Meet Your Makers: Thriving in High Stakes Environments with Katie Zakula
Katie Zakula, EP at Entropico, is a producer with a knack for crafting engaging content across TV and digital platforms. She kick started her career at Kinetic Content, where she adapted and developed international formats and contributed to hit shows like Lifetime's "Married At First Sight" and ABC's "The Taste'' featuring Anthony Bourdain.
Since then, Katie has expanded her repertoire, spearheading projects such as the acclaimed competition series "Dancing with the Stars'' and the NBPA's feature documentary "Vince Carter: Legacy." Her impressive portfolio also includes creating commercial content for notable names like Google, Amazon, Square, Kia, Starz, Samsung, and NBA2K.
LBB> What first attracted you to production - and has it been an industry you’ve always worked in or did you come to it from another area?
Katie> I’ve always wanted to work in entertainment. Ever since I was kid, I loved putting on shows for my family and coercing my siblings and cousins to perform. Long before TikTok or social media in general for that matter, I would hijack my parents camcorder and edit together music videos recreating Spice Girls choreography, a runway show featuring the most elegant women's attire from my mom’s closet, or a dramatic short film about a fractured friendship over a shared schoolyard crush.
In high school I was on the news team and took editing classes at the local community college, intensifying my enthusiasm for production. Throughout college, I pursued internships across various sectors of the industry, from film distribution to commercial production to unscripted development, each experience deepening my understanding while simultaneously revealing the vastness of the field. The more I learned, the less I knew, but one thing was for sure, I loved it and wanted more.
LBB> What was your first role in the production world and how did this experience influence how you think about production and how you grew your career?
Katie> My first paid job was as an executive assistant to the CEO of an unscripted production company. I learned so much on that desk, listening in on calls developing and selling shows, navigating production obstacles for current programming, and negotiating contracts with talent and showrunners. I got so much exposure to all the different phases of the production process and the many people needed to bring each unique concept to life.
That network of people ultimately afforded me my early opportunities in the industry and in observing the process, made me acutely aware of how important having strong and reliable people involved in every stage of production is to make successful content.
LBB> How did you learn to be a producer?
Katie> I think something you learn very quickly in this industry is how there is no single linear path for any given career, including being a producer. It’s a collection of all of my experiences and contacts, from casting and development to field and post-producing, that informs how I look at creative and determine what people and resources are needed to produce an idea. You learn a new lesson with every project – sometimes the hard way – and take that with you to your next job.
LBB> Looking back to the beginning of your career, can you tell us about a production you were involved in where you really had to dig deep and that really helped you to grow as a producer?
Katie> My first job as a field associate producer on a reality show, my producer got sick, and I had to step in to interview talent after a big fight with another cast member. I was super green (in terms of experience and to my stomach with nervousness) and had never conducted an interview by myself.
Fortunately, I’d been on the show for a few weeks and had a great producer, who made a concerted effort to train me up any chance she could. It was definitely intimidating to sit across from a cast member who was much older than me and saw me as a junior level producer, while asking them about the intimate details of their personal relationship.
It was one of those moments where I fully did not feel ready, but just went for it. I ended up working in post on that show and had to pull bites from my interview and boy, was I missing a lot of critical beats. So much about being a producer is stepping up and figuring things out on the fly. It’s not always perfect, but you're always better the next time.
LBB> A good producer should be able to produce for any medium, from film to events to digital experience. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why/why not?
Katie> Producers are project managers and problem solvers, so of course, they should have the skills to bring any idea to life, regardless of the medium. However, a producer’s strength comes from their experiences and network.
So someone with a lot of film producing experience is going to understand the nuances of that process and develop plans and reach solutions more quickly than a producer whose body of work is mainly in live events, and vice versa. Typically, productions always have overly ambitious timelines, so having someone well-versed in a given medium is almost always going to be a better call.
That being said, producers from different backgrounds bring fresh perspectives and talent, so depending on the project and scope, it’s sometimes worth taking that risk.
LBB> What’s your favourite thing about production and why?
Katie> I love the variety and the people. Every idea presents a new challenge, so you are constantly learning something new. The people are also amazing, collaborative (mostly), and so talented.
LBB> How has production changed since you started your career?
Katie> When I started my career, people were still primarily consuming content via broadcast and that has obviously shifted in a massive way to online. This has impacted every sector of production, from developing narratives for short form content, shooting for different aspect ratios, casting talent that resonates with hyper specific audiences, etc.
LBB> And what has stayed the same?
Katie> The need to develop compelling stories, regardless of the length or platform, has remained unchanged. Good content is good content. Additionally, production is still just as collaborative as ever.
LBB> What do you think is the key to being an effective producer - and is it something that’s innate or something that can be learned?
Katie> Like most things in life, I think it’s a combination of both innate ability and learned skills. Production can be stressful, so I think to some degree you have to be a person who thrives in high stakes environments. By the same token, the more experience you have, the more prepared you become. At the same time, there are so many different kinds of producers, and most of us like to surround ourselves with teams that make up for our weaknesses.
LBB> Which production project from across your career are you most proud of and why?
Katie> Hmm, this is a tough one. I’m proud of most of my work for different reasons. I produced a commercial campaign where celebrities shared their fan theories about what ending they anticipated for a hit show (the previous season had a big old cliffhanger).
We binged the show, previewed the unaired episodes, and traveled around the country interviewing these celebs about their sometimes wild theories. It was another fast project with a very small team, but the campaign was a massive success and probably one of the funnest projects I’ve worked on!
LBB> And in terms of recent work, which projects have you found to be particularly exciting or have presented particularly interesting production challenges?
Katie> I had to assemble a proposal with a budget, strategy, and schedule for a shoot in three unspecified global locations, with unconfirmed dates, high-profile talent, and evolving creative. Although it's typical not to have all the details upfront, the scale and turnaround time were extraordinary.
I had to quickly liaise with local facilitation companies worldwide to gather accurate bids based on local rates, labour, and employment laws, as well as develop contingency plans for any potential changes. It was a challenging task, but I learned a ton!
LBB> Producers always have the best stories. What’s the hairiest / most insane situation you’ve found yourself in and how did you work your way out of it?
Katie> I had to produce a cooking show where the star talent was…a dog. Humbling to say the least. We had all these ridiculous recipes like a dog-friendly “wag-u burger”, which after sampling the dog immediately became all lethargic and out of it.
We were doing everything by the book, we had a culinary team that had vetted the recipes and a Humane Society rep on set, but our team was convinced the dog influencer was going to die. We had to stop down production, and that was definitely stressful since we were supposed to produce three more episodes that day. Fortunately, the dog was fine, just needed a little snooze after his burger.
We trimmed the remaining shot list and still managed to make our day and a full season of what is probably the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever produced.
LBB> What are your personal ambitions or aspirations as a producer?
Katie> I’d love to sell and produce an original tv show and continue producing commercial content with big scale creativity. I can’t wait to produce an action-packed “Mission Impossible”-style sequence or craft a laugh-out-loud scene packed with special effects, à la “What We Do in the Shadows.”
LBB> As a producer your brain must have a neverending "to do" list. How do you switch off? What do you do to relax?
Katie> This is going to come across like I'm some sort of wannabe wellness influencer, but honestly, working out helps clear my mind and work through problems. Swimming laps, going for long runs, or playing beach volleyball are my favorite ways to switch off.
LBB> Producers are problem solvers. What personally fuels your curiosity and drive?
Katie> My curiosity and drive stem from a deep seated aversion to being unprepared. It is my nightmare, literally. I am one of those people who has nightmares about not being prepared for an exam and it’s been a verrrrrrry long time since I’ve been in school. I just have to know how and why things work the way they do!
LBB> What advice would you give to people who are interested in becoming a producer?
Katie> Try it! Work as a production assistant, intern for a company or a producer, get the experience to see what it’s actually like and determine if you like it! There are so many different types of producers, so talk to lots of them about their experience or read articles like this one. ;)
LBB> From your experience what are the ingredients for a successful production?
Katie> A successful production is always a lot of things working together at exactly the right time but generally speaking a strong and clear idea with a reasonably sensible budget and schedule* and a very capable and communicative team will pull it off.
*this is rare but definitely helps!
LBB> What’s the key to a successful production-client relationship?
Katie> Transparency and communication. Prior to working at Entropico, I found that a lot of companies and clients are intentionally cagey about sharing information and budget details with one another. Honestly, this always leads to problems.
Clearly defining expectations, responsibilities, costs, and issues as they arise, and maintaining accountability throughout the process fosters mutual trust and respect. The commitment to transparency not only enhances the project experience and the quality of the final product but also strengthens the overall relationship between production team and client.
LBB> Producers are naturally hands on - they have to be. How do you balance that in the more managerial role of an EP?
Katie> As a new EP, it’s definitely a tough challenge. There’s something reassuring and comfortable about doing things yourself. It’s scary to trust the work with other people, even if you believe in them. I like to regularly check in with my producers and ask questions about details that I would be thinking about in their position. I’m sure I’m very annoying, but it’s a work in progress, something I hope to improve upon.
