Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Makower.
Hi Gabrielle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Looking back on my 26 years of life, I have never felt more ready for this moment, to be going out with my first feature and launching my production company, Makower Productions. Although I may not have “made it” yet, I am living a very fulfilled life, working hard with the comfort of knowing that I’m in the right place at the right time in my life.
It all started with a love for photography at the age of ten. I was gifted a little pink Olympus point and shoot camera by my grandfather. I kept it around my wrist at all times. I would get on all fours and take a beautifully composed photograph of a blade of grass with an insect on it or something. I was always told I had an “eye,” so in high school, I launched my photography business: “Magnificent Pixels.” I became the small town photographer – charging anything between $0 – $50 for the most affordable high-quality headshots in the area!
I took my first filmmaking class in 2012. Before then, it was just me, iMovie, and my willing friends. In high school, I attended an amazing program called Freestyle Academy, which is a part-time off-campus program for students interested in the arts. By the time I graduated, I had eight short films under my belt. This prepared me immensely for film school.
I moved to New York and studied Film and TV at NYU with a minor in Entertainment Business. I worked on dozens of projects at school, not only leading my own productions but taking on producing and AD responsibilities for my peers’ projects as well. My most notable film thus far was my thesis film – The Chromo-Zone – which was presented at the Cannes Short Film Corner, Chelsea Film Festival, Burbank Film Festival, and more.
After creating The Chromo-Zone and graduating NYU, I spent four years assisting producers, writers, and talent within Hollywood. Assisting taught me a lot about the type of leader I aspire to be and gave me the access to understand what it takes to produce top-tier content for platforms such as HBO, Showtime, and Apple TV+.
As I make this transition away from assistanthood, returning to my craft of writing, directing, and producing, I feel empowered by the experiences I’ve had thus far working in this industry. I hope to be the best leader I can as I step into this important position, and I aim to inspire positive change within the landscape of the industry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course not! But that’s the fun of it.
My first few assistant gigs were quite literally traumatizing. I used to jump from fear whenever my phone buzzed – a traumatic stress response to anticipating a scolding text. But after plenty of therapy, I’m FINE.
I have worked nightmarish jobs, but I have had wonderful experiences as well. I am lucky to have mentors who I deeply admire in this industry. The benefit of experiencing both is that you learn about the type of leader you want to be.
It feels like the missing piece in Hollywood is respect and kindness. It is my absolute dream to be where I am, even in proximity to the action. I strive to work alongside hard-working people who are grounded enough to remember there is joy in the work we do.
On my last assistant gig, my bosses genuinely treated me as equals – which was a game changer. I didn’t know an assistant / boss relationship could exist without any sort of a power dynamic!
They acknowledged my hard work, therefore treated me as a producer. I didn’t spend my days running errands, I was sitting at monitors for hundreds of hours throughout the duration of production besides my bosses and would pick their brains nonstop with questions about the industry, their creative processes, agents, the writers guild, etc.
I learned so much from them. They deserve a shoutout – Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck – you guys are incredible bosses and leaders!
This last assisting gig felt like senior year of grad school. I knew in my heart it was time to move on. I learned that nobody is going to give me a career-changing opportunity, I needed to chase it and build it myself.
So I did.
I started the groundwork for Makower Productions, my production company / story incubator, and am about to go out with my feature directorial debut.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a writer, director, and producer. I’ve written three features and three pilots and have other projects in development.
The last film I directed was The Chromo-Zone (2018) which centers on Nancy, a 20-something who struggles to find security in her identity amidst a world masked behind the screens of social media. When physically confronted with her “online self,” she is forced to face these anxieties.
What sets me apart from others is that I am not afraid to take risks and I do not feel the need to conform to the way things have been done in the past. I am a genre-bender – you won’t get a comedy without drama and you won’t get a drama without comedy.
I am most proud / excited about my upcoming feature, Party Monster, which will be produced by the incredible Jonathan Penner. Party Monster is a horror-comedy. At times the story is tragic and horrifying, but the use of humor bends the narrative in a way that allows us to confront hard conversations in a tangible way. Messaging is important to me, I aim to be nuanced as I explore broader themes with my audiences.
I want this film to be a unique and differentiated experience from what one may expect from the horror genre. This movie is fearless, terrifying, and I’d like to think, hilarious.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I accept the present. I always strive to do the best job possible with any opportunity I’m given. I strive to stand out through hard work and a positive attitude. I’ve been shocked and incredibly rewarded by how far hard work and dedication will take you.
Persistence and a smile. I seek opportunities, I don’t wait for them to come to me.
And I will never give up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gabriellemakower.com
- Instagram: @makowerproductions
- Twitter: @gabmakower
