This week my guest is Cassandra Johnson-Bekoe, a woman who wears many hats - among which are writer, producer, script editor and the current Head of Scripted Development at DARE Pictures.
After working as a bouncer to fund her Screenwriting certificate from the Met Film School, Cassandra's way into the industry was through the Mama Youth Project in 2016.
Cassandra was previously senior development executive at Daniel Kaluuya’s production outfit 59%, overseeing the company’s slate and generating new IP across international and regional markets. Prior to this she worked in scripted development. Her credits include “Ted Lasso” season 2 (WarnerBros/Apple+), “Riches” (Greenacre Films for ITV), “Secret Invasion” (Marvel Studios) and “The Chemistry of Death” (Cuba Pictures Ltd, for Paramount+).
Cassandra also co-founded the collective 'Black Women in Scripted' in 2020, and which currently boasts over 300 members - a mix of established and award-winning writers, producers, and execs, as well as new industry talent.
We talk about the difference between pride and self-worth, how to set your rates as a freelancer, how to adapt to working at different companies, how securing an agent changed her career, how she treads the line between writer and script editor, how she gives notes and what it means to be a warm CEO, finding community in the industry and prioritising your mental health above all else.
SHOW NOTES:
Episode 041: Alexa Raisbeck, Technician/Projectionist
Episode 040: Jess Jones, Script Editor & Development Consultant
Episode 039: Natalie Samson, Head of Production at Into Film
Episode 038: Rebecca Day, Documentary Producer & Psychotherapist
Episode 037: Cate Kane, Head of Acquisitions, Curzon Artificial Eye
Episode 036: Nicole Dorsey, Filmmaker
Episode 035: Robyn Citizen, Programmer & Academic
Episode 034: Pamela B. Green, Director, Producer & Main Titles Designer
Episode 033: Elise McCave, Director of Narrative Film at Kickstarter
Episode 032: Margaret Boykin, Director of Film Development at Ubisoft
Episode 031: Dorota Lech, Lead Programmer at TIFF
SEASON TWO BONUS EPISODE (030): Live at Underwire Film Festival with Roxy Rezvany
Episode 029: Sarah Brocklehurst
Episode 028: Jasmin Morrison
Episode 027: Rowan Woods
Episode 026: Flore Cosquer
Episode 025: Sophie Powell
Episode 024: Ellen Evans
Episode 023: Rachel Pronger
Episode 022: Sima Gonsai
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