Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Pitt.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Carolyn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m an Intellectual Property and Entertainment attorney with a diverse background that includes management consulting, strategy, and business development. The genesis of Film Connx was my experience with clients who are frustrated about how hard it is to secure jobs within the film industry. Although Georgia is the #1 filming destination in the world, many local crew members aren’t working on the feature films and major television shows that shoot here. There are several reasons for this. However, the end result is that studios spend millions of dollars importing crew to production hubs, while experienced local crew in the same hubs struggle to find work.
I decided to solve this problem by creating a technology platform that connects studios to crew and simplifies talent identification and hiring within the industry. I participated in several accelerators, including Google’s Black Founder Exchange, and spoke with hundreds of film professionals while developing our platform. The outcome is Film Connx, a job marketplace for a film that connects studios to vetted local crew. The feedback that we have received from studios and crew is overwhelmingly positive and we are excited about disrupting the industry in a way that elevates local crew and significantly reduces studios’ production budgets.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve heard entrepreneurship described as “leaping off of a cliff and building a plane while also learning how to fly it on the way down.” From my experience, that’s pretty accurate… however, for female founders of color, we are building the plane out of toothpicks and napkins, due to limited access to resources and funding. It is my hope and expectation that access to capital for women founders and founders of color will increase significantly and very soon. There are literally thousands of brilliant founders with incredible companies that the world might miss out on if we don’t fix the egregious inequities.
Fundraising statistics for female founders are daunting – only 2.2% of VC funds are invested in woman-helmed companies each year. And that number drops to .0006% for Black female founders. In spite of these abysmal statistics, I remain optimistic that I and other female founders of color will continue to thrive through our ingenuity, by creating solid companies that benefit from our unique lens and experience, and by participating in supportive communities. Through that lens, my road has been relatively smooth but incredibly busy. In the last couple of years, I’ve worked harder than ever before and am very proud of what our team has accomplished in that time.
The COVID-19 crisis has devastated the film industry – all productions immediately came to a screeching halt. Our team is staying focused on the other side of this crisis, as we know that a hiring boom will occur and that Film Connx will be a critical mechanism for getting film professionals quickly and safely back to work.
My advice to other women founders and founders of color is to research grants, incubators, accelerators, and other available programs – there are more opportunities available now than ever before for intelligent, innovative women and founders of color who are determined to be successful. And remember that you don’t have to go it alone – be sure to find your tribe and leverage the growing community of diverse entrepreneurs and investors who want to support you and see you win.
Film Connx – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Film Connx is a job marketplace for a film that connects studios to vetted local crew. I created the platform because local crew members in production hubs like Georgia struggle to find jobs, while studios pay millions of dollars importing crew to those same hubs. Our platform facilitates connections, drives local workforce development and significantly reduces production budgets.
In addition, the industry is rife with inequality: although women account for 50% of moviegoers, they only represent 4% of directors, 15% of writers, 3% of cinematographers, and 18% of producers. Statistics are just as an abysmal for production professionals of color. I’m proud that Film Connx elevates talented local crew and helps to level the playing field for underrepresented production professionals – both in production hubs and across the nation – and makes it easier to find film jobs. We are the lifeline that crew studios and crew can rely upon to source film talent and jobs and to expand their networks within the industry.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
In early March, I addressed the U.S. Senate and House Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee to advocate for the film industry and for additional resources for entrepreneurs, especially underrepresented founders. The offices of Chairman Marco Rubio (FL) and Ranking Member Ben Cardin (MD) led the call, which addressed the significant challenges facing small business owners and startups due to COVID-19. It was an honor to be on the forefront of policy development and advocacy for the film industry and small businesses.
I’m also proud that Google featured Film Connx in a recent video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEYtoTnNcso&feature=youtu.be
Contact Info:
- Website: www.filmconnx.com
- Email: hello@filmconnx.com
- Instagram: @FilmConnx
- Twitter: @FilmConnx
Image Credit:
Team shot – Jason Byrdell.
Primary photograph (close up, red shirt) and vertical shot (pink shirt, windblown hair) – Amanda Pitt.
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