Nobody Prepares You for This Part: Imani Davis on Finishing a Film, Podcasting and Figuring Out the Rest
04/01/25 • 50 min
So much of the film industry is shrouded in secrecy—and Imani Davis is here to crack it open. In this episode, we talk about her podcast Players as well as what happens after you make the movie: the emotional labor, the financial blind spots, and the strategic chaos of trying to get your work seen. A producer, writer, and curator, Imani is a film programmer at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles, where she’s worked on events featuring filmmakers like Jordan Peele, Sofia Coppola, and the Daniels. She’s also the founder of PROOF, the Cinematheque’s first-ever short film festival devoted to proof-of-concept storytelling.
Her own creative work centers on reshaping the modern Western canon—diverse, character-driven, and unapologetically genre-blending. She’s currently rolling out her feature Year One, a coming-of-age film exploring mental health, belonging, and identity, starring Elizabeth Yu (Avatar: The Last Airbender, May December). She's also the co-founder of Rm. 19 Productions and a community-builder through initiatives like Film Girlz Brunch, a growing grassroots network of femme filmmakers in LA, New York and Chicago.
We explore why “distribution producer” should be a real job title, why filmmakers need to budget for their release just as much as their shoot, and how programming, podcasting, and film production have shaped Imani’s approach to audience-building. We also talk about the tension between vulnerability and professionalism, and how community-based initiatives are reshaping how creatives gather and grow. If you’ve ever wondered what comes after wrap—this is your episode.
Follow Imani on Instagram at @imanimdavis, and check out her podcast Players (@players_pod) wherever you listen. For updates on Year One and campus screenings, keep an eye out on Imani’s social media.
Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.
So much of the film industry is shrouded in secrecy—and Imani Davis is here to crack it open. In this episode, we talk about her podcast Players as well as what happens after you make the movie: the emotional labor, the financial blind spots, and the strategic chaos of trying to get your work seen. A producer, writer, and curator, Imani is a film programmer at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles, where she’s worked on events featuring filmmakers like Jordan Peele, Sofia Coppola, and the Daniels. She’s also the founder of PROOF, the Cinematheque’s first-ever short film festival devoted to proof-of-concept storytelling.
Her own creative work centers on reshaping the modern Western canon—diverse, character-driven, and unapologetically genre-blending. She’s currently rolling out her feature Year One, a coming-of-age film exploring mental health, belonging, and identity, starring Elizabeth Yu (Avatar: The Last Airbender, May December). She's also the co-founder of Rm. 19 Productions and a community-builder through initiatives like Film Girlz Brunch, a growing grassroots network of femme filmmakers in LA, New York and Chicago.
We explore why “distribution producer” should be a real job title, why filmmakers need to budget for their release just as much as their shoot, and how programming, podcasting, and film production have shaped Imani’s approach to audience-building. We also talk about the tension between vulnerability and professionalism, and how community-based initiatives are reshaping how creatives gather and grow. If you’ve ever wondered what comes after wrap—this is your episode.
Follow Imani on Instagram at @imanimdavis, and check out her podcast Players (@players_pod) wherever you listen. For updates on Year One and campus screenings, keep an eye out on Imani’s social media.
Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.
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Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.
Mischief and Mastery - Nobody Prepares You for This Part: Imani Davis on Finishing a Film, Podcasting and Figuring Out the Rest
Transcript
Welcome to Mischief and Mastery, where we embrace the ups, downs, and all around uncertainty of a creative life and that steady and sometimes not so steady journey toward expertise. Each episode, we talk candidly with people I know, people I don't know, folks who produce, direct, write, act, do comedy, make art, make messes, and make meaning out of their lives. You will hear guests lay out how they work, what they're thinking about, where they get st
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