Cindy Cowan A Powerhouse In The Entertainment Industry Shares Her Entrepreneurial Journey
LBT: Did you have a ‘trusted’ advisor, mentor or coach with whom you have worked, consulted or confided in? If so please share a few examples of how their input has been invaluable.
I actually didn’t.
There weren’t many people I knew that were doing what I was doing back then. Most people couldn’t understand why I didn’t just become an actress or meet a man and call it quits.
I learned under fire but looked up to various women–who I wish could have mentored me–like Sherry Lansing, who ran Paramount when I started out and Ruth Bader Ginsburg who I always admired for so many reasons.
There was one man who changed my career though. His name was John Miller and he gave me a line of credit from a bank when I was just starting my old company, IEG.
He took me out to lunch one day and said he hadn’t started another company besides New Line or Miramax, but he thought there was something to what we were doing so he was going to back me and my partner, Graham. I am not sure where I would be without him giving us that LOC back then, so for many reasons I guess he was my angel at the time.
There was also a couple from the group The Fifth Dimension, Marilyn Mccoo and Billy Davis Jr. They gave me the courage to move to LA and follow my dreams when no one else believed I could. So, I guess, they count as my mentors, too!
Today I mentor anyone who needs my help. It is very important to me to leave a footprint.
LBT: Cindy please tell us about your business and how it’s unique. What was your motivation or inspiration behind establishing your business?
Just when I thought I was going to come back with a baby toe in the water, to see if I still liked producing, my company took-off with a vengeance.
For those that don’t know, I had retired for about 6 years before starting this new entity Cindy Cowan Entertainment.
I announced a true-life horror film with Sony and will have another announcement coming soon from the same studio. I am doing a music-based road-trip film with Lance Bass from ‘NSync.
I am going to India at the end of the year to film a political thriller with director Gary Fleder and shooting a small indie film in September with director Jeff T. Thomas. I am also developing a huge action film for another studio, not announced yet so I can’t say.
I also have two bio pics in the works; one in the faith-based world centering on Eric McElvenny who became the fastest amputee to ever run the Iron Man after losing his leg in Afghanistan, and the other on Jackie Mitchell, the only female to ever strike out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
I am about to get into TV with a project based on Ellis Island that is very near and dear to my heart for many reasons. We are also developing a mini-series with a well-known music group.
What makes my company different is that we make many different kinds of films, I don’t just stick to one genre. I do what I believe in, and that I know will resonate with an audience. I also have to like the people that are working on it with me.
Once I come on board a project, I am very tenacious and won’t stop until I get it made.
What motivated me to start CCE was the realization that there was still a need for good films and TV outside of the superhero universe.
I’m inspired every day to tell and watch good stories that both teach and entertain.
LBT: Balancing professional and personal lives is a continual challenge for entrepreneurs, how do you handle it?
This has been a challenge for me and is one of the reasons I retired for over 6 years from the business. When I was in the midst of my last company, my fiancé at the time, gave me an ultimatum: it was either him or my company.
After 3 years together, we broke up. I quit the business shortly after, selling my company, to become a girl again. I am southern and was raised to be the girl behind the man…I just always wanted to be the girl next to him instead.
It is still a challenge as our hours in this business can be very long, and my job takes me out of town for months at a time.
The one thing I will say though, is that this time in coming back, it very important for me to have a balance. Weekends are my own and my personal life comes first.
LBT: Cindy what drew you to the Omni Cultural TV Fest?
In a word…Kiki.
When Kiki first told me about her idea of creating this festival, I was in. We have been friends for decades and to me this was her best idea yet. Creators of TV have a very hard time getting in front of the proper people there are a ton of film festivals where you can network, but TV has been much more of a closed-door community.
Hopefully festivals such as OCTVF will change that.
LBT: What are you hoping to find at the Omni Cultural TV Fest that you might consider that developing at your production Company?
I am not sure, and that is what makes this so exciting. Discovering a new voice is very intriguing and since my company is open to doing so many different things, we will really have our eyes open for a new creator.
LBT: Cindy this is an excellent opportunity to introduce emerging producers. Do you have any expectations for the Omni Cultural Tv Fest moving forward?
My expectation for this festival is to become a destination for emerging talent across the board. This is only the beginning, a spring board so that one day your projects can be brought to fruition and be exhibited at a TV market such as Napte.
LBT: What does it take to sell a project and get it green lit?
A very strong voice to start. A passion to see it through.
A solid treatment, screenplay, look book, or if possible, reel to show your vision. The more you can do to drive your project forward the better.
If you are connected and can get to a show runner or talent that is viable in today’s market, by all means add that too. A good package will put your project on the front of a pile.
Then, have faith that the right people will love it as much as much as you do
LBT: Are there any exciting updates coming on May 1st?
Women In Film just joined us and became a partner.
We also have a lot of announcements to make in terms of our panels and the people that will be speaking on them.
How can everyone get involved with the Omni Cultural Tv Fest?
Visit our website: Omni Cultural Tv Fest
Submit your projects, volunteer, buy a ticket, visit a panel. We are open to all who have a passion for this medium.
LBT: Cindy what are the rewards you value most from starting and owning your own business?
There have been numerous rewards.
To start a company and have it recognized with so many awards and accolades has been amazing. Also, to be one of the first female trailblazers in my field has always left me with an incredible sense of accomplishment.
Couple that with doing what you love, getting the opportunity to travel all around the world, learning and creating the most fascinating stories, while meeting some of the most interesting people, and all I can say is, I feel blessed every day.
Likewise, I love to give back, sharing my ups and downs with people starting out in the business, mentoring them as they climb the ranks, and feeling proud to watch them succeed.
LBT: Any future plan for your business?
My business is on fire right now with all of the projects I mentioned before, as well as some I cannot talk about.
This year will see more studio based films, more television, and a cross promotion in music.
I also want to do more bio pics, where I get a chance to highlight the stories of some individuals that need to be told. In this crazy political climate, I think it is important to show films and TV shows where basic humanity was and is emphasized in a way that makes us reflect on our own lives in a positive manner.
It is really great to be able to share stories right now, I just hope that once again I can trailblaze into this new path and make a difference.
LBT: Thank you for spending some time us Cindy and best of luck with the Omni Cultural TV Fest and your many projects.
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