Erika Kennair considers her next project.
Erika Kennair is currently the President of Production for Extracurricular, working with Malala Yousafzai to provide scripted and unscripted film and television content in an exclusive overall deal with Apple TV+.
Most recently, Erika was Senior Vice President, Development, at Berlanti Productions, overseeing the procurement and development of new scripted and unscripted series for both network and cable/streaming. She produced Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics Choice, PGA, DGA and SAG nominated, “The Flight Attendant” for HBO Max (for which she was nominated for a PGA Award and an Emmy), “You” for Netflix, docu-series “Helter Skelter” for Epix, “The Girls on the Bus” for HBO Max and “More” for HBO Max. As Vice President, Comedy Development, ABC Entertainment Group, Erika was responsible for identifying and developing comedy series for ABC Network. She oversaw creative for “American Housewife”, “Splitting Up Together”, “Roseanne” and “The Connors”. Erika was also very active in the international comedy space, eyeing formats, attending festivals and establishing relationships with key comedy talent around the world.
Prior to joining ABC, Ms. Kennair was Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Syfy, since July 2010. She was responsible for developing new original programming and talent for Syfy and shepherded the series “The Magicians,” “12 Monkeys,” and “Killjoys”. Kennair joined Syfy in 2008 as director of Development. She also served as creative point on “WWE Friday Night Smackdown!” and was made an honorary “Diva”.
A Cuban-American, Ms. Kennair was voted one of the Most Influential and Powerful Latinos in Media by the Imagen Foundation four times. In 2013 she was named one of Hollywood Reporter’s Top Young Latino Decision Makers. In 2012 she was named to Multichannel News’ 40 under Forty, Variety’s New Leaders, CableFAX’s Most Influential Minorities in Cable, and was honored as a NAMIC Luminary. She is currently on the Executive Board of the Humanitas Prize and on the Education Committee for the Islamic Scholarship Fund’s Muslim Centered Writing Lab. Erika Kennair chatted with Forbes about her diverse career journey through the entertainment industry.
Goldie Chan: Erika, thank you for talking with us today. What has your entertainment career path been?
Erika Kennair: I was born and raised working class in New Orleans, so I had no clue what the “usual” path was into entertainment. After undergrad at Loyola University New Orleans, I was accepted into the MFA Screenwriting Program at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. I took night classes so I could work during the day. My first job in the industry was at Paramount Television Research pulling the ratings at 6am and faxing them to anxious producers.
After that I was hired as a Post Production Coordinator at Fox Searchlight. I worked on films like Napoleon Dynamite, Sideways, The Namesake, Water and Little Miss Sunshine. Everyone says, “We’ll fix it in post”, and I was able to learn so much about storytelling from watching cut after cut, seeing how the words on the page come to life.
In 2005, I was awarded the David and Lynn Angell Comedy Writing Fellowship through the Humanitas Prize. David and Lynn were killed on 9/11, and their fellowship gives aspiring comedy writers financial and professional support. This led to some unpaid freelance work on animated series, getting notes like “Would a flea say that?” I realized I wanted to be on the other side of the desk, asking more constructive questions and lifting up creatives.
Ted Frank hired me at NBC to scout diverse writers and directors for the network. There I created Writers on the Verge, NBC’s writing fellowship. I was fortunate to discover talented writers who are now successful showrunners like Meredith Averill (Locke and Key), Rafe Judkins (Wheel of Time), Lee Sung Jin (Beef), Rashad Raisani (911 Lonestar), Rick Muirragui (National Treasure), Lauren LeFranc (The Penguin) and many more.
Three years later I went to the Syfy Channel as a development executive where I cut my teeth on the Stargate franchise. I developed 12 Monkeys and The Magicians, and was even made an honorary WWE Diva for my work with WWE Smackdown!
After 7 years at Syfy, I moved to Comedy Development at ABC with a focus on the international marketplace. I attended the Edinburgh Fringe Festival many times, and worked with consultants all over the globe to discover new talent. On the domestic front, I developed American Housewife, Splitting Up Together, Roseanne and The Conners, as well as pilots that never made it to series.
Diablo Cody and I shot two pilots together that ABC did not love as much as we did. Both were executive produced by Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schecter, and Sarah convinced me that I was a producer at heart. Greg and Sarah hired me at Berlanti Productions. There I was reunited with Sera Gamble who I developed The Magicians with at Syfy. This time we collaborated on You for Netflix. I also developed and produced The Flight Attendant, the docuseries Helter-Skelter and several projects that are shooting now like The Girls on the Bus and More, both by the very talented journalist-turned-screenwriter, Amy Chozick.
I wasn’t planning on leaving Berlanti when I got the call about running Malala’s new company for Apple TV+. As a Cuban-American woman, I long for more positive programming about women of color. Not only was Malala funny, brave and incredibly savvy, but our visions were truly aligned. I took a leap of faith, and am grateful everyday to be her partner.
Chan: With so many projects that you’ve worked on over the years - what has been your favorite project that you’ve worked on? Why?
Kennair: Every project I’ve worked on is dear to me in some way, but I have to give a special shout out to The Flight Attendant. Steve Yockey created a fresh tone and style that broke the mold, and Kaley Cuoco brought Cassie to life with gorgeous dimension. It’s high-concept and fun, but also filled with depth — tackling alcoholism and trauma in a way I’ve never seen. And I got to work with Rosie Perez!
Chan: Sounds like there are a lot of inspiring people you work with. What is an inspiring story that has resonated with you?
Kennair: I’m inspired by Reservation Dogs and We Are Lady Parts. Both series are so singular, authentic and enjoyable to watch. They capture specific experiences and worlds with incredibly sharp, relatable perspectives while being unapologetically true to themselves. Absolute treasures that deserve all the awards.
Chan: Now, what are you currently working on?
Kennair: We’re mid-production on a feature documentary for Apple TV+ with A24 that Sue Kim (Speedcubers) is directing about the haenyeo of South Korea — this incredibly badass community of freedivers, all women and mostly elderly. It’s a fun and powerful celebration.
Extracurricular is also attached to a beautiful film called Joyland, directed by Saim Sadiq. It focuses on a family in Lahore, Pakistan, as their secrets come to light. It’s truly compelling with a spectacular cast. The film was winner of the Jury Prize (Un Certain Regard) at Cannes, and now it is Pakistan’s official entry into the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.
Chan: What characteristics do you look for in projects to back or support?
Kennair: Our goal at Extracurricular is to connect the world through fun and surprising stories about women of color that define them by their iconic personalities instead of their trauma. We’re seeking out the next generation of creators and talent from across the globe.
Chan: It’s great to have such a global view - what characteristics do you look for in people to support?
Kennair: I’m a sucker for an authentic, fresh perspective. We work in an industry that can be very fear-driven, with people looking to see what or who has already been proven a success, before they dive in. It’s a solid strategy, but it’s just not particularly exciting. That’s the great thing about working with Malala. She is fearless and absolutely true to herself and her values.
Chan: Any last branding or career advice for this year?
Kennair: I was an executive by 25, Vice President on my 30th birthday, checking off the to-do list of my life right on schedule. In 2011, I had a health crisis and was in and out of the hospital, eventually diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. My perfect plan went out the window as I learned to navigate life with a chronic illness. Certain people who had championed me started treating me completely differently, and I was terrified that I’d never accomplish my goals. Then a magical thing happened (yes, there was a lot of therapy involved), my priorities and values shifted. I realized that life was short and I wanted to make the most of it. It wasn’t about job titles or the goals I set for myself when I was younger. It was about being true to myself, and the people who I love. So for anyone reading this who has set some sort of ticking clock or ideal picture of success, know that there is more than one path to achieve your dreams. There’s no expiration date. Just be brave and be you.
