🏕️ Summer Camp + Coffee Meetups ☕
“What we’re doing is really worthwhile. And it’s so worth doing well, but it’s never worth doing disrespectfully.” - Erin O’Malley
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.
While our team takes a well-deserved summer break, we couldn't bear to leave you without new content! We've curated eight weeks of special episodes exclusively on our YouTube channel that dive deep into our show's core mission and the questions that drive everything we do: What makes for an exceptional producer?
Think of it as summer camp for filmmakers. Tune in each week to unlock a new producing lesson with one of your "camp counselors" — industry veterans who have seen and done it all, from writers to producers to showrunners and everyone in between. By the end of summer, you'll have unlocked a trove of producing wisdom to help you along in your filmmaking journey.
But first…
BIG WINS FOR CALIFORNIA!
After much work by many behind and in front of the scenes, today we celebrate the final step in a huge win for filmmakers as legislators passed the bill expanding the state’s film and TV tax incentive!
Huge Improvement: California's base credit rate for productions is jumping to 35%, with shoots relocating from other states and countries eligible for up to 40%. This is massive.
More Money in the Pot: The program's annual cap increased from $330 million to $750 million, which more than doubles the available funds.
Expanded Eligibility: The legislation also expands the kinds of productions that are allowed to qualify to include animation, 20-minute television programs and large-scale competition series with budgets of at least $1 million.
Why This Matters: On-location shoot days in the first quarter of 2025 were down more than 22% compared to the same period one year earlier. We've been hemorrhaging production to other states and countries, and this is California finally fighting back with real incentives.
The Timing: The passage comes just days before a July 7 application deadline for productions seeking to take advantage of California tax credits. This isn't just about big studios - as Assembly member Chavez Zbur put it, this represents "a comeback for workers, a comeback for small businesses, and a comeback for the beating heart of California's creative economy."
For indie producers and emerging filmmakers, these expanded credits could be the difference between shooting your project here at home versus taking it elsewhere.
This is very good news, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Eager to be a part of the movement continuing to keep production in Los Angeles!
Coffee Meetup Series: Let's Connect IRL
I know I've been quiet on the meetup front lately, but I've been brewing up something special (pun intended). This summer, I'm combining two of my favorite things: great coffee and even better conversations with all of you.
What's Happening? I'm hosting three 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.
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.
Summer Camp Series: 8 Weeks of Producing Wisdom
As we teased above, this summer we are revising 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 and by the of summer, you'll have unlocked a trove of producing wisdom to help you along in your filmmaking journey.
Episode 1 - Finding your Inner Compass with Erin O’Malley
“What we’re doing is really worthwhile. And it’s so worth doing well, but it’s never worth doing disrespectfully.” - Erin O’Malley”
We're going way back to the early days of AOP – to a time when our show was called LIFE WITH CACA (iykyk) – when I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Executive Producer + Director Erin O'Malley for the 50th episode of the podcast.
For years, Erin served as Executive Producer for shows like CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM and NEW GIRL, and since our chat back in 2020, has cemented herself as a director as well.
In our conversation, Erin talks about using her internal compass to navigate her way through the industry, and how she went from dreaming about being a director to directing shows like GOOSEBUMPS, THE CROSSOVER, SINGLE PARENTS, and more.
Erin is truly a joy and an inspiration, and we couldn't think of a better guest to kick off a summer of learning, sharing, and delighting in each other's wisdom. Tune in to learn how you can hone your internal compass, and earn your navigation badge along the way 🧭
Have a wonderful 4th of July holiday and see you all next week!
xx Carolina
