Today we’d like to introduce you to Charisse Woodall and Brie Eley.
Charisse and Brie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
We met while we were both transitioning from New York to Los Angeles. After we settled in Los Angeles, we would meet up for hikes, chat, and brainstorm projects ideas. When we came up with an idea for a 30-minute single camera comedy, we pulled from our resources and began to more formally work together. Marele Entertainment was formed!
Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth? We wish. Moving any project from idea to creation will always come with some struggles and bumps along the way. While we would have loved a completely smooth road, those bumps kept us humble and determined.
As producers and creators, you have to be extremely resourceful. You have to be ready with the backup of the backup. And if something does happen, you can’t let it throw you. Keep moving forward, get to the finish line, and have that next idea brewing.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Marele Entertainment story. Tell us more about the business.
Marele Entertainment is a bi-coastal production company with experience across a wide range of genres including political satires, talk shows, sketch comedy and short films. We formed this company to create and produce productions across a wide range of genres including political satires, talk shows, sketch comedy and short films. We aim to incorporate comedic and dramatic themes into stories that reflect the diversity of America. Together our films and sketches have screened across the country in Los Angeles, Austin and New York and on websites like Funny or Die and WhoHAHA. Our company has also been a great compliment to our individual acting careers.
It keeps us on-set and engaged so as outside opportunities come up we’re ready. In the last few years, we’ve booked multiple network appearances.
Now, we’re proud of every project we do; however, our latest short film, The Stairwell, was an extra special one. Written by Charisse, it was selected out of 1000 submissions to advance to the semi-finals of the AT&T Create-a-thon. As one of 14 semi-finalist films, we were given special access to shoot on the Warner Brothers lot. The caveat, the film had to be completely finished within 48 hours of your shoot time. Thanks to our incredible crew and cast, not only was the film completed, but it came out beautifully and is now out to festivals for submissions!
We think what sets us apart is our commitment to telling stories that feature women and women of color. We’ve also focused on making sure we collaborate with other strong women. Our collaborators include companies like Bruliet Media [the digital series RSVP], Enuff Productions [a co-producer on The Stairwell] and Aisha Lomax and Megan Brotherton [the co-producer and director of our short film Acceptance]. Over these last few years, we have been really fortunate to find and collaborate with people who are as passionate as we are.
When you do find those members of your team and you’re able to complete a project, it is such a celebration.
Another thing that is important to us, is a commitment to philanthropy. We have mentored with Young Storytellers and Ghetto Film School LA, volunteered with Reading to Kids, and hosted events to support local charities like Hashtag Lunchbag and Lights!Camera!Cure!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
We are very excited for where the industry is about to go. We’ve seen more diverse perspectives stepping into positions of power from the executive level 2 Network level 2 casting and production offices. And because there are so many options and ways to enjoy stories, there are that many more people looking to acquire content so you could have enough you have a project set up cable and on YouTube and on Netflix and really find the community that would enjoy your story. streaming channels there are that many.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mareleentertainment.com
- Phone: (323) 475-8875
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @mareleentertainment
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mareleentertainment
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