Effie Brown, The Next Oprah?
Everything about film producer Effie T. Brown exudes confidence. Little details from her casually tied-back dreadlocks, to her enthusiastic smile and animated hand gestures make you feel like you already know her…and the interview only started ten minutes ago.
At 36 years old, Brown has worked with big names like director Tim Burton and HBO Films. She’s worked on sets with talent like Holly Hunter, Kate Hudson, Mark Ruffalo and America Ferrera. She’s even started her own production company, Duly Noted, Inc.
But beyond her impressive past, Brown hopes for a future without boundaries, sans stereotypes and with little limitation. “I want to be able to do it all!” Exclaims Brown, as she proudly straightens her black double breasted vest which lies neatly on top of a gray, collared shirt. This includes producing, directing, and professionally dabbling in the genres that she describes as guilty pleasures; horror and sci-fi. This does not, however, include a return to her roots as an actress. When questioned, “Why?” Brown responds with a raised eyebrow and a simple question; “Have you ever seen bad acting?”
Although she was raised in South New Jersey, Brown’s family relocated to Los Angeles when she was a teenager. Even as a young girl, Brown always knew she wanted to work in the film industry, “I was happiest in a movie theater and knew I somehow wanted to be affiliated with film.” Originally, she thought she would become an actress and went to Loyola Marymount University on a theater scholarship. But upon realizing that she couldn’t handle rejection, Brown switched her area of study to film.
At LMU Brown met her mentor, film producer Laurie Parker, through a program called Project Involve. Despite a rocky introduction where Brown dubbed herself the next Oprah, Parker took a liking to her. Parker gave Brown a job at her own production company. But soon after, Parker opted to leave in order to take a job working for director Tim Burton. She took Brown with her.
Brown worked in development for Burton, the auteur behind films like “Edward Scissorhands” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Although she admits he’s a creative genius, Brown describes Burton as “socially awkward.” She stayed with Burton’s team long enough to help them acquire “Sweeney Todd,” a musical that would eventually be made ten years later starring actor Johnny Depp. However, Burton soon fired Brown, Parker and many others in order to focus on his own career instead of fostering industry up-and-comers.
Undeterred, Brown found work in production on films like “But I’m a Cheerleader,” “Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her,” and “Real Women Have Curves,” establishing her reputation as a powerhouse in the world of independent film. “The stories I like to tell, a lot of studios aren’t really interested in,” Brown explains. “Anything dealing with people of color, anything dealing with women aren’t really deemed money makers.”
In 2001, Brown created her own production company, Duly Noted, Inc. where she is able to work on projects with characters and plot lines she feels passionate about. The results have been films like “Rocket Science,” “Exactly Like You” and “Polish Bar.”
A typical day for Brown already included showing up at the office, attending various meetings, casting sessions, and more meetings. But now, it also includes training for a triathlon. With so much on her plate, Brown says it doesn’t leave much time for a personal life. Additionally, she describes dating in entertainment industry as “awful.” But the raven-haired producer does have a plan for a family in the future which includes a man and baby by age 45. Brown is able to keep a sense of humor about these plans dictating her future, she believes that “as soon as you make a master plan it never happens.”
For her next big project, a making-the-band type movie seen through the eyes of supporters of the wannabe stars, Brown is enlisting the help of the big guns, producer Timbaland and a major studio. “You can call it selling out, but I’m going to a studio,” says Brown. “It could totally fail, or it could be totally fabulous,” Brown says of the project which is under the working title of “Vinyl.”
But regardless of the reactions of her critics, Brown is more concerned with creating work that makes her happy. “You’re talking about me? Awesome,” says Brown with a glowing smile and a hint of sass. “You’re gonna see it, you’re gonna download it and you’re gonna say what you’re gonna say, but I already have the money. Fabulous.” Equipped with her can-do attitude and experience, I wouldn’t be surprised if Effie Brown does turn out to be the next Oprah.
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