Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley McFarlin.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m an Atlanta native, born and raised in East Point, Ga. I lived in the NY/NJ area for nearly 20 years before I moved back home to East Point during Covid, when my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Though the move home was unplanned and unexpected, it was precisely what I needed to do in order to pursue the vision in the industry God always placed on my heart.
Upon moving, I settled in my old neighborhood, just a few houses down the street from my childhood home, and focused on rebuilding my personal life, as a newly separated, single mother of two. While on that journey, I continued to work as a television executive for WEtv and ALLblk Streaming, and discovered that with all I had garnered over the course of my career as a producer, showrunner, and executive, I had an opportunity to pour into my hometown in a very impactful way. I envisioned creating an organization fueled off of my 20+ years experience in the industry and deep ties to industry giants that would grant access to the booming tv/film workforce, here in Atlanta, to true equity in their perspective fields.
Having lived back in Atlanta, now for nearly 5 years, I see how Hollywood has come here to give creatives a chance to play in the game, but there are very few opportunities for creatives to partner in it, equitably. I have since, expanded my production company (Bird’s Eye Entertainment, Inc.- est. 2016) to The BE Group, LLC, which offfers not only production services, but also educational and training opportunities, production sustainability resources, book publishing for IP retention, and real estate brokering to build capital.
I started in this industry as a production assistant at CNN in 1999 and worked diligently up the ranks in television and film at a myriad of networks and companies, not to secure personal gain, but instead to equip and arm the next generation of thought leaders, creatives, and executives in this industry with the keen understanding of how to not just succeed, but to build space for others.
Alright, 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?
The toughest part of my journey has been to slow down and truly discover me before moving ahead to discover and achieve what I can do. Overworking and overcommitting myself over the years has caused several health issues and emotional anxiety. In 2011, I was diagnosed with a debilitating neurological disorder that stopped me in my tracks. It was during that time, when I was unable to work, that I took a step back and re-assessed how I would engage in life and my career. I discovered that being my best self meant honoring who I was built to be—someone created to love and to serve.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m the CEO/founder of The BE Group, LLC, a company focused on providing the resources and access that creatives need to retain equity in their projects. As a former television executive at AMC Networks, overseeing development and original production for WEtv and ALLblk Streaming, I had the unique opportunity to marry my previous years of experience as a showrunner/producer to the executive role and launch several hit series.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The biggest shift I foresee is the integration of more AI tools in television production and development. I also envision more independent artists and original content getting the attention and financial backing of big studios.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.ashleymcfarlin.com
- Instagram: Missashleymac1
- Facebook: Ashley McFarlin
- LinkedIn: Ashley McFarlin
