The Diligent Observer Podcast Episode 52: "Film Changes Culture" | Show Her The Money Executive Producer Catherine Gray on Film as Impact Investment, Vulnerability with Persistence, and the Power of Like-Minded Capital
Today's episode explores three ideas that caught my attention:
- Film investment isn't always about ROI maximization – Many of Catherine's investors measure success by impact and community, not returns.
- Fundraising is a community-driven exercise - "You're not asking for yourself" reframes the entire process as mission-driven rather than personal. This is a powerful shift in perspective that stood out to me.
- Connection-making is a superpower - Catherine's emphasis on being a connector as free value creation made me realize how undervalued this skill is, yet how often I see it on display in some of the best people I’ve interacted with.
Catherine Gray is the Executive Producer of Show Her The Money, a documentary that has screened in over 200 cities worldwide, and CEO of She Angel Investors, where she's hosted over 400 podcast interviews with female founders and funders. A veteran media entrepreneur, Catherine brings storytelling expertise with thoughtful venture capital strategy to help address the 2% funding gap facing women entrepreneurs.
During our conversation, Catherine shares:
- The three-part funding structure for independent film projects
- A practical approach to film investment evaluation
- The "connector superpower" methodology
Connect with Catherine
Stuff We Reference
- Ky Dickens
- Dr. Silvia Mah
- Marcia Dawood
- Mel Robbins
- Andrea Quinn
- From The Heart Productions
- Fund Women – Save The World
- Millennials Are Killing Musicals
- Emily Ventures
- Stella Foundation
- The Angel Next Door
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All opinions are personal and may not reflect the views of The Diligent Observer. Not investment advice.