Producer & Participant of the APostLab Annual workshop in Bucharest, Romania, 2019
You participated in APostLab in 2019, right?
Tamara: Yes, in Bucharest, just before COVID. I remember it so clearly because it was one of the last in-person things I did before the world shut down.
What drew you to participate in APostLab?
Tamara: At the time, I was transitioning from producing television and documentaries into dramatic feature films. There’s this perception in the industry that drama is harder to produce than docs, but I’ve always felt it’s the opposite, you have a script, you know what’s happening, there are more rails in place.
Still, I knew I needed to strengthen my capacity. I had just directed a feature documentary and gone through post, and I was completely confused by a lot of the terminology. I’d often functioned more as a development producer (handling financing and creative), so I hadn’t been as hands-on in post. Suddenly, I was in rooms where I didn’t understand what people were talking about.
And to be honest, as a woman and as a woman of color, I felt that if I didn’t know what “the guys” were saying in post-production, I’d just be dismissed. Years earlier, I’d taken a course in camera, sound, and lighting for the same reason, so I’d be respected on set. For me, APostLab filled a knowledge gap that no other lab was addressing. Other labs rarely touch the technical side.
You applied with a project, what happened with it?
Tamara: That project was delayed for years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we couldn’t do much, and then the civil war broke out in Ethiopia, where the story was set. Even after the peace treaty, conflict was ongoing, so financing was impossible.
We realized the director needed to make a short film first, but Ethiopia has no financing tools, so it took a long time. We finally managed to make it, and it premiered in Cannes in 2024, went to Locarno, won awards, and then his feature script received the Next Step Award in Cannes. That win pushed the feature forward. It’s now about 40% financed, and hopefully by next year, it will be fully financed.
Looking back, what did you take away from your time at APostLab?
Tamara: The biggest change for me was learning to think about post-production from the very beginning—not as an afterthought. On one of my recent projects, the first thing I did was hire a post-production manager. Before APostLab, I never would’ve done that, especially in documentaries, where that role often isn’t budgeted.
What stuck with me is the mindset: producers need to understand enough to ask the right questions and plan ahead.
And what are you working on these days?
Tamara: About a third of my time goes into teaching with EAVE, focusing on co-production strategy and inclusive practices. On the production side, I have one project shooting this winter, a documentary in production, and a couple of dramas in development. I’ve structured my company so I usually have one project shooting each year and one moving into post the following year.
You mentioned bringing in a post supervisor earlier in the process. What makes for a successful collaboration?
Tamara: This is my first time bringing someone in so early, so I’m still learning. But one thing I already know: they need to read the script. Too often, post supervisors just look at the budget and schedule. Without a connection to the story, they miss the creative side of their role. Post isn’t just technical—it’s creative.
How have you been able to share the knowledge you gained with others?
Tamara: That was always my intention. I was living in Addis at the time and running training programs. COVID disrupted that, but we ended up launching a regional program across East African countries. We’ve occasionally brought in APostLab speakers, and the lessons about planning early definitely inform how I teach emerging producers.
What advice would you give to someone starting out as a producer?
Tamara: Many new producers don’t define their unique selling point. Everyone says, “I want to diversify the industry,” or “I make edgy films.” But those are just buzzwords.
You really need to ask yourself: Why am I becoming a producer? What do I want to add to the industry? What are my strengths? What don’t I know, and who can I collaborate with to fill those gaps?
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Tamara: I’ve been through many training programs, and most were disappointing. The only two that truly invested in participants and created tangible results were EAVE and APostLab.
APostLab has a clear vision, a real theory of change, and delivers quality results. It truly makes a difference.
Interview conducted by Monse Higareda Patrón (August, 2025).
