We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrew Pearce. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrew below.

Hi Andrew, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.

In the corporate world, there’s often a misconception that filmmaking is solely about creativity and artistry, overlooking the logistics and financial management involved. The multitude of roles within the industry, each essential to the filmmaking process, is often underestimated. As a producer, your perspective sheds light on the extensive planning, budgeting, and administrative work that goes on behind the scenes, highlighting the business aspect of filmmaking that many overlook. It’s not all glamorous sets and creative brainstorming; a significant portion of the job involves number crunching and office work to ensure the project’s success.

In my recent film project, we completed the filming in just 19 days. However, the preparation leading up to the first day of shooting stretched over six months. During this period, we secured tax incentives and set up production bank accounts, assembled a crew, cast the actors, and meticulously planned every detail of the 19-day shoot. Fortunately, I love this aspect of filmmaking so when shoot day arrives, if all goes according to plan, it feels like smooth sailing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Growing up, there were two paths that interested me; Videography and Urban Planning. I remember having a talk with my dad about my future plans. I had told him both avenues, leaning more towards urban planning as it felt like a safer route. Surprisingly, my dad actually supported my journey into film school, where I could hone my editing skills and eventually edit films. However, it took one editing class for me to realize that narrative film editing wasn’t my true calling.

It was during my time in film school that I stumbled upon the role of film producing, a role similar to urban planning but with a focus on the logistics of filmmaking. After graduating, I ventured into the world of film production in Los Angeles, starting as a freelance supervising producer for the American Film Institute, and began producing, production managing, and production coordinating on independent projects.

During COVID, I seized the opportunity to create and distribute a unique dating show titled “Puppy Love” on Tubi, diving into the realm of reality TV production for the first time. This was a great learning experience and paved the way for my next milestone: producing my first feature film, “Hell Hath No Fury.” This project remains my proudest achievement to date, not only for the final product but also for the remarkable people assembled to bring the film to life and the resourcefulness displayed in stretching a limited budget to its fullest potential. So much of what I do and how I operate can be traced back to “Hell Hath No Fury.”

I feel that I have really found a home in the sub 2 million dollar independent feature world. There’s something special about being able to craft a movie that looks and feels like a studio production while costing a fraction of the budget. I get to work with young, hungry and immensely talented filmmakers who share my passion for filmmaking. There’s a magic to be found in this space and I am excited to see where it takes me as i grow in my career.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As a creative producer, there are three rewarding aspects that come to mind. The first being the collaboration with talented filmmakers. Spending 12-14 hour days for a month with the same group of people creates a lasting bond. Beginning as strangers, we have lasting friendships by the end of the film. The second rewarding aspect, Problem solving. When facing seemingly impossible challenges, particularly when dealing with a limited budget, finding innovative solutions is incredibly satisfying. Sharing opinions and bouncing ideas off each other has really opened my eyes to so many unique ideas I would have never thought of myself. Lastly there’s a unique payoff in filmmaking unlike any other, the end product is a film. Once released, the film is out in the world for complete strangers to see and be affected by. Knowing that your work has the potential to start conversations and evoke emotions is the ultimate reward.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing team morale is crucial on a film set, as the happiness and positivity of the crew directly impact the quality of the production. Building strong morale begins with getting to know each member of the team on a personal level. Often, there’s a period of adjustment as the crew comes together, but simple gestures like asking about snack preferences at craft services or discussing career goals can go a long way in making everyone feel valued. By creating an inclusive and supportive environment, morale remains high, leading to a more productive team.

Contact Info:

• Website: WWW.ANDREWZPEARCE.COM
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewzpearce/

Image Credits
Robert Tapaltsyan