Rising Stars: Meet Bo Youngblood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bo Youngblood.

Hi Bo, 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?
I moved to LA a little after I graduated college in 2005. I knew I wanted to work in Entertainment and I took the jump. My first job was working for E! Entertainment as a PA in an investigative news series. That was my first taste of everything and I loved it. From there I went into casting at the Style network, helping cast multiple nonscripted shows. Knowing my dream at the time was to be in front of the camera, I quit my job and jumped into acting classes. I was really fortunate and had a wonderful time auditioning and working for multiple networks, but something was still missing. In my classes at BGB, I was encouraged to write and produce my own material. With their encouragement, I co-wrote and produced a really fun web series, and with that I realized how much I love producing. I was lucky enough to co-produce my first feature, and that set my producing career in motion. I started my own production company Showdown Productions with my partner John Ierardi a couple of years ago, and we have successfully produced multiple features, all have had theatrical distribution and worldwide distribution. I just finished directing my second project with some really talented actors.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As anyone starts a career there will be huge learning curves. Every project I work on, I learn something that makes me a better producer and leader for the next. I think the most frustrating thing about producing and any career in Entertainment is there is no direct path to get where you want to be. There is no road map. Every project is different. That has become the most exciting part of producing. Knowing you don’t have all the answers and figuring it out along the way.

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 mostly produce independent films. It’s difficult because we have to raise the capital to physically produce the film, but it gives us creative freedom. It allows the director to have the freedom to make the movie they want. Then when finished, we take the film and sell it to a studio or a distribution company. Moving into directing, knowing production the way I do, gives me a confidence in my ability to deliver a film successfully.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.showdownproductions.com
• Instagram: @boyoungblood

Image Credits
Katie Nolan for all except the picture in the field (I took that one) Tony Rysk