Applications for the Film Independent Fiction Producing Lab are now open. The deadline for non-Members is May 4th, while Film Independent Members have until May 18th.
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Producer Lexi Tannenholtz first bonded with director Mary Dauterman over “poop jokes.” The two shared a sensibility and work ethic and started working together on commercial projects. When it came time to make their first feature, the cat-horror grief meditation Booger, Tanneholtz brought it to the Film Independent Fiction Producing Lab.
We spoke with Tanneholtz about the experience of both taking Booger through the Lab, and producing a feature for the first time.
What drew you to producing?
I didn’t know what producing was initially. I first worked in television and loved doing every job and the catch all term for that was always producer. When I moved over into the narrative film space I was so confused, like so many, about what a producer really did. And the same answer still really applies, we do everything! I love finding the balance between creativity and strategy, building a team and making someone’s idea bigger, and ideally better, than they ever could have dreamed. Producers make the impossible happen and there is nothing I love more than that. Producers are also crazy and I think that applies here too.
How did you first get together with the Booger team, and what made you want to work with them?
Mary Dauterman, the writer director of Booger, and I were introduced through our mutual friend Graham Mason in 2020. I think he thought we’d laugh at the same dumb poop jokes and knew we’d work well together before we did. Mary is also a very successful commercial director, and after our initial zoom date she started asking me to produce some of the commercials she was working on. Turns out, she was testing me out to see if she should ask me to produce her feature debut Booger; and I’m forever happy she did!
I wanted to work with Mary, for the usual reasons, she is smart, cool and kind. But I also loved how prolific she was. So many people say they direct, but it’s hard to really make it happen – Mary had such a large breath of shorts and commercials, I so admired how much she already accomplished. I also felt we had a similar sensibility about work; we like to work really really hard and a lot. I think it can be difficult to find someone who matches your working style and it just really clicked with Mary. Also goes without saying I loved the script, she is funny as hell and great at what she does. It felt really kismet to meet each other at the time we did and make our first features together; there’s something special about meeting someone at the same career stage as you and growing together.
What was a particular or unique challenge you experienced producing Booger?
Everything was truly a unique challenge on Booger. It was both of our first features. We had never raised any financing before. We had to work with a lot of cat actors. We filmed in our own homes. We had a 15-day shoot. We never had enough money. But we brought together an incredible team of people who so believed in this story and Mary – as hard as it was, it was really a dream to pull it off together.
What led you to apply to the lab?
What led me to apply to the lab? Well, I idealized Film Independent and I couldn’t believe I finally had a project I could submit with. I had never done a lab before, and it felt so dreamy! How do I get into this secret club? I truly had no idea, but I could at least apply and see what happened. And it was literally the best thing that ever happened to me. I couldn’t believe it when I got accepted; it felt like the special start of something to be seen by this amazing institution in this way. I felt really proud.
Were there any particular workshops, advisors, or exercises that significantly impacted you?
My advisor was Amanda Marshall, and I was so freaking pumped to be matched with her. I admired her work like crazy, and I couldn’t believe she was forced to talk to me every day! It was epic. And now if you can believe it, I feel so lucky to call her a friend and get to bother her all the time
I also very much remember pitching Sheila Hanahan Taylor. It was the most anxious I was the entire fellowship. And getting through that made me really feel I could pitch the shit out of this movie to anyone. And then I did!
How did participating in the lab impact you, BOOGER and your journey with it as the producer?
To this day I am such close friends with everyone from my cohort; we still have an active text chain where we all ask each other the most bizarre producing questions. It’s been so special to get to celebrate each other’s successes both personal and professional, there’s been so many for everyone since our time in 2022.
Getting support from Dea, Ashley, Angela and the whole Film Independent team was amazing – but what really blew my mind was that it wasn’t just for the two weeks of the lab; they are so committed to helping you throughout your filmmaking career. I gotta say, I’m always bothering them with something, and they are always the quickest to lend a hand.
Participating in the Producing Lab really was a badge of honor for both me and Booger; it helped open so many doors. And the pitching tools I learned in every workshop truly impact how I treat and approach each film I work on today. It’s also the safest of places to ask any question… like what is a Waterfall? What is an MG? What is the difference between a manager and an agent? Questions I’m currently still asking myself…
And I still have all the materials I used for Booger and model so much of what I work on now from that and everything I learned from Film Independent. It really made me feel like participating in the lab was the start of the next step in my career.
Applications for the Film Independent Fiction Producing Lab are now open. The deadline for non-Members is May 4th, while Film Independent Members have until May 18th.
For over 40 years, Film Independent has helped filmmakers get their projects made and seen. The nonprofit organization’s core mission is to champion creative independence in visual storytelling and support a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision.
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