#128: Cassandra Johnson-Bekoe, Writer, Producer, Script Editor & Head of Development at DARE Pictures

This week my guest is Cassandra Johnson-Bekoe, a woman who wears many hats - among which are writer, producer, script editor and the current Head of Scripted Development at DARE Pictures. 

After working as a bouncer to fund her Screenwriting certificate from the Met Film School, Cassandra's way into the industry was through the Mama Youth Project in 2016. 

Cassandra was previously senior development executive at Daniel Kaluuya’s production outfit 59%, overseeing the company’s slate and generating new IP across international and regional markets. Prior to this she worked in scripted development. Her credits include “Ted Lasso” season 2 (WarnerBros/Apple+), “Riches” (Greenacre Films for ITV), “Secret Invasion” (Marvel Studios) and “The Chemistry of Death” (Cuba Pictures Ltd, for Paramount+).

Cassandra also co-founded the collective 'Black Women in Scripted' in 2020, and which currently boasts over 300 members - a mix of established and award-winning writers, producers, and execs, as well as new industry talent. 

We talk about the difference between pride and self-worth, how to set your rates as a freelancer, how to adapt to working at different companies, how securing an agent changed her career, how she treads the line between writer and script editor, how she gives notes and what it means to be a warm CEO, finding community in the industry and prioritising your mental health above all else.

SHOW NOTES:

• Mama Youth Project 
• Black Women in Scripted 
• Sister Pictures
• Vanity Fair article about the toxic atmosphere on the set of “Lost” 
• Find out where to watch Cassandra’s film recommendation I AM NOT A WITCH 
• For more conversations with women who work in development, listen to episodes of Best Girl Grip with Katie Sinclair and Dionne Farrell.