Hollywood producer Debra Martin Chase almost quit 10 years ago. But Vernon Jordan convinced her to persevere

“It was just a time in the business where no one was interested in making TV or movies about women, about women of color, about people of color. That didn’t happen,” Chase said in an interview on the main stage at LuckThe most powerful women’s summit in Laguna Niguel, California, on Tuesday. “I would go in and throw things and everyone’s eyes would glaze over.”

It’s a tough pill to swallow for Chase, who said she has committed her entertainment career to bringing more diversity to the big screen. She wanted to have an impact on culture and the industry.

“Then suddenly, I found myself throwing things at the wall,” Chase said. “It doesn’t mean anything to me. And if it doesn’t mean something to me, I can’t sell it.” At the time, she thought it was the universe’s way of telling her that she had made it in the entertainment business. She was with me at that time Disney for 20 years, but the people who invested in her personally have “long passed away”.

At that time, she thought of exploring other options including film finance or law (she earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School). But a longtime friend convinced her to follow that path—Vernon Jordan Jr., no less. Jordan is an American business executive and civil rights attorney, as well as a close advisor to President Bill Clinton and chief executive officer of National Urban League. He died at his home in Washington, DC, in March 2021, at the age of 85. Chase has known him since she was 18 years old.

He was an “expert in life and knew me well,” Chase said. “He sat there and listened to me as I poured my heart out, and he looked at me and said, ‘You’re too old to do anything else.’”

But Jordan also told Chase: “You have a great reputation, you have great relationships, you have great experience. You need to figure out how to make it work.” It was a slap in the face for Chase — as she literally demonstrated on stage — and kept her on the road to film production.

Sisterhood is the key to survival in the entertainment industry

In addition to Jordan’s advice, Chase and fellow panelists Pearlena Igbokwe, president of Universal Studio Group, and Nina Shaw, founding partner of entertainment law firm Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang, say there’s another key to success in Hollywood: sisterhood.

“Literally, these women helped me, and I know we helped each other,” Chase said.

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And these three women have supported each other for a long time. Shaw first met Chase when she was a summer secretary and Chase was a paralegal – and the two of them were friends. Anita HillThe famous attorney first gained attention after giving testimony during the 1991 Senate confirmation hearing for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, whom she accused of sexual harassment. Hill was also a summer salesman at the time.

“We are three black women,” Chase said, adding that she also met Igbokwe early in her career — and now the two work together. Igbokwe currently oversees more than 100 projects on more than 25 platforms worldwide, bringing us successes such as Law & Order And Hack. “It’s sisterhood.”

Chase also discovered other famous writers, producers and actors including Shonda Rhimes, Anne Hathaway, Blake Lively and Jesse Williams. Shaw credits Chase for introducing her to musician John Legend, who is now her client. Legend’s producing partner contacted Chase one night looking for a lawyer and Shaw happened to be in the car with Chase that night. The two of them went to Legend’s house that night and signed him, which led to other big connections for Shaw—including Quinta Brunson, creator of the hit TV show Abbott Elementary School.

While these three women are dominating the entertainment industry, none of their paths have been linear—or easy.

“I tell people that I have become a phenomenon in just 30 years,” Igbokwe said. “When I got this job as president, [people said] ‘she suddenly appeared. For some, it’s awareness. For me, it’s working consistently in business.”