Life & Work with Natsai Todd

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natsai Todd.

Natsai, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m originally from Long Island, NY. I grew up an artist; I’m gifted at drawing and painting. Even in 2019, I was showcased in trapxart after years of not picking up a paintbrush or pencil. However, I couldn’t figure out how to translate drawings into a digital format; graphic design and illustration just wasn’t for me. But still, I loved the visual medium and storytelling. I learned early that my true superpower was telling stories. I wrote an ongoing series as a kid called “Dr. Quack” in the fifth grade and was delighted that my classmates always looked forward to what happened next every Friday for show and tell – after that kind of attention, I was addicted! I was attracted to filmmaking because it combined my two great loves, visual storytelling.

I didn’t have the opportunity to get into film until I got into Temple University’s film school. Through trial and error, I learned by my senior that a change was happening with the rise of web series on YouTube taking over. It changed everything that I was learning in film school about exhibition and distribution in real-time. I fell in love with The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl and Black n Sexy TV’s series and gradually added the creators responsible on Facebook: Benjamin Cory Jones, Tracy Oliver, Lena Waithe, and more, who would later go on to achieve massive feats in their careers. But witnessing these web series take off with no distribution inspired me to create my own web series based off my experience as a fifth-year college grad called “Junior Citizens” which was featured at several web series festivals in 2014, including being a panelist for Philadelphia’s QFest.

I soon moved back to New York and volunteered at the Hamptons International Film Festival, where I connected with the Director of New York Women in Film & Television and later joined the prestigious organization. This move, plus networking at the Produced By and Revolt Music Conferences, helped get my foot in the door in finding PA gigs and eventually landed my position at Odyssey Networks in NYC, where I facilitated screenings for Google NYC. The twist is, during this time I always stayed in touch with the folks from my web series days – in particular, Lena Waithe. From the East Coast, I’d read script coverages that came to her in hopes of being picked up by Hillman Grad Productions, and in 2017, I made the leap to move to Los Angeles to join her writer’s group, which I was a part of that fall. Through that network, I met an actor, Dior Allen, who needed a producer for his stage play “90s Sitcoms Live On Stage!” featuring the future SNL castmate Ego Nwodim, iCarly’s Laci Mosley, plus many comedians featured in CBS’ comedy showcase.

After seeing my tenacity in the few short months of being in LA (I pulled off the above in my first four months), Waithe enlisted me as one of her personal assistants. I learned a lot about producing at this time, but it was also the most difficult time of my life. It was amazing to have that kind of access, but this was a tough lesson on learning my worth. 2018 was the year that taught me the importance of setting boundaries. Many hungry newcomers come to Hollywood ready to do whatever it takes, and I don’t regret being one of them. I proved to myself that I was capable of producing, but not being properly compensated and going down to 102 pounds and becoming dangerously anemic was also not worth it. I am proud of the WGA/SAG strikers today for this reason! It is so important that writers and everyone in Hollywood for that matter speak up about this culture of wage theft. Although it is necessary to pay your dues – know when it is your time to level up. Because people will use you if you let them. I soon stopped doing things for little to no pay and lost some connections/friends – but gained a higher sense of self-respect and peace of mind.

Soon after making this decision, I produced a standup special for actor/comedian Bill Posley called “The Day I Became Black”, became a freelance props master for social media stars Hannah Stocking & Anwar, and then entered the VFX space as a coordinator on the shows The Orville and Star Trek: Discovery. (One of my career highlights was witnessing the creation of the starship Enterprise!) As an artist, I truly felt enriched in the VFX space and loved overseeing those animators and compositors. Working at Technicolor as an Associate Producer was also another career highlight when I received my first onscreen credit for HBO’s Perry Mason Season 1 during their primetime Sunday night slot! My credits also include Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone, Snowfall, Bridgerton, Charmed, SEAL Team, and more.

Today, I am pursuing a Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business, and Technology at the University of Southern California, a program that teaches students to think critically and creatively at the intersection of the arts and design, technology, business, and venture management, and communication. My aim is to leverage my diverse background and skillset to become a leader, innovator, and problem-solver in a rapidly changing global entertainment marketplace and deliver powerful content. As an artist at heart with producing savvy, I’m interested in being a content creator of the future!

I have a passion for immersive technology and interactive media that I want to incorporate into my film and television career as tech influences continue to be more inevitable. (Can you imagine a stage play utilizing the immersive tech that museum exhibits like Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is doing? It’d be a game-changer!) My journey has been a winding road, but I learned to know my worth and to add tax because my work speaks for itself. And entertainment is expanding its limits, so it’s important that I’m adaptable to these changing, exciting times. I love where I am today and cannot wait to see what I accomplish next!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was certainly NOT a smooth road, lol!

After graduating college, I went to work as an Executive Assistant at my mother, Dr. Angela Todd’s private OB/GYN practice for three years as I fought to get my foot in the door. I felt incredibly unfilled during this time, so I battled depression for years. I spent money I didn’t have attending conferences around the country until I finally became a coordinator at a documentary film production company for almost a year – until I was laid off. This was the turning point where I had no choice but to tap into the network of LA folks, I stayed in touch with on Facebook over the years and chanced it. I ubered that whole summer in the Hamptons to fundraise my move and ended up living in an artist’s house of 20 people, 5 bedrooms 4 to each room in North Hollywood! I later even moved in with someone who I ended up having to flee from because she became my stalker for almost two years. While this was all happening, I did nothing but hustle from PA gig to gig and postmate while balancing being of service to Waithe.

When I worked as one of her assistants, I ended up having to be on-call so during that time so I could only postmates to make myself readily available. Taking PA gigs soon became a risk because I didn’t want someone else taking my spot. I took a huge risk banking on promises that never came to fruition, which is why I do not advise being that naive! Make sure you are properly compensated to the best of your ability; do not be blinded by the glitz and glamour! I was paid very little and went down to 102 pounds, becoming so anemic that I almost needed a blood transfusion. All in the hopes of proving myself worthy of working in a writer’s room. 2018 was a Sansa Stark-esque year for me, where the ways of Hollywood turned me from a naive girl into an intuitive woman. I had a choice to make during that time – fold and fail forever or keep going and reinvent myself. I chose the latter.

I can never allow obstacles or people to get in the way of what God has planned for me. I am blessed to have a tight inner circle of loved ones who also do not play about me! My friends and family have been my rock that has gotten me through my darkest times, especially my mother. Any success I’ve achieved in the past, and whatever I achieve in the future, I owe to my beloved mother’s persistence. Before I even believed in myself, she believed in me. Same goes for my father; I am very lucky to have parents that I can confide in. There is no challenge I cannot face without my faith and them by my side.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize as a producer but truthfully, I have so many talents that I love tapping into. I’ve been a producer, a coordinator, a showrunner, a writer, a props master, and even a pastry chef, haha!

Producing is what fulfills me the most because I love bringing creative teams, casts, and crews together to make something meaningful. I loved pulling off producing a stage play because I never had any experience in theater; it was a challenge that I accomplished. Although most of my credits are now in television, I know that I can produce any form of media. My next creative venture is producing interactive media with immersive technology that I’m currently learning at USC!

I’m proud of my work on Perry Mason and The Twilight Zone as a post-production Associate Producer because my team had to deliver both shows as the pandemic hit. Perry Mason was actually Technicolor’s first show completely delivered remotely in June 2020. To mark this achievement, the producing and editorial teams received onscreen credits during HBO’s primetime Sunday night season for Perry Mason’s first season!

Another highlight would also be witnessing the color grading process of FX’s Snowfall for season three. I gained so much intel between the colorist and cinematographer on how important color affects the mood and tone of the show. It was like witnessing movie magic!

During the pandemic, I produced my dating podcast called “The F*ckboy Manual” that was well received, particularly on Spotify (but it’s available on all platforms!). I wrote and produced skits with some actor friends and recorded it as opener to the show. I was so proud to showcase my creativity while giving out free games and sharing dating war stories with my friends! Since this was in 2020, it was such a great reason to reconnect with my buddies and to give people some work!

What sets me apart from others is definitely my adaptability and ability to think FAST! I have many random skill sets that I can bounce around different aspects of production, administration, tech, client relations, art, and even food – I’m VERY good at baking pastries haha! My temperament is also something to note. I’ve learned that keeping a cool head under scrutiny has gotten me pretty far. When it’s time to getter done, I’m completely in tunnel vision mode. Personal feelings never factor into my work ethic.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice in finding a mentor is to find someone who is not tit for tat. A mentor should genuinely be interested in your development with nothing to gain from it on their end. I’ve had “mentors” that usually ended up turning me into an intern that I didn’t ask to be for free labor. But I have also had great mentors that took their time out of their schedules to share their resources, access to books and answer my questions. I listened to their stories, how they came to be, and what they wished they knew. A mentor should feel like a friend, someone you feel comfortable with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://natodd8.wixsite.com/natsaitodd
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carefreemaroon/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natsaitodd/
• SoundCloud: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5939734/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
• Other: https://linktr.ee/fboymanual

Image Credits
Pic 3 – Michael B Jordan Pic 4 – Aldis Hodge Pic 6 – Brandon Miree, @zarianh Pic 8 – @upperreality, @jesswiththevibes