“Fake it till you make it” has long been a popular phrase in Hollywood; a reflection of the compartmentalization required to deal with the stressors this business can be filled with. Even Justin Simien advised in his episode of “What No One Tells You” that “telling the truth will get you in trouble,” a similar embrace of the “fake it” mentality and a valuable lesson for those creatives prone to saying things they maybe shouldn’t. However, in a clip from this week’s episode (featured above), Pinky Promise Films co-founder Jessamine Burgum suggests that faking it is not only becoming passé, but that it has only ever gotten people so far.
“Authenticity over everything,” she told IndieWire’s Future of Filmmaking. “When you’re a young person, just starting out in the industry, you can feel a lot of pressure to have all the answers. It’s competitive and you want to prove that you’re the right person for the job, but the secret really is just curiosity and hustle.”
Having produced indies like “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul,” “The Starling Girl,” “The Last Showgirl,” and Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut “Eleanor the Great,” Burgum and her team know what it takes to support fresh voices, but knowing that they’re worth supporting is also a special skill. She shared that what most attracts the people at Pinky Promise is an awareness and desire to grow.
“We as a team are always drawn to people that are willing to admit they don’t know something, and then go quickly find out,” Burgum said, “You can’t be afraid to be the dumbest person in the room.”
Burgum added that this doesn’t mean being stupid for stupid’s sake or treating yourself like you’re ready when you’re not, but rather embracing what you’re capable of and knowing the areas you need to improve on.
“I think that you will go far when you own what you’re really good at,” said Burgum during her “What No One Tells You” episode, “and you’re even better at owning what you are not good at.”
Watch a clip from her episode at the top of this piece. Want to find out more about Future of Filmmaking and “What No One Tells You?” Visit our new Future of Filmmaking landing page and sign up for our weekly newsletter, “In Development.”
