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Alexis Alexanian sits at a restaurant on 17th Street and 7th
Avenue in Manhattan. She has 20 things to do this morning but now
she's looking earnestly at a reporter trying to answer the
questions put before her, just like she might be attempting to
solve a production problem. A partner with Gary Winick in Gotham's
flourishing digital shingle InDigEnt, Alexanian brings to the
table years of experience as a New York production ace, having
worked as a coordinator and production supervisor on more than 15
studio films. "All I do all day is communicate and try to make
things happen," says Alexanian, a self-assured woman who has the
ability to laugh through the tense times. "We're managing so much
now and we're a real small company. We're functioning like a
mini-studio."
Alexanian wears many hats at InDigEnt: She's at times chief
financial officer, chief operating officer, a producer ---
overseeing a half-dozen digital video projects at once. Every day,
she deals with the nuts and bolts of bringing a movie to life: She
checks in with the on-set producers, makes sure crew members get
paid, examines and signs actor contracts, negotiates vendor deals.
"We don't have time or money to waste," she says. "We use our
intellectual capital and say to line producers, 'This is how it
has worked for us in the past and we will guide you through it.'"
Alexanian's days of working on studio pics directed by the likes
of Robert Benton, Alan Parker and Nora Ephron have also taught her
a thing or two about handling talent.
"You have Sigourney Weaver starring in your movie," says Alexanian
of working with the star of "Tadpole," a critical hit at Sundance
that was picked up by Miramax Films, "and you're running around
with none of the comforts she's used to. But I think there's an
art to making a star feel safe and comfortable."
Alexanian's cell phone rings. It's Winick calling from London,
where he's rescoring "Tadpole" in preparation for a summer
release. "Gary?" she says. "Yes, I can hear you. How's everything
going? Are you pleased with the facilities and musicians? Great!
Does it feel good? Terrific!" Alexanian's voice is calming,
assuring, almost maternal. "Being in the film business earns you a
Ph.D. in human nature," she later says. "You know how to push
people to do their best work and you learn how to handle them even
when they're at their worst."
Alexanian begins to chuckle. "Being in the film business also
makes you macho," she blurts out.
Primary credits: "Tadpole," "Personal Velocity," "Chelsea
Walls," "Tape," "Final," "Kill the Poor"
Definition of a producer: "I have always thought that a producer
is the person who helps articulate the director's vision. The
producer brings the bag of tricks to the director; together we
make the movie happen."
Strengths: "I instill confidence and trust."
Achilles' heel: "What is that again?! OK, I'm flat-footed!" |
