Lila Rodrigues

With over a decade tangled up in the wild world of entertainment, I've carved out a life that’s basically a mix between movie sets and airport lounges. Started out with a degree in Cinema—thank you, NYU—and some time at the Maine Photography Institute and FGV, because why not collect diplomas like movie tickets? In 2003, I packed my bags and took my show on the road, living abroad, soaking up stuff you don’t find in textbooks. I’ve played just about every role you can think of: assistant director, editor, director, and let’s not forget the glamorous grind of hands-on producing. These days, I’m living the Executive Producer/Development Producer life, which means I’m the one hiring and wrangling everyone from the interns to the stars, juggling schedules, and keeping the wheels turning—sometimes with caffeine, sometimes with sheer willpower. My job isn’t only about shouting “action!”—though that part’s fun—but also making sure the creative vision isn’t lost somewhere between financing, casting, and the chaos of production. If something needs fixing—budget, script, vibe on set—I’m on it. I babysit budgets so projects don’t go off the rails, keep my eyes on the writing and editing, and basically make sure every department isn’t secretly plotting mutiny. I make work schedules, double-check every detail, and chase down quality control like it owes me money. All that so, at the end of the day, what hits the screen actually looks the way it was meant to.