Meet Your Makers: Staying Hungry and Positive with Kat Glazer

Kat Glazer is a producer at film and branded content studio Bindery, where she’s been living the dream for the past seven years. Originally from Atlanta, Kat spent 10 years hustling in NYC and now calls Nashville, Tennessee home. She has been described as a bit of a unicorn in that she can account direct, agency produce, line produce, and post-produce – often all at the same time. Throughout her career she’s worked with clients such as Ally, American Express, Comcast, Bombas, Fiverr, Noom, Sony, Swarovski and Verishop, among others.

LBB> What first attracted you to production - and has it been an industry you’ve always worked on or did you come to it from another area?

Kat> I moved to New York with a musical theatre degree and a dream of being on Broadway. I quickly realised the audition grind was not what I wanted and fell into production after a friend brought me on to PA for some of her film school projects. I figured production was a logical pivot from the theatre world and was eager to work my way up and learn as much as I could!

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?

Kat> I started off working as an executive assistant and office manager for a production company that developed and produced reality TV shows. It was a great place to learn the ins and outs of every stage of production and prepared me to move on as a production coordinator, and eventually producer where I was able to have my hands in many different departments!

LBB> How did you learn to be a producer?

Kat> Trial by fire! When I started at Bindery we were a small team – everyone wore many hats and I jumped at opportunities to observe and assist in many different roles and responsibilities. I’ve had fabulous mentors and learned the value of asking questions, surrounding yourself with the right team, and collaboration. 

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?

Kat> I remember being very nervous about my first travel job on my own – it was in my early days of producing and I was running the project solo, working with a new crew and in a new city I’d never worked in or been to before. Once I got over that voice in my head telling me I couldn’t do it, I put my boss hat on and went to work! The shoot was a success and turned out to be one of my favourite projects of my career. You have to remember to trust your team and trust yourself to problem solve and be flexible. Things are bound to go wrong, but it’s all about keeping a level head and figuring out the best path forward.

LBB> What’s your favourite thing about production and why?

Kat> The collaboration. There’s something magical about arriving to set after days of prep and problem solving and finally seeing everyone come together to make it happen. I’ve been lucky at Bindery to be involved in many projects from creative development, all the way through production and post-production. My favourite projects are ones where we are able to work from the very beginning through final delivery, teaming up with amazing creatives and crew and having a hand in every step of the project. 

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?

Kat> Like any craft, I think everyone has their own unique way of producing. There’s certainly some level of organization and logistical skills required, but I think if you’re excited about the project and ready to jump into the task at hand it just takes an open mind and the ability to creative problem solve. If you’re armed with the right team, together you’re bound to pull anything off!  

LBB> Which production project from across your career are you most proud of and why?

Kat> I’ve been super lucky to work with some amazing brands that wanted to use their platforms to make positive change in the world or tell a bigger story to help their communities. From ‘Paradise Strong’ for Comcast, to the documentary ‘Out North’ with Fiverr, and recently a mini-series called ‘Rebuilding’ with No Kid Hungry and many more, it’s been extremely rewarding to spend a good chunk of my career meeting different people from different walks of life and having a hand in telling their stories. 

Comcast - Paradise Strong from Bindery on Vimeo.

Out North from Bindery on Vimeo.

No Kid Hungry - Rebuilding from Bindery on Vimeo.

LBB> What are your personal ambitions or aspirations as a producer?

Kat> I want to keep telling stories that matter and working with brands and directors who are driven to make a difference in the world, or in their communities. 

LBB> What advice would you give to people who are interested in becoming a producer?

Kat> Stay hungry, stay positive, and give it 110%! No matter your role in the production, everyone is key to making it a success.

LBB> From your experience what are the ingredients for a successful production?

Kat> A good team and a good attitude! There’s no problem that can’t be solved with a little creative thinking and flexibility – if you can remain calm under pressure and keep the good vibes going, at the end of the day that’s what everyone will remember the most.