We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole Ramsey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nicole, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?

As a technical producer, there is a lack of diversity in terms of gender and ethnicity. The space is dominated by mostly white males. Creating a more inclusive space would involve hiring more Africa Americans and women, which will have a more impactful effect on storytelling.

Nicole, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have 27 years of experience in the television and film industry. As an independent technical producer, I oversee all technical aspects of a project, including the camera department, lighting, sound, and other technical departments in pre-production, photography and post-production. My career began as a volunteer for a church in Los Angeles during the 1990’s when T.V. Ministry was prevalent. This is where I gained hands-on experience in filming, although I lacked the terminology used in the industry. To bridge this gap, I decided to attend film school to learn the terminology used on sets. Subsequently, I pursued a master’s degree, which equipped me with knowledge of contracts and budgeting. My role involves taking the clients’ projects from concept to completion, also known in the film industry as getting the project in the “can.”

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

During the pandemic, I was hired as a technical producer and director by a company. However, I later found out that the company was paying the cameras and grips more than me. I believe this was due to gender and ethnicity bias, even though I was technically the boss on set during photography. I decided to resign from the position. Later, one of the producers called me for an upcoming project. I negotiated my offer, but was unfortunately, it was declined. With over 20 years of experience and a master’s degree, I bring a high level of expertise that is often sought after by repeat clients.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale is key to any successful shoot. This is achieved by setting expectations in pre-production and involving the team’s input throughout filming. Clear and concise communication is crucial to creating a timely and effective schedule that benefits the production. Safety on set is also essential for a successful project. When the team understands the vision and works in a safe environment, it’s a win-win.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @nicolearamsey
• Linkedin: Nicole Ramsey