
Lisa Normand ('02) used to spend countless hours practicing law. Now she works on award-winning TV shows and movies.
Normand was working at Dallas-based Haynes and Boone, LLP law firm in copyright and trademark when she pivoted from attorney to film producer. After overcoming the challenges of studying for bar exams and making her way in a new field as a first-time producer, she currently heads Dallas-based Camp Lucky's long-form division for feature films, often working with rising arthouse and independent studio A24, which made Everything Everywhere All At Once and Civil War. Normand creates content that has been featured at SXSW, the Tribeca Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival and theaters worldwide, and it all started with knowing how to network.
"One thing I always tell people looking to get into anything is request informational interviews. I cannot emphasize enough how much people like talking about themselves," Normand says. "It makes more sense to say, ‘I'm interested in what you're doing and would love 15 minutes of your time because I want to take this path.' You'll get so much farther with that conversation and that person will remember you so much better than if they just get an email with a resume saying, ‘If you have anything open, let me know.' That's how I learned about Camp Lucky and got this job after all."