Chris Debiec On The The Rule-Breaking, Detail-Driven, Honest-Talking Path to Hollywood Production Success

Chris Debiec is an award-winning writer/producer/executive with a thirty-plus-year track record of producing film and tv series, working with icons across all aspects of the entertainment industry.

Chris recently moved from LA to Austin, and as a result of a serendipitous connection, we sat down to discuss his insights and experiences across his inspiring career. We cover a lot of ground in this interview. But what stood out to me was the combination of his willingness to take risks, to trust in his instinct, his fastidious attention to detail, a hard work ethic, and his brutal candor. 

• Securing a place in Disney’s Management Training program.
• How his free thinking led to his removal from the program.
• Chris explains how his brutal candor, combined with his hard work ethic, secured a position in Disney Film and Tape and craft service. 
• The serendipitous encounter with Martin Baker that set his future path through film and TV.
• Discussing why production is a combination of economics and creativity.
• The trauma of working on the set of the Crow when Brandon Lee was killed. 
• Chris describes why he left Disney to build a career in Hollywood. 
• Chris explains the work he did working with James and John Cameron on Cameron’s underwater adventure films. 
• We discussed the pivot during Covid when he and John Cameron supplied the film industry with PPE and protocols to enable production to occur.
• We discuss the importance of curiosity and creativity for producers.
• Where we will be in 10 years.
• His principles. 
• His advice to ambitious wannabe producers.

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