Life and Work with Olivia Charmaine Morris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Charmaine Morris.

Olivia Charmaine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
A lot of my friends and colleagues call me “O.” Though I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, I was born in Los Angeles and a lot of my dad’s family are California natives. I always felt pulled to this city, and this industry in particular, even at a very young age. I mean, my fifth birthday was Hollywood themed, and I apparently asked my mom to teach me cursive in preschool because I had a dream where I stepped out of a limo and didn’t know how to sign my autograph. If that doesn’t sound like a calling, I don’t know what is!

I was an actor and musical theater performer from childhood up until I went to college when I decided to pursue an understanding of the business side of the entertainment industry. I received my BFA in Film & TV Production from New York University. After graduating from Tisch, I began my career specializing in girls’ media, the business side of animated content, and comedy development. I’ve been bouncing between New York and LA for a decade, and the city will always hold a piece of my heart.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome? Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
I loved working in the kids’ space because children are so deeply fascinating, and the way children relate to the world around them has changed dramatically with social media. Kids used to keep up with the Joneses – their neighbors were the same kids on the school bus and running around with them after school. Now, they are globally connected from an increasingly young age, and as Mister Rogers said, the space between the child and the screen is sacred.

That said, I didn’t totally love my early years as an assistant at the bigger animation houses. I went to NYU on an MLK Scholarship, which was awarded to students who were actively involved in shifting their communities. While other alumni were aiding refugees or raising awareness about climate damage, I felt like all of my shows were only designed with one goal in mind: selling toys and other merchandise. Though my understanding of business was much greener at the time, I knew that it felt really gross, and I was left unsatisfied.

After some disillusionment with the machine, I dug back into my activism roots and began developing innovative business models for content creators with an agenda to tilt the Earth’s axis, if only slightly, towards good. I believe that media should be as empowering as it is entertaining, and I gained a creative edge by highlighting “media with a message.” I will always encourage everyone, especially women, to have clearly set, personal values and boundaries before navigating this field. The road will get rocky, and it’s imperative to have a strong foundation with a deep inner well to tap into. This industry wasn’t built for minorities of any kind to thrive, so creating safe spaces for ourselves, seeking mentorship, and pulling up others as you climb is critical for success.

Please tell us about TBS/TNT/truTV.
Most people aspiring to work in Hollywood have a working understanding of the different career paths, including access points and barriers for entry, for above-the-line roles (directors, producers, writers and actors), but many people don’t understand what a development executive does, or that our roles even exist. Whenever someone has a TV show idea to pitch, we’re the suits sitting on the other side of the table deciding if we want to buy it. We scour comedy clubs and festivals looking for fresh talent, new comedic voices, and interesting takes on show concepts. We hire writers to fill the writer’s room, oversee casting approvals, and give our creative notes every step of the way into production and beyond.

While some companies separate projects into two teams – development (new) and current (ongoing) – I function as both at my organization. This means that I stay on as a covering executive for the entire life of the show, serving as the liaison between all departments, including post-production, marketing, public relations, legal, digital, and social. If it involves the show or its talent, it goes through me or my team. In my current role, I’m continuing to expand my love for all things funny and socially relevant as part of tbs/TNT/truTV’s original scripted programming development team. Like Warner Bros., HBO, and Cartoon Network, these linear networks are part of the newly formed WarnerMedia conglomerate.

At tbs/TNT/truTV, I strategize as to what’s next, deliver what’s new, and pull in fresh talent while also managing and maintaining current shows, such as “The Last OG” starring Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish. I’ve loved working on dozens of projects over the years, but “The Last OG” will always be particularly special. At a time of extreme police brutality and perpetuated racial inequality in our nation, it’s really important to me that we’ve made a show anchored by a black man who survives the U.S. prison system and is optimistic about his life ahead. Unlike the stereotype would dictate, he immediately and enthusiastically embraces fatherhood, and never loses hope for a better future despite various obstacles and setbacks. Showing a halfway house; a self-actualized black woman with a happy home; and a modern look at a blended family are revolutionary for a half-hour comedy, and it’s all set against the backdrop of gentrifying Brooklyn. It was the #1 cable comedy when it premiered in 2018, and I’m excited to be headed back to set in November to shoot Season 3.

Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
My dad, who I affectionately call “Daddy-O,” has been my secret weapon for as long as I can remember. He always took my dreams seriously and was the one driving me to auditions, paying for my acting (and singing, and ballet, and tap, and viola, and piano….) classes, and encouraging me to study the business along with the art. I’m pretty sure we signed up to receive electronic issues of Hollywood Reporter and Deadline, the industry’s trade publications when I was in junior high school and living in Ohio. We also used to study annual paperback guides that were essentially yellow pages for industry players to learn the names of many individuals that I either work with today or have run into at some after-party or another over the years. He’s an incredibly wise, savvy businessman who studies the hustle alongside me, and whether we’re discussing financial planning or the jungle gym that is corporate life, he’s always a phone call away.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oliviacharmaine.com
• Instagram: @olivia_charmaine

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