speaker-0: It was a little too blackity black for people just to sort of be clear about it and the way too womanly. You know what I mean? They were like, ugh, now. You know, in light of this administration, I feel like now is the time to do something like this because it's like, film is acting, you ready? Like put your money where your mouth is. Who's ready?

speaker-1: I'm Avi Zev Weider, welcome to Films Not Made.

speaker-0: Hi, I'm Amy Habie, and today we have two guests. ⁓ One is Effie Brown. ⁓ She's an award-winning film and TV producer and CEO of Game Changer, where she champions inclusion and diversity in Hollywood. The films she's produced include Real Women Have Curves, Dear White People, and the TV show Zombies. She was recently appointed to the Board of Governors at the Academy.

speaker-1: Our second guest, we're also really excited about Nicole Bradford. She's the writer on today's project and she is currently the executive in residence for AI and H.I. at the Society for Human Resource Management. And it's there that she shapes global thinking on human AI collaboration. Previously, she was a senior executive with roles at Epic Games, Activision Blizzard, Vivendi and Disney.

speaker-0: We're going to have a great show. Welcome to Films Not Made. So Effie, can you give us your sort of one sentence pitch for the project, The Sisterhood? ⁓ Like if you're in a CA conference room or how would you, you know, talk about the project? I don't know why that is shocking to me that you would ask me that. And that would be the first question. Like, I don't know. And I think that might have been one of the issues that we've had. But to me, the sisterhood is so much more than a book or piece of IP. It's actually a movement. It's a story about what can happen when Black women come together. And it's done in the vein of, because back in the day when we were doing this, we were very comp heavy. It's sort of when it was before, so this is longer than my one minute pitch, but if anyone knows me, I do extracts. it's before, remember it was before Black Panther. It was before all of these things. People weren't, they didn't quite hear it. They didn't quite know. So for me, it's more, it's more than a book, it's a movement. And it's about what happens when women, particularly women of color can come together and what they can accomplish. And it's done in sort of the world of like a thriller sort of thing. Born ultimatum. you know, know, hi, like government think like, you know, like, ⁓ I'm not scandal, but what is the, this is back in the day. We can't talk about it anymore, but like, ⁓ the Kevin Spacey Netflix, remember the house of cards, house of cards, house of cards, like born to made him house of cards, but set with sisters that are fabulous and coming together longer than one sentence, but it was entertaining. But Nicole, think who's the writer probably would have it better. And don't get me in trouble. You see her looking at me. You're going to be, cause she's like, it's been a while.

speaker-1: Yeah.

speaker-2: No, no, it was, it was perfect. There's so much of my heart and soul in that story. And so it brings me joy when other people see it, you know, like there were, I don't know what the next question is, but I will say that there have been times in my life that, and I, you know, I've never told you this either, Effie. There are times in my life that just you, believing in that story. Like there were times in my life where other things were just shitty and just me believing in my story. Like sometimes that was the raft. That was the life raft. And I don't think I ever told you that.

speaker-0: No, ⁓ my god, that's so like we're all gonna get fucking we think it's gonna be real No, no, but it's like I have to say and I know this is probably taking a turn from you guys But like I mean I still feel we're gonna make this and I'm hoping that like this is and I feel we were a little too ahead of its time Yeah, it was before the woman came it was before like black panther was before there was We're female empowerment and people, women of color empowerment wasn't threatening. Do you know what I mean? Like people, when we were starting, people were like, they're like, say what now? You know, Effie, I think like there was a narrative back in the day, probably around the same time that these films had no foreign sales value, right? I had the rights to a book with someone else called ⁓ Third Girl from the Left by Martha Southgate. ⁓ Yep. And I developed it. This woman, Colleen Smith, wrote the script. was an amazing project. Colleen. She's great. She's amazing. I had Viola Davis attached. I had Kerry Washington attached. And I walked in with my producing partner and it was a studio and their foreign salesperson was in the room and they were like, do you know how much this film is worth internationally? And I was like, I don't know. You're the expert. They're like zero. I was like, I'm sure it's not zero. ⁓ my God. No, mean, the audacity, the audacity that people had, was, it was brutal. And they probably felt more comfortable saying it to your face where we would get, ⁓ that's great. know, like all of that sort of thing, or even just the sort of like blank stares. like, wait, what are you guys doing? Wait, they're coming together because their community was being poisoned and they got together to figure out an antidote or like how, like what? But now I feel like people will be like, ⁓ I see it. And also I feel that like, you know, I'm taking another whack at it. It's still alive and it's still happening. I was just like, these motherfuckers, sorry, curse a lot, but I was like, yeah, these motherfuckers aren't weren't ready for anymore. Yeah, they weren't ready for us. Yeah. And now they're ready for us. And I'm like, and it was great because I was like, ⁓ maybe this could be the thing. The world has caught up. Yeah. These amazing projects.

speaker-1: Will take us back Nicole to you know the inspiration for it kind of the first spark was there like an image or a story you had read or or like where what's the origin.

speaker-2: The way I paid for my last year of college was I won a beauty pageant. I, you know, and so as a part of like, because I didn't see myself as a beauty queen, I did a lot of volunteering. And I would do these workshops with girls all across the city, all kinds of girls, you know, all, all races, like all backgrounds. And I would, you know, Talk to them about how to be successful, least through high school to college, because I was a very intense young person ⁓ for a lot of reasons. so I would go in and I would give these talks because I had a tiara and kids looked at it. And I would always ask the teachers to pull a subset of girls aside. pull aside the girls that you feel haven't dropped off yet. And so they would pull the teenage girls aside who they were like, she hasn't dropped off yet, but we think she might. And I would do these one or two hour workshops after I main talk. And so the one where the sisterhood came out of is I had done this and I had a group of girls in a room. And one of things I would have them do I would say, ⁓ I would have them say to each other, I'm smart, I'm beautiful, and I can have anything that I want. And they couldn't take it. Like they couldn't take it. And so when the rest of the girls wouldn't see that, she'd fall into tears. And so I remember leaving one and, and I was like, I'm going back to my life. They're going back to their lives. And how do you really stay with someone? And then I remembered, you know, my first year in college, I, ⁓ you know, I read Anne Rand and I became an objectivist for six months. Until I realized, you know, it's hollow. There's no magic in that world. And I was like, ⁓ that's the way. Because, you know, like if Anne Rand had not written fiction, no one would know who she was. She'd be like a minor.

speaker-0: Yeah, exactly.

speaker-2: philosopher on a Wikipedia page somewhere. ⁓ And that was really the ability with a story to really get into someone's head and have them try on a philosophy or try on a way of being. That's really what fiction and also movies allow people to do. And so in that single drive home, it was like it came to me like, ⁓ there's this group of black women and they create a global company and the company, it was like... the whole thing in one download. So was like a 45 minute drive. And by the time I got home, it was the story of the sisterhood. And then I spent 16 years writing it. I spent like 10 years researching it and thinking about it. And like, how would you actually transform an entire population? then what would that mean for everyone? Because I've always been about everyone too. So what would that mean for everyone? like the, you one of the, the, the cusp of like the action happens because these women become influential beyond their core. So I spent about 10 years researching it and, you know, and then I finally put, you know, ⁓ pen to paper, but the story is actually like, it's exactly what happens. It's the exact download. never, you know, the details changed, but. all the major beats are pretty much the same as when I was 23.

speaker-0: That's amazing. You hear that a lot about creative inspiration, right? It just sometimes just comes like all at once, fully formed, and then doing the work.

speaker-2: There's a lot more to this life and being human than I think is obvious. so, you know, it is kind of strange that a 23 year old woman would have an entire download of how you would do a thing.

speaker-1: How does it move from then book to, you know, adaptation? it like, we're going to make a feature or we're to do a TV thing and give me and what year were we talking?

speaker-0: I don't do things in years. ⁓

speaker-2: HA!

speaker-1: What era? What presidential administration?

speaker-0: drinking then. That's I'm saying. Like I wasn't sober then. So like, that's how long ago it's been. I've been sober for 19 years. So like, it's been like, I remember, like, one of the things that I loved about Nicole, and we knew about this material is that and this was before there was a metaverse, you know, people were talking about, we were literally we were like, this is a community. It is not only a movie, it's books. It's also Activism it's workshops for women for young girls coming in like when Nicole was talking about amplifying your inner most like you are beautiful You can have anything you want and you're like, oh shit, like just vibrationally you're like whoa Like I get like freaked out Do know what I mean? Like what like all of these things can happen and also her working in video game, know and gaming and all of that You were so far ahead of your time, right? You're talking about the IP and

speaker-1: I'm not

speaker-0: Yeah, I put this is where we were going. so what might have done and I'll take some owner, I'll take the ownership of this. It might have been to like we could do everything that people didn't know how to glom on. Like we were so like that they were a bit like, we just know how to do like a series. Is this going to be like, or is this going to be like, you know, they didn't quite know. as for movie, they were like, and this is like, I think Tyler Perry was just coming on the scene. Viola wasn't even a thing. That wasn't even her show. You know what I mean? We were pre-that. We were doing the boardroom, what I love about this book and also movie, it's brilliantly set up now because it's an ensemble.

speaker-2: Sorry.

speaker-0: Because we know now that stars want to be a part of a television series, but they don't want to carry the entire series. we had like, you know what I mean? So you have Vivian, you have these people that can come in and I'm like, now we can cast it up. So we didn't know what it was going to be. And that might've been the thing where people couldn't latch on. We even tried it as a web series. We tried like a lot of different things and people were just like, don't get it. And this is where it gets personal because it broke my heart. When people didn't see what we saw and they were actively against it, it broke my heart. And I wanted to protect the baby. Do you know what I mean? I was like, I'm like, will protect the baby. And it was so what I think this is a blessing, you coming out and being like, Hey, FB, is there a movie that you didn't get made? And I'm like, And then it was bizarre to be like, like, there's a little something. Yeah, like, I think it's time for me to come out again. Do you know what mean? And it was the sisterhood of like, think it's time. And also, you know what I mean? I'm I'm a little I'm much more established in my career. Yeah, much more like two fucks to give. Do know what I mean? I mean, I'm on the line. You have this deck, guys. You sent us your deck. Yes.

speaker-1: Yeah, there was a lot.

speaker-0: And there's like, I was so impressed. You had like focus group materials, like you really put a great case forward. You had like marketing proposals. Like this is what I think filmmakers need to start doing now. Like you really set out the case and the audience and all of that. Yeah.

speaker-2: Yeah. Yeah. mean, it's like market research. And so, you know, like one of the other things that, you know, is interesting about the book too, and what's different now is that like when I first did it, you know, I was in video games, I always loved action adventure, ⁓ you know, type things, I always love thrillers, but I also really liked character development. And so I was really getting sick and tired of stories where women were not ⁓ you know, heroic, you know, so you'd have a, like when you would look at what was out in media then, and only really has started to change in the last like seven years, but in action adventure, were, and women were always, or thrillers, women were always, you know, the mirror to a male lead, you know, and,

speaker-0: They were lucky. If they lucky. If they weren't the wire or the sister or the...

speaker-2: It was always a satellite around him. Or if women were central, it was basically what I call, you know, get a man, got a man. ⁓ please, can I have a man type stuff. The woman was central. It was like, you know, again, her relationship to, you know, usually a man. Yeah. And if she and if the, you know, and if the and if she was present, ⁓ it was usually as a foil to like. you know, ⁓ show some level of, you know, like a minute level of character development for a man on a mission. And I was like, why can't women save the world? Like, why can't women actually save the world? I really wanted that. Like, I wanted to save the world, you know? So it's like, wanted to see something where I was in the middle of it. And so now, you know, I think all across, you know, Netflix and Amazon and...

speaker-0: have to.

speaker-2: in films, you know, like women are in these central roles in there. The thing that I haven't seen yet that is really a core part of this book ⁓ is that, you know, in it, they face a danger, but they solve it together. And so there really isn't any I can't think of any any media where women are sharing power effectively under crisis. ⁓

speaker-0: Super interesting, I love that. Yeah. Because it has to happen now. ⁓

speaker-2: Yeah, and in the book too. They don't agree about the solution. So it isn't like kumbaya sharing power. Like, you get the brownies, I'll bring the popcorn. It's like they're like, you know, they're strong, intelligent women. Some are married, some are not. They all have healthy relationships, whether they are aren't. And they have a variety of origin stories. And when they face this challenge, have they have very like, they're strong, they have very distinct, differing points of view about how to get it done. And it gets really tense. but they have respect for one another, they love one another, and they have a shared goal. And so no matter how rough and tumble they get with each other, it's towards the goal. But the one thing I haven't seen yet is women ⁓ sharing power together to accomplish a goal.

speaker-0: And Effie, did you guys work with a casting director? What were your, you know? Was that a time? we did is that we went to a couple of directors. Yeah, but we did. also, I want to high five Nicole again. What Nicole did, the marketing of this book is like each book had a separate number. Like if you were gifted this book, you were able to log on to a website. had like number one. and they had you and you were able to join this community. And so we had this, right? that's That's so cool. great. then it just was like, we were a little too ahead and we just couldn't get the traction. And people were like, we really like it. But like the people that are big now that could get something green light were not, they were big, but not green lightable then. Do you know what I mean? Like that are like the black women directors that were doing shows on Netflix. Do you know what I mean? Now I could go back and be like, girl. And were you looking for a woman director? Were you priority? Of I was. Yeah. I've always been like, even from like, you know, firm believer of like, you can't make something about us without us. Yeah. Period. Do you know what I mean? So it was very important of like, it's women of color behind the scenes. Like, know, Nicole being the originating IP, me producing, looking for someone to actually write. the script and to direct, it was a little too blackity black for people just to sort of be clear about it and the way to womanly, you know what I mean? They were like, ugh, now, you know, in light of this administration, I feel like now is the time to do something like this, because it's like, film is acting, you ready? Like put your money where your mouth is, who's ready to like, you know, to make this? We were looking more for director. And we even like nowadays, like the... The woman that was coming up before that wanted to do this has now reached back out again and to be like, maybe it's like a limited series. know what I Like everybody's got a little bit more zhuzh behind them. But we didn't have a cat, like now, and also remember I was much younger in my career. Yeah, now you have some crop tops. Now I know to be like, you know what I need to do to make, like now coming out, like this will be our coming out party. where I'm like, you know what, I now know who to go to because every actress of note has a production company. Every actress of note wants to have meaningful producerial participation and ownership because a lot of what Nicole's book is talking about as well is ownership. It's a power. It's ownership. Also for money and to be like, and stop asking people if you can earn your own money. You have your own money. You don't got to ask permission from somebody else because you've got your own and you're able to give to other people. I'm preaching. Get off my seat.

speaker-2: You know, it made me think like there's two things that are also, I think, just on time. One is, ⁓ you know, one of the, like the origin things about the women in the book is that they had ⁓ deeply internalized that no one is coming to save us. we want a thing, we have to build a thing, we have to create a thing. And I think where we are in the world right now is everybody realizes that no one's coming to save anyone. And I think that that's a good thing because what I've seen just in terms of some of my own work in other things, the willingness to partner and for people to build together, I'm seeing sort of like calcification around systems and institutions fall away because as long as there's like this, ⁓ as long as there's this fantasy that someone, maybe the federal government is going to come and save you in some way, ⁓ then, you know, people can sort of delay their own action. with that, it's very much a story about a group of women who say, okay, you know what, we are going to build and create goodness together in our communities and we're going to be and we're going to be strategic about it and we're going to be disciplined and focused and we're going to do it together. So I think that is going to land on fertile ground in a way that wasn't really available a little while ago. And then I think that the second thing that's really important is, so I spent a great deal of my time in the future of work. I advise global organizations on human and AI implementation and I invest in technology for human potential and I organize a big event called Human Tech Week, which brings together people really looking at the future of health, the future of work, and the future of cities, which I think are the touch points for human flourishing. And then really how do we leverage AI and technology to support humans to heal, and thrive? And so with the future of work ⁓ and just what's happening with agentic AI and a bunch of other things, it's like there's a thing around ⁓ collective ownership and You know, and there's a modern version of this ⁓ around collective ownership and tokenization of things. But what never goes out of style is leverage.

speaker-0: ⁓ interesting. Preach. I got like that super. Yeah.

speaker-2: Yes. Leverage is about people working together. Leverage never goes out of style. So what the women in the book do now looking back is that, you know, they really understand how to create, co-create leverage. And that leverage is about like, you know, like really good systems are ones where, you know, everyone actually really benefits. Like people talk about win-win. but they usually mean like, it's a nice way to get you to accept my terms, if I say that a lot. But like a true win-win. And so in the book, the women, ⁓ one of the things that they do is it's sort of like at the right moment, ⁓ every member gets shares and they're based on very clear and transparent ⁓ criteria. And it's this idea that when the ownership of the thing, is distributed to every person who benefits, there is no heart to strike at because it's in too many places.

speaker-0: I'm learning so much on this podcast. That's what I'm saying!

speaker-2: really timely. You know, people are starting to figure that out around the future of work too. So that too, Effie, I think will land.

speaker-0: You're like Yes, I agree. Did you guys do studio meetings? Did you have any like I think I was close to HBO. We did. feel like and keep me honest here. I feel like it was a thousand hours at HBO. I know we went to YouTube because they were doing content. I was doing that right. And I'm trying to remember if there was somebody else. Do you remember Nicole? No. Is this with pre Netflix? We like to hear kind of like, you know, funny story like the toughest blow. But what was the toughest? was funny to me. There's I mean, I have to say, I know funny like I like funny, you know, but I say like this was it was a truly a breaking of my heart. And I remember talking about it and I just see this young woman. Yes, young. Yeah. White woman that didn't get it. Yeah. She just was like, we did a teaser. We did the teaser with like the really. Blowing up and a woman walking through. We a whole week.

speaker-1: What?

speaker-2: We filmed trailers.

speaker-1: Gigi and Zoot!

speaker-0: that we could do to be like, well, Now we made one for you. I know. We're dying to see. But like, had like, that's what saying. We did everything we could. I just had this moment where I have to go back to God and be like, what is meant for you was meant for you. And every time, like everything has a season. And I'm like, I think this is our season. We were a little too pre. But that was amazing. I want to say it was at YouTube where I just saw that she was just like, I could see the glass in her eye being like,

speaker-2: Yeah, for you.

speaker-1: Please send

speaker-0: What is this? And then when I get nervous, I talk a lot more and I start getting more like that, which made her more fucking confused. And the woman that was directing this or writing it was like, they're like, Effie, she had no idea what you were talking about. that's like, right.

speaker-2: They don't get it.

speaker-0: I can't understand something for you. I can present something to you. can show you can't make you understand it if you don't.

speaker-1: Yeah, make you give a shit.

speaker-2: It was interesting because it was also at a time where, like the way that the one of the things that the book did to people, because it gets inside your head, people read it at the level that they need it to be at. so, it's better than I get from women, not just black women, but I mean, mostly black women, but just women in general, where they were like, they would say, I've decided to bet on myself.

speaker-0: of where they can.

speaker-2: Like they'd read the book and then they would like if they were on like if the woman was like on a cusp of a decision that included betting on herself. If she read this book, she'd bet on herself. I love that.

speaker-0: going to be time. Like I do feel like now we were just ahead of our time and everything is a building block. And also I think we can probably what I didn't think what we have now is a bit more capacity for empathy and grace for those people to be like, Oh, you're not there yet. Like, do you know what I mean? Like, and to be like, and you know, it's okay, like you're we're gonna get you there. But I do think now we're at such a tipping point. And our year 2026 of our dear Lord, you know, already, like this to like, want to know like, like, we tend to ask like, what would you do differently now? But that's sort that's an interesting sort of ⁓ looking back at the younger you is there something you would do differently? And differently?

speaker-2: Revolution or could have done? We did everything, everything possible. Yeah. You know, it was just really just a matter of, you know, of timing and one one. Also, one other thing Effie that I just realized is different is that, ⁓ you know, the like, the the older people now are different and the young people are different too. Like they are like this system doesn't work. You know, not get jobs out of college.

speaker-0: 100 % Yeah, like this is a rig that this system is rigged

speaker-2: do feel that no longer touches the ground. people are, you know, like they're really different too. there's a place, there's a, like people are hungry for a path through where we're at. And so, like, we should take this out again. I think the world.

speaker-0: 100 % I'm saying like, that's something I'm really grateful that you guys, the film's not made. I'm really like it truly, if you only, and Amy, like, you know, because you could hear the tenor in my voice, I was low key offended that you would even call me about this. Do you know what I mean? It was weird. No, had to do my own come to Jesus about it. I was like, Effie's not coming on the show, Avi. Like, all her projects are being made. Or she thinks they are. just that, it like,

speaker-1: That way

speaker-0: It was really beautiful. And thank you for having the grace and to be like, come on, girl. Everything happens for a reason. was like, thank you for this. I was like, right. Producers, have to believe, we have to put so much grace beyond reason. Yeah, we just are going to will it to really is. Will it into being. And that's why I was like, on my deathbed, I'm doing a Grace Jones movie and I'm doing this.

speaker-2: Well, as

speaker-1: It's a force of will. Okay.

speaker-0: That is it. Let me know if I can help with that Grace Jones movie. know what I mean? love her. Do you know what mean? I think she should be in the sisterhood. That's what I think. Okay, so let's talk about that. That's casting. You didn't reach out to any cast, right? Or did you? Did you like go out No, it was more director. I could feel it was more director.

speaker-2: you know, as you would talk to people who are coming up, like they were all very interested. ⁓

speaker-0: I'm about green lightable people. there was a few, yeah. mean like actors, like there were actors who are now, are like, could green light something. Then they were like maybe doing like a Sundance film or they were on a TV show, like they got a shot. Like there were certain things that people like, ⁓ my God, yes. That they were into it. But I'm starting, when I'm thinking about getting something set up where like someone would finance our movie, I feel like I was going more after like the The director. The director, right? And then like, and then the directors were like, well, let me see the script. And then there weren't a lot of that. And then as for, but now, like what's different now, you know I mean? It's like, Tiana, hey Angela, like, you know what I mean? They have the production company, they have a power base. And also I do feel like just from being in the rooms with them now, everyone's like, this shit is hard to do on your own. And it's also like, we all want to work like we like,

speaker-2: Yeah.

speaker-0: All of those celebrities kind of want to be like, wouldn't it be great to do like something together to do our own ocean 11? But behind the scenes, but in front of the scenes. Do you know what mean? Like, and really have that, like they're really like, it's now, it's now possible. There's just, the world is different now where you could be like, okay, let's go back in and there's a listening. Anyway, we're going back out. We're doing it. Thank you. Avi, take it away.

speaker-1: We take all the stuff that you sent us and your script, your marketing, character descriptions, all of it, deck, ⁓ and we put it through our own ⁓ AI pipeline. ⁓ It's fairly agentic also as well. We're going to share with you the deck now.

speaker-2: Now we have some disclosures. Films Not Made uses AI to reimagine movies that were never produced. All the materials, pitch decks, trailers, and posters are AI generated. Any likeness of real people are speculative and synthetic. No real actors participated in their creation. This is cultural commentary not endorsed by any individual or studio referenced.

speaker-0: development. Oh my God! You did it! Carrie and Angela! There they are! Carrie and Angela! You got them! Look at that! And there's a security guard in the back that looks like he's peeing in corner.

speaker-1: This is the title page we're looking at, which highlights. ⁓

speaker-0: We like to describe things for our audio.

speaker-1: Kerry Washington right in the front of this kind of glass and steel, very modern entrance to some kind of high tech building. Of course, a wetted down street just outside. And it's actually Washington, D.C., I think, because there's a... Is that the Washington Monument?

speaker-0: ⁓ yeah, there's a monument right there. AI loves a wet down by the way.

speaker-1: Okay, and so and it says in in like kind of a gold font ⁓ Embossed the sisterhood of film by Nicole Bradford and Effie Brown We asked the the system to give us a logline and kind of a pitch at the logline It came up with is after their founder is assassinated a secret sisterhood financing a vaccine that could collapse the global drug economy is targeted by elite trusts controlling governments and cartels, forcing a hardened security chief to choose survival or independence.

speaker-0: Okay, can we just have this moment? How relevant is this right now? Exactly. Okay, go ahead. Also, I love the pitch because ⁓ they always come up with comps and this is in the vein of the Da Vinci Code meets Widows. Could be interesting. Yeah. This is sort of a propulsive conspiracy thriller about power and refusal. A covert network of women of color has quite built wealth.

speaker-2: intelligence and influence

speaker-0: while funding a vaccine that would destroy the drug economy, ⁓ sustaining a global underclass, their founders merged, markets cartels, this is amazing. And politicians moved to erase them. I watch this immediately. I'm already like queuing it up. Yeah, as investigations close in and bodies fall, the sister must accept protection from a store broker

speaker-2: side weather, deductive European power or risk annihilation.

speaker-0: Nation to remain free. It's a thriller about who really runs the world and the Okay, I want to say this somebody write me a check Call me You can't tell me this isn't the shit okay, go ahead and there's a picture there's a little picture in this very Boardroom and the right there the real

speaker-2: saying no.

speaker-1: There are these rings

speaker-0: I don't know what the thing there's a there's a there's a glass of whiskey or something Big ice cube and then there's what's in front of it

speaker-1: Yeah Are making up technology, Nicole?

speaker-0: ⁓ my god.

speaker-2: I wrote this in the early 2000s and basically it was like a computer screen on a circle. Okay. And so they could see like all of their data in these models that they would use. So this was pre Google Glass. This was

speaker-0: ⁓

speaker-1: Yeah, ⁓

speaker-0: I think they stole your idea. That's what they read in. All right. So far you're doing good. This is the part where we.

speaker-1: Way ahead. Alright We ask it for a style and it comes up with the

speaker-0: A Gilded ⁓

speaker-1: Well, these are these these style names are like those Netflix like sub mini genres.

speaker-0: Power interiors. Until they don't more rings like streets every every.

speaker-1: Yeah, it says it says Gilded

speaker-2: it makes us.

speaker-1: Yeah, the camera lives close to faces and moments of trust and snaps wide to reveal surveillance, distance and threat.

speaker-0: Okay, okay.

speaker-1: control positions, shallow depth for secrets, deep focus for exposure. Lighting is motivated, phones, monitors, streetlights spill so the world feels watched. The color palette, obsidian blues, bruised purples punctured by gold, like hope under pressure. It's the florid, you know. So then we move right into casting.

speaker-0: I love it! Terry Washington. Uh-huh. Danielle Deadweiler. She was in Till, right? Yeah, yeah. Till, Piano Lesson. And she did that great movie, the Canadian movie with the zombies. Yes. Yeah.

speaker-1: ⁓ The picture of her, she's like, she's like practicing karate. ⁓

speaker-0: outside in the like and there's rain outside. Look at that. And she's sweaty.

speaker-1: Yeah. She's the chief of security. So she's got to, you know, she has to train.

speaker-2: I'm having such an incredible experience, like, looking at all this. like, they would all be great.

speaker-0: Yes, they're hired. All of. Yeah, I love Danielle Deadwiler. I also think Tiana would be super cool, too. Do you know what I mean? my God. Leshawna Lynch, do you know what I mean? Would be amazing. There's a couple of folks like, but hey, here's the thing. Super cute. Like, love like all of that is like it keep going. Yeah, keep going. Yeah. You would be there.

speaker-2: Should be amazing.

speaker-1: All right,

speaker-0: She's authoritative. And on your new Ellis. Yeah. She's bringing the heart and still is a badass. Shut the front door. Love Viola. Viola. I work with her. Do you know what I mean? You can see she feels like she's done this. Oh my God. I love it. OK. Yeah. Let's talk about our movie. Yeah. OK. Laurel Martin with Nicole.

speaker-2: I loved it.

speaker-1: So here we go. See you can pass the deck right to her.

speaker-0: ⁓ Exactly. The financial mastermind. She's typing in a it's raining all the time in your movie. It's very Blade Runner and there's a man walking in one of the back screens. Oh yeah. that. She's ready. Oh wait keep going I want to see more.

speaker-1: like a security. All right, here's Pamela Purrington Griffin, original sister, a woman passing in white power circles whose exposure risks love, identity, and the mission itself.

speaker-0: Okay, let me go here. You know who would be great is like a Rebecca Hall. I think this is the thing for me, and I know Ruth already did this with Passing, but like ⁓ Rebecca Hall or that girl that was in Sinners. Do you remember? know she's like, that's what mean. She has to really, anyway, but I love all of this because I don't care what anyone said. is for black, this is with black people. We know Ruth, Tandy, and Zazie. Girl, you ain't passing. But anyway. Exactly. ⁓

speaker-1: We move into Jorge Griffin, venture capitalist, Pamela's husband.

speaker-0: ⁓ my god. follow a whole Instagram channel that only Pedro dances. All I have to say is Oscar, I I love all of them, trust and believe, but Oscar Isaac. Yeah. He's an intent according to AI. We have on screen, like, he's got his head in his hands. A redacted, he's like the Epstein file.

speaker-1: Amazing. He is looking at it redacted.

speaker-0: I hope he's not in there. Okay, he's in New York and it's raining out. Okay, and Javi Harkin, the Little Mermaid, hilarious. was like, there's many more things. Little Mermaid, I was like, I don't know, F1, there's a lot of other things. I know, I was like this, like Javi, you know what I mean? No catch for old men. It's okay, like all weird stuff. Scientists. Scientists.

speaker-1: He's upset about something, that's for sure. That's the pose for him. And Donna Harrod.

speaker-0: All of it. Yeah, right. Love. All of it's good. The keeper of that scene. The addiction. Sanaa is great. Sanaa is a really great actor. love Uzo. Is that something her name, right? was Uzo Adoba. great. And Cynthia Areva shut the front door. Yeah, yeah, totally.

speaker-2: on a

speaker-1: ⁓ yeah.

speaker-0: Not wicked but in a case it's Wicked or doing the best you can she's doing bad. Okay. Okay

speaker-1: Take it up with the machine. All right. ⁓

speaker-0: Chuck. Yes. You got some test tubes. ⁓ wait, we've got to know why there's all those white women on the wall, but that's OK. But anyway, he's judging. Look, he's got a really.

speaker-1: He's looking for clues. He's like Sherlock Holmes. Wow. Is this a clue?

speaker-0: I guess. my god, that's hysterical. John David Washington. That's ⁓ he's amazing too. Aldous couldn't go wrong with any of them. Aldous was in. And also in Cross, which is on Amazon right now. Right. It's And I got Wonder Man. Dude, your cast has you like totally green lit now. All I'm saying is.

speaker-2: Okay.

speaker-1: ⁓ yeah.

speaker-0: You need to send this to me. I'm going to put my name on it and then we're going to go. Right? Yes, go take it. We'll provide it.

speaker-1: And here's our power, the power broker.

speaker-0: He's in a museum. He's lost a museum. Do you know the love that I have for Mads Mikkelsen? I ever share that with you? I don't know why. Why is he Indiana Jones? he's basically... He's in everything. Did you see another round? Another round? No, when I say it is filthy, my love for him.

speaker-1: Bring it on!

speaker-0: I can't even talk about it. But I love the phone, like the brick phone that's sitting there. Let's talk about his picture. He's like, he's got a brick phone and he's got a whiskey, I guess. That's still whiskey. It's right. But he's wearing a wonderful black.

speaker-1: Yeah

speaker-2: This is from the first time that Tanya and Renee meet is in a museum where he owns most of the things and he gives her a satellite phone, which is why I think it's so huge. It's like a satellite burner.

speaker-0: EOS's dinosaur

speaker-2: to like for them to coordinate because he actually wants to consolidate the trust so he's going against his like own people and planning to use the sisterhood to

speaker-0: ⁓ my god, I this! So he's a good guy.

speaker-2: He's a good guy.

speaker-0: Hey! Are they hot? He's a billionaire. Are they any... You're billionaire. Are you a good guy? Okay, anyway.

speaker-1: Right, then we just have some storyboard frames here. We've got Tanya and... ⁓

speaker-0: ⁓ my goodness. Regina, how did we forget Regina King? Yes, Regina's in the top.

speaker-1: We got some police kind of like looking at files.

speaker-0: He's magnifying glass.

speaker-1: The magnifying glass, gee whiz. Corny.

speaker-0: To say, you know, that's his thing, you know, and we're going to be fine.

speaker-1: He's got to make sure it's all there.

speaker-2: The bottom right is after they have ⁓ Tanya and Renee have basically killed the bad guy and Tanya is collecting DNA to be able to tie the knots for the HSBI case so that they can know that he killed a bunch of other people. she's connecting the dots in their case.

speaker-0: Because Tanya is thorough.

speaker-1: We have some poster ideas. You guys could just go right out.

speaker-0: ⁓ yeah. The first one is you set it up at Netflix, guess. Okay. I love that the white man's at the top though. Okay. Of the first sisterhood. That's hilarious. Really? And he's wearing a monocle.

speaker-1: That's how you know he's the bad guy.

speaker-0: But he's at the top of all the women. Okay, got it. Variety though. Okay, that's a razor sharp thriller that hits like it's like truth. The night at the museum we went to Sundance and Toronto

speaker-1: Alright, you guys are Yeah, that's the more festival prestige.

speaker-0: Yeah ⁓

speaker-1: Hollywood Reporter said it was elegant, devastating, and quietly revolutionary.

speaker-0: Not quietly. My goodness. No quiet. You know? Shout, shout. That's not bad. You know, they're scared of women, so quietly doing anything is fine. Do you know as long as we get the job done? Oh, Neelan. Look, Neelan picked it up. Maybe they picked it up at camp. Oh my goodness. All right, Tom Quinn. Tom Quinn. Quinn. Picking it up. A knockout genre film with a con...

speaker-2: ⁓

speaker-1: The last one is.

speaker-2: One thing that I would definitely change is that this should be a film by Effie Brown and Nicole Bradford.

speaker-0: You know what, girl? We got this together. We gonna get this together.

speaker-1: That's a legal AI thing that is out

speaker-0: You know, it's all good. I just want the baby to get done. And this is so good. I love all there's microphones, there's a fire anus, a metal anus, there's a whole thing, don't know what's happening, but it's okay. It's good. It's very cool vibe, very blue. There you go.

speaker-1: Then we have some some some bio so you know when you when you pass it around people know I've got.

speaker-0: I love that. Is that me? ⁓ my God. I am on set bound now. Thank you very much. I am much more pulled together. you know what mean? You're on a back lot. I'm in the back again with that brick with the satellite phone and a clipboard.

speaker-1: You're in the back lot there. Alright, so you know you know you mean business

speaker-0: Exactly. I want my assistant. need assistance behind me. And I need that, but it did have my red dreads. Okay. Let's see. She's produced a claimed features. Okay. I love it. I love all of it. We're going to get, we're going to get my figure together. I want to be a little bit more glamorous. Okay.

speaker-1: You are gonna kick someone's says, FET Brown is an award-winning film and television producer and an industry leader in inclusion-driven storytelling. She's produced acclaimed features, including Dear White People, Real Women Have Curves, and But I Am a Cheerleader, and has been a visible advocate for equity both on screen and behind the camera. Brown is also the CEO and majority owner of Game Changer Films. The Equity Fund launched to finance narrative features directed by...

speaker-0: It's only that last part we're still true. After COVID and all that, things took a turn. But anyway, it's all good.

speaker-1: We have one of Nicole too, so we can...

speaker-0: Alright, let's see if Nicole like a supermodel. Nicole looks like a supermodel. You both are in trench coats. Oh my god, she looks like a fucking supermodel!

speaker-1: compare and contrast. That's really hard working!

speaker-0: She has like a classical and like, okay, okay. She's also got a satellite ⁓

speaker-1: Do you what I mean? She's riding in night boat. She's in museum.

speaker-0: You're outside in the rain with a clipboard. I mean, I feel that.

speaker-1: It says Nicole Bradford is a creator and executive working at the intersection of story, technology, and human potential. has an MBA from the Wharton School, teaches lectures in academic settings, including Stanford. And she is affiliated with Singularity University as faculty expert focused on human transformation and responsible AI. Bradford is also the novelist behind The Sisterhood. bringing a systems level lens to power, institution and liberation. Exactly the engine that drives this adaptation.

speaker-0: Okay, all right, they went with her. Good job. We'll keep on with this. is good. What do you think, Nicole? What do you think?

speaker-2: You know how they say it's like, it's really hard to see the picture when you're, you know, when you're, when you're standing in it. And so it's just, it's, you know, it's just always interesting to see, you know, how things read from the outside and reading that it's like, yeah, that's, know, All of this is true.

speaker-1: All right We got one more ⁓ last page is kind of a wrap-up why this story why now It says the sisterhood lands in a moment when institutions feel both omnipotent and broken when surveillance is ambient Addiction is monetized and the truth is a battleground the story names the real fear Not that power is chaotic, but that it's organized A secret network of women of color builds an alternative system, wealth, protection, care, and is punished for it. The twist isn't the conspiracy. It's the refusal to collaborate in oppression. Add a vaccine that could collapse a global drug economy, and suddenly, this isn't just a thriller, it's a reckoning.

speaker-2: Why now?

speaker-1: All right. And then there's an ending promise for the project. And it says, sisterhood survives, exposes the frame up and refuses the devil's bargain. The road killer is unmasked, the trusts are revealed and the women choose sovereignty over safety. The final note, the vaccine is within reach and power now knows there's a force it can't buy or bury.

speaker-0: Give me the money. Someone reach out to me. will give you the wire account information. We have a caller. We have a caller. I like this. Okay, I have to say I was.

speaker-1: Operators are standing by.

speaker-0: Okay, AI! 1-800. Thank you for saying a thing. that was, that's exactly, but imagine that trying to do that 15 years ago. it's really interesting, I think of those people, weren't, talent that are now green lightable weren't even doing, like they were just starting out. Like, do know what I mean?

speaker-1: So we also have a trailer now.

speaker-0: I haven't seen the trailer because I'm not allowed. you did really well with the deck. ⁓

speaker-1: And we'll talk about it, you

speaker-0: And we will talk about it. If you are listening to this, my role is finished.

speaker-2: Thank

speaker-0: Do it.

speaker-3: you These beams were supposed to be solid.

speaker-0: We've been infiltrated. I am my sister's keeper.

speaker-3: We require your best. No excuses, no limits, no fears.

speaker-1: The reports that Homeland Security is investigating a group...

speaker-0: called the Sisterhood.

speaker-3: This can't get out. I want you to get inside. Find out what they are.

speaker-0: Andacorp has the missing protein. It's a vaccine.

speaker-3: We end dependency on coconut.

speaker-1: Power doesn't fear you, it owns you.

speaker-2: You

speaker-3: think they can stop him.

speaker-0: New foster, okay. Whenever we are challenged, we must be prepared. Yes, I am a black woman, a proud. you

speaker-3: Chill, Roenick Marshall.

speaker-0: She wasn't just killed. She was tortured.

speaker-3: ordered me to seduce you.

speaker-0: Okay. Try it.

speaker-3: don't think you're criminals, I think you're the target.

speaker-0: The trust in an underclass.

speaker-3: To stay frame you. Move! you We are

speaker-0: Now and forever. raining. Amazing. It's a little long for a trailer.

speaker-1: Maybe. It's an extended trailer.

speaker-0: You know what? It's obviously better at decks. It's okay. Strong suit is this but Nicole, you're the AI genius.

speaker-2: I actually started crying a little bit during it because it's like, this started for me in 1994 to like actually see it, to actually see it. It's just incredibly, you know, it's incredibly moving from just an AI standpoint. There's only one, you know, super weird thing. was like when she did her roundhouse kick. It's like her legs suddenly moved. ⁓ But it was at the end of the kick. It was like the way the kick finished.

speaker-1: We're going to bring on our film executive.

speaker-0: Hey everyone, it's Sophia. Ann's finishing up on her end. She's you to jump in so we don't waste your time. And I'm physically incapable of letting a meeting start late. So this works out for everyone. Quick heads up, we've only got 10 minutes today. And it's nothing work related. Her dog has a vet appointment that got bumped up. And apparently rescheduling means a three week wait. And if you've ever met Ann's dog, you know that's not happening. So tight window, hard stop, but she is very into the sisterhood. Like brought it up. twice before coffee into it. She'll come in hot on character and tone the second she's on. So Effie, Nicole, start wherever feels natural. She'll be right here. ⁓ my god, you have to go first Nicole. I'm a little like Ben Tana, I'm like ⁓ this, like... And I'm a little like, this is a lot for me at the end of our two hour, okay. Hi Anne, how are you?

speaker-1: and And we've got Effie and Nicole here. We sent over ⁓ the project, The Sisterhood. I hope you had a chance to look at it. I know you're busy. You got a lot of projects. if you just want to start it off, Anne, and give us your kind of just top of mind thoughts on the project. Hey, Amy, Avi, Effie, Nicole. Great to see everyone. Thanks for sending over The Sisterhood.

speaker-0: Let me.

speaker-1: We pull up what we've got right away. I love the ambition here, especially the focus on female friendship with that supernatural twist. But I am seeing the ending stack up a bunch of reveals and reversals. By the time we hit the cemetery scene, it's almost too much for a first watch. Have you thought about spacing those payoffs earlier or is the density at the end intentional? Want me to dive in on structure next?

speaker-0: Thank you so much for your thoughtful ⁓ insight into the project. Right now, it's a book and we have a couple of different ways to go about it. We could be a feature, which would be 90 minutes to two hours, and of which things would be parsed out very differently. Or if we were a limited series, let's say a six, one hour limited series. we would be able to spread that very dense section at the end over three episodes, which would be three hours. So it really depends upon what your appetite would be, whether it be a feature or a limited series.

speaker-1: Okay, so from what I see, the sheer volume of twists and character reveals, especially in the last act, feels almost tailor-made for a limited series. The feature version risks feeling rushed, especially with all the supernatural lore and the shifting alliances. Do you have a gut sense of which format you're more drawn to creatively, or is this still totally open?

speaker-0: I think that we would love to do a limited series that would possibly lead into a longer series or an anthology. But I do feel we have enough for solid six to eight episodes, one hour episodes.

speaker-1: Love that. Six to eight hours gives you real room to breathe and lets each secret land. Looking at the trailer beats, you've got at least four major reveals, the attic, the old diary, the ritual scene, and the cemetery. That's plenty to anchor a season. Do you have episode by episode outlines or is that still in development?

speaker-0: We have the thumbnails for episode by episode outlines, but we are looking for a studio partner or a network partner to collaborate with. So we're not intractable, but we definitely have a thumbnail or design of what these episodes could be.

speaker-1: smart. Having flexibility with the outline makes you a stronger partner for buyers. With the thumbnails, I'd suggest making sure each episode has one must-see set piece, like the attic or the ritual, so you can pitch clear episodes. Hey, Anne, ⁓ what do you think about casting? you know, how important would that be given what Effie is outlining here? ⁓ you know, who do you think could anchor this?

speaker-0: I agree.

speaker-1: Yeah, Avi, casting will be everything for this. In a limited series, especially one balancing friendship and supernatural stakes, you need stars with real chemistry who can ground the fantastical with emotional truth. One anchor with broad recognition. Think Regina King, Fanduay Newton, or Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Plus at least one rising or international name could open doors with buyers. Do you already have anyone on your dream board or are you hunting for types right now?

speaker-0: truth. We are actually in talks with a few actors that would be interested in this. For example, we're thinking Teyana Taylor, Angela Bassett. We love the idea of Regina King, and she also would probably like to direct as well. So that could be an interesting combination. So we have plenty of actors that would love to be a part of it. What I'd love to do with this limited time that we have left is, are you wanting to finance and be our partner in this project,

speaker-1: I'm not a financier myself, but I work closely with partners who come in at different stages, sometimes early, sometimes once there's a package or a studio on board. Are you open to attaching talent with IFCOM offers to help drive those financing conversations, or are you set on hard commitments up?

speaker-0: I am perfectly fine for an if come. We are looking for partnership and collaboration, but it would be with the streamer, our network, someone that already has a distribution output as Nicole and I already have this sort of studio and production part on lock. So we're definitely looking to have partnership with someone that has a distribution capability. Perfect.

speaker-1: That's the right strategy. Streamers and networks want to see you have both creative vision and real package heat. If come talent offers can move those conversations forward fast, especially with names like Bassett or King, are you getting traction with any distributors already or is that outreach just starting?

speaker-0: Well, we were wondering how you could be helpful in that.

speaker-1: Got it. Where I can really help is shaping the pitch materials. Episode map, casting deck, financial comps. So when you go to streamers or networks, you're bulletproof.

speaker-0: What would be helpful is your actual connecting us with ⁓ executives that have financing. As you know, we could be looking at a bidding war. So maybe those executives that are really excited about this, that you could champion our project to would be great. Who are those people, And can we get their number?

speaker-1: wish I could just hand out direct numbers on call, both legal and practical reasons, I can only make those introductions directly, always with a warm handoff, not a cold contact. But yes, I absolutely know who's buying right now in this lane. Are you looking at streamers first Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, or would you consider cable nets like FX or even premium like stars? This helps me target the right execs for your world.

speaker-0: But for those I would love to focus on Netflix, our movie MUBI, as they have a really good international reach as well. And of course, Amazon. FX, which is a division of Disney now and Hulu, I think could also be interesting as well. But basically, whoever is able to see our vision creatively and able to move as quickly as we want to move to catch this moment. is where we would like to go.

speaker-1: Perfect. That helps a lot. I'm close with execs at Netflix, Current Drama, International, Amazon, and Hulu Originals. And I know the Mubi acquisition.

speaker-0: Nathie, Nicole, I'm so sorry to cut in. just had to bolt for the vet. Honestly, I think she was one more good pitch point away from canceling on the dog entirely. She held on till the last second. Thank you both so much for walking us through the sisterhood. I was taking notes and I have to say, just personally, the dynamic you're building is really compelling. Not that anyone asked me, but they should. Anyway, if you want a next step, send over whatever materials you feel best. Capture the central relationship and the tone a few pages, a lookbook, whatever you've got. And we'll read it tonight and come back with notes. Thanks again. Really appreciate you both making the time. Thanks. That assistant is so high energy. can't take it. But someone should ask her because she's going to be running the studios. Exactly. Let's be clear. All right. Well, that was.

speaker-2: Why did Anne not think she could write checks? Is that sort of like...

speaker-1: Well... He's not the shot caller, I guess.

speaker-0: Maybe for legal reasons.

speaker-2: I was sitting here thinking, like, why isn't Anne writing checks? You know, like...

speaker-0: I know, because I should have asked, Anne, what is your job here? And where am I pitching? didn't ask you that. was shadow and like a true narcissist. I was only concerned about myself and our projects.

speaker-2: It was also about her project, like, you know, she was fairly certain that she couldn't write checks. so I was just sort of

speaker-0: She's all like, I can connect to it. can like, I don't need another creative voice in this. got exactly.

speaker-1: Need to hook her up to the ⁓ the financial agent.

speaker-0: Look up to the sisterhood and be like, Ann, bet on yourself, Ann, you can make this happen. You can finance it. You can. You know those people. Stop working for the man bringing us down. Come on, Ann.

speaker-1: So Effie, we know you have to run. it's just like the last question we kind of ask everybody is, and I think we know the answer, but is like, could we make it now?

speaker-0: Could we make this movie now? A thousand percent. And actually, can I also say before, like I high five you, I really love that deck and I would give you passing credit, I'm sure. I would give you a special thanks at the right now. I really love, I think there's something about that deck and I love how they phrase certain things which made us. think about things in a different way and sort of a different perspective because we have been with this project for so long where it's a bit of like, ⁓ right, when Nicole was like, ⁓ right, we are creating a new system of blah, blah, blah, liberate, you know what I mean? Like, yeah, we really are like that. So that's the thing. So I'd love to get that. don't know, it was lovely to see the trailer and I do feel like a, previous. You know what I mean? For doing certain things of like the beginning of the assassination, like we would use maybe for like vehicles. Do you know what mean? And there's a way to cut this up into like a one minute sizzle reel. Yeah, that's really interesting. Do you know what I'm saying? Would be like, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,

speaker-2: Exactly.

speaker-0: trailer, the teaser, the trailer. And also, I'm just really grateful to have this conversation because it's good to talk about this project again and get our game face on for when we get back out. Good. I'm really appreciative.

speaker-2: Thank you for passing those materials to us, because it would be really interesting. Imagine how many people would want to be on your podcast if ⁓ you actually helped us.

speaker-1: That's what we're hoping for. We want it made. We want it made. Yeah You've been listening to films not made but if you want an even better experience Check us out on YouTube where you can see all the new materials including the pitch deck and trailer

speaker-0: I you guys.

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