives at every stage of their journey, from emerging talents to seasoned professionals. These intimate coffee meetups create the perfect environment for authentic connections that extend far beyond a single conversation.
While we'll continue hosting our larger community mixers in the fall, I've been reflecting on how to be more intentional with my time and energy. These smaller, curated gatherings for paid subscribers allow for deeper conversations, more meaningful connections, and the kind of focused brain-picking sessions that actually move the needle in your career.
Think quality over quantity — intimate enough for real talk, exclusive enough to matter.
READ | Mark’s House Is Gone. Heather’s House Is Gone. Eddie’s House Is Gone. - A beautiful and poignant reflection on the Altadena fires by writer/producer Joshuah Bearman. Link
LEARN | 7 Ways To Live A Legacy-Driven Career - Spoiler: Legacy isn’t about titles or accolades—it’s about the impact you leave behind. Link
GROW | It’s Your Friends Who Break Your Heart - And how to repair it. Link
WATCH | 40 Acres by R.T. Thorne - Support Indie Films!
Danielle Deadwyler stars in this a post-apocalyptic film where a Black family of Canadian farmers descended from American Civil War migrants defend their homestead against cannibals trying to seize their resources. Watch in theaters! Link