1. What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up, to heading to bed?

7:30am My alarm goes off, I go back to sleep for 15 minutes
7:45am Jump into the shower and get ready for work
8:15am Eat breakfast and watch Breakfast Television for weather/current events
8:45am Catch the bus then subway to work or ride my bike if the weather is nice
9:15am Arrive at work, begin the day (earlier if I ride my bike)
11:00am Agency meeting (this happens weekly)
1:00pm Lunch (usually a business lunch)
2:30pm Back to work
6:00pm Leave work
7:00pm Usually have a screening on Thursday nights, if not a Maple film, then another distributor’s film. It’s good to check out the competition.
9:30pm Arrive home. If I haven’t had popcorn for dinner then I’ll have a light snack.
10:00 Watch PVR’d Grey’s Anatomy
11:00 Read myself to sleep.

2. What was your first job out of school?

My university program had a co-op work term component in Arts Administration, and in my last year I worked at the Tarragon Theatre. Upon my graduation they hired me full time to run the Tarragon Studio and coordinate their marketing efforts. The studio was a home base for writers, actors and directors. I met a lot of talented professionals and amateurs from the Toronto theatre community. On the marketing end of things I learnt how to make something out of nothing. We had next to nothing budgets that we had to make magic with; nine out of ten times we did. It was a great family atmosphere at the Tarragon and I still keep in touch with many of my former co-workers.

3. What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?

Patience – I’ve gone through days where I’ve had to change a budget or artwork countless times.
Be prepared – anticipate any problems/questions that may arise at meetings, during the course of the day/week/month.

Sense of humour – at the end of the day it’s good to keep everything in perspective. My job is to sell entertainment to the masses, in short “get bums in seats”. I try to have fun at work; it makes life easier for me and others around me.

4. What do you love most about your career?

I love movies, I really do. It’s surprising how many folks in the industry don’t go to the movies. The anticipation of hearing about the film, then seeing the trailer and the feature itself, there’s no feeling like it. I like talking about movies, the movie business, everything about it. When we have a film that I really want to see and it does well, there’s great satisfaction, especially when you hear people talking about it. I also love the sense of community that going to the movies provides; you are in an auditorium and all are experiencing the same thing. Plus, I like the fact that the movie demographic ranges from two to one hundred.

5. If a woman wanted to get into the business, what are your recommendations of how they should start?

Well it’s true what they say. It’s not what you know but who you know. Very few folks in the distribution industry are employed without getting a referral from someone in the business. Once you are in, you’ll see that people just move from one company to another. Attend seminars, forums, panels discussing the field and find out whom the players are. Introduce yourself and make contact. The next step would be to volunteer your services with a company and do a good job, so when they do have a position available your name will be on top of the list. During film festivals, special events etc. would be the best time to volunteer; film companies always need people. Once you are in at a junior level, learn as much as you can about all the different facets of distribution, you never know where it could lead you: theatrical, home video, or television. A word of warning, some rises are meteoric, others not so. You’ll find in the Canadian distribution business, the old guard sticks around for a long while.

6. Do you have any warnings?

Film distribution is definitely a men’s club and you have to shout to be heard. If you’re smart, this will be recognized and you’ll be taken seriously, but sometimes you have to be loud.

7. If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?

Special event planner – I do get a taste of this in my current job, but to do it full time would be a dream of mine. I love multi-tasking and watching an idea come to life is always satisfying. The creative side of this appeals to me as well and when things go off without a hitch that’s always great.