Today we’d like to introduce you to Lena Olson and Katie Chilson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lena and Katie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
We first met while working on the ABC sitcom “The Middle” and forged our friendship talking about rom coms between distributing scripts and pouring lattes. Lena had been thinking about starting a rom com podcast for some time but needed a co-host/producer. Last year at the Women’s March, she asked Katie if she’d want to collaborate! At first, she said no, but then through a series of comedic mishaps she said yes, and we’ve been podcasting happily ever after since!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We’ve had a great time finding guests and getting to know people better through our interviews. Any bumps along the road have been great lessons in the technology side. We’re self-taught when it comes to using audio equipment and editing. There’s been a learning curve but it’s nice to see the progress in quality over the last year.
Please tell us about your work.
Our podcast “The RomCom Effect” is a product of our love for romantic comedies. Each episode, we rewatch and discuss a rom com. We come at it from an entertainment and personal angle while also discussing the wider social impact of these movies, how they hold up over time, and how we can do better by the genre in the future. It’s always fun to see how the conversation varies between guests. We like to end our episodes by asking them about a rom com moment from their own lives.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Every guest we’ve had deserves credit for directing the conversation through their point of view. The same movie can spark entirely different conversations with other guests so we’re grateful for everyone’s unique perspective. A big thank you to them for taking time to watch the movies and bring their voices to the podcast. We’ve also benefited from feedback and support from friends and family who listened to earlier episodes.
Lastly, we want to give a shout-out to the musicians who helped us write and produce the theme song for our podcast: Vick Ravindran, Trevan McClure and Theo Seidmon! We truly would not have been able to do it without them.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
We’re seeing an explosion of new romantic comedies particularly on streaming sites right now. The genre seems to have graduated from the label of guilty-pleasure to legitimate entertainment as people prioritize the value of feel good content. As two “quirky best friends” who have nothing but genuine appreciation for on-screen love and pratfalls, we’re excited to see movies with more diversity in a genre that’s been historically white and heteronormative.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://romcomeffect.buzzsprout.com/
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Tom’s One Hour Photo
Lena Olson
Katie Chilson
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