From College to Career: Insights From Our Team
Starting a career right out of college can be both exhilarating and daunting. At Blue Chalk, we believe in fostering young talent and providing opportunities for growth and development.
Today, we’re excited to feature two exceptional team members, Production Manager Jessica Stewart and Associate Producer Nina Bracey, who began their professional journeys with us straight out of grad school.
In this interview they discuss how they navigated the early stages of their careers, the challenges they faced, and the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way. They also share some great advice on the importance of networking and continuous learning.
Whether you’re a student about to enter the job market or someone considering a career in production, we hope their experiences and tips can provide you with some valuable guidance and inspiration!
Can you tell us about your journey from college to joining Blue Chalk?
Nina: After obtaining my master’s from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, I began my journey at Blue Chalk as a producing fellow in June 2022. During the fellowship, I had the opportunity to work closely with producers on projects at all stages of production. After my fellowship ended, I was offered a full-time associate producer role and have been with Blue Chalk for two years. From the beginning, Blue Chalk has been such a supportive and positive learning environment. I’ve been lucky to learn from skilled producers, who have been influential in my journey as I step into more lead producer roles.
Jessica: I graduated from Kennesaw State in 2017 and was jobless for a little less than a year. I remember applying to several internships and any “media” job I could find in an attempt to “get my foot in the door.” No one was budging; either the positions would miraculously close, or I needed 3+ years of experience. There was a stillness period, and I felt defeated for a while.
Determined to fill my time (and pockets), I turned to my interests and started recording videos, making photos, designing flyers, and editing small projects for local organizations. Staying occupied kept my mind off of waiting. I eventually received a location scout position with the county film office, where I spent a year working adjacent to several production companies, but I wanted to get closer. Hoping to become more marketable, I enrolled in the Multimedia, Production, and Design program (MPD) at Syracuse University in 2019 to discover my industry niche.
Grad school challenged my skills, widened my possibilities, and greatly expanded my network (#NewhouseMafia). The saying “it’s who you know” is very true, but in my experience, it became “it’s who knows you.” My work ethic and assignment quality caught the attention of my program director (Bruce Strong at the time), who had ties to Jason Greene, a former Syracuse grad and cinematographer at Blue Chalk. After reviewing my work, Jason said my storytelling was strong and that I had the “potential to work for Blue Chalk.” I kept a mental note but didn’t think too much about it. Fortunately, it came around full circle, and here I am!
What motivated you to pursue a career in production? What made you interested in joining the Blue Chalk team specifically?
Nina: In grad school, I had a tough time narrowing down exactly what I wanted to pursue in film because I wanted to do everything. I enjoyed writing, directing, and producing. Ultimately, I was drawn to producing because it encompasses so many roles within one title, allowing me to pursue all of these interests. I was particularly interested in Blue Chalk because of the incredible work the team produces. It was important for me to work for a company that truly cares about the stories they tell. From interviewing with Founder and CEO Greg Moyer and COO Pam Huling, I could tell that Blue Chalk would be a place for me to grow both professionally and personally.
Jessica: It’s my nature to question everything — not to undermine but to understand. I love finding truthful answers, and I thought I would be a lawyer at first. I quickly learned there are different truths (depending on who you ask), and sometimes your life’s experience doesn’t match the evidence. Happenstance led me to cinema and production, and I became fascinated with “truth” on screen, and eventually found non-fictional storytelling. I am drawn to work that highlights adventure and action, softens darkness and drama, and celebrates sentiment and soul without romanticizing events. My current desire is to create impactful work that contributes to the non-fiction production space with like-minded creatives. Blue Chalk aligns with my interests and supports my goals, and it was important that I work with a company that believes in me.
Tell us about your role at Blue Chalk. How has it evolved since you first started?
Nina: As an associate producer, my goal is to support projects from concept to completion. I love that my job is always changing depending on what the team needs. My responsibilities vary from research and development, casting, and working on pitch decks to handling travel and logistics for the crew and working on set. During my fellowship, I primarily helped with logistics and casting. After being hired full-time as an associate producer, I’ve taken on more responsibilities, worked on set, and even had the opportunity to lead a couple of productions.
Jessica: My role as the production manager is a good balance of administrative and creative duties. I have a large responsibility in project planning, budget strategization, and client management. I partner with producers to ensure our productions are properly staffed, safe, and on budget to provide a smooth filming experience and handoff to our post-production team. I initially joined as a project coordinator, where my role involved monitoring deliveries, sending client reminders, and participating in limited meetings for a couple of projects. Now, I oversee mostly every commissioned project, speak with clients regularly, and have to be well-versed in the meetings that I lead — a huge leap in a matter of months.
What skills or knowledge from your academic background have you found most valuable in your role?
Nina: In film school, we frequently worked in groups, which taught me how to collaborate with peers and manage conflict. Being a team player is super valuable as a producer because a big part of the job is working together and problem-solving with the crew. Our professors also encouraged us to delve into the deeper meaning of stories by continually asking ourselves, “Why do we want to tell this particular story, and why now?” This mindset has really stuck with me.
Jessica: Honestly, my soft skills are what carry me in my role. I interact with people daily, and knowing how to hold a conversation or de-escalate a conflict is more valuable to me than knowing how to open a new timeline in Premiere. Though I am grateful to have and use technical knowledge in my conversations, I also leave room for the experts to give their input. Production is a collaborative industry, and I love making new connections and building my network. Creating the final product becomes less successful if you don’t have the right people to do it with.
What is the biggest professional challenge you have faced thus far? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn?
Nina: One of the biggest challenges in production is that nothing ever goes as planned. For example, during one production in a rural area, the power went out at our filming location. After a brief moment of panic, the crew came up with a game plan to use only natural lighting for the shoot. I learned that no matter how meticulously you prepare for a shoot, there is always going to be something that comes up. The best way to prepare is to have a good attitude and be ready to come up with solutions.
Jessica: Even before Blue Chalk, my biggest professional challenge has been finding my “professional personality.” In my experiences as a Black woman in the workplace, I’ve unfortunately experienced microaggressions, which leave me with the feeling that I have to show up a certain way or sound a certain way. It’s an ongoing process, but my friends and family remind me that my professional personality is not separate from my personality, and it’s okay to “take the mask off” and just be me. I’ve learned that the best way to get the job done and stay true to who I am is to be unapologetic, but with tact and poise. I challenge myself to give more of “me” each day.
Reflecting on your journey, what advice do you have for recent graduates looking to pursue a career in production?
Nina: Embrace being a beginner. When I first started in film, I felt overwhelmed by the fear that I didn’t know enough. Enjoy the process of being a student for life. I also encourage anyone who wants to work in film to get on a production set as much as possible. You gain a ton of knowledge from being in the field. It gives you a whole new appreciation for all the different roles. Plus, it’s also a great place to make friends and network.
Jessica: Keep an open mind and explore your interests, even the “smaller” jobs! Production is all about collaborating, and every role is important. Always ask questions, never stop learning, and cold calls/emails lead to warm introductions. You might have an idea of exactly what you want to do and how you’re going to do it, but suspend reality and try something outside of your comfort zone; you might find your niche! Life isn’t fair. Life is fun. Life is full of figuring it out because no one knows what they’re doing until they do. Do it for yourself. You’ll be thankful you did.
