OWC RADiO – Karen Bolt, Danny Glover’s Development Executive, on Creating Films with a Purpose


Karen Bolt, the Development Executive for actor and activist Danny Glover, and an accomplished Independent Producer, is a close friend of our OWC RADiO host, Cirina Catania. Over the years, Karen and Cirina have collaborated on several of Mr. Glover’s projects, including insightful interviews with Bob Moses head of the Algebra Project in San Francisco and one of the key instigators of the Civil Rights Movement in the 60’s. They also shared memorable experiences in Salt Lake City during the filming of “Just a Dream,” directed by Danny Glover.

Karen’s impressive portfolio includes award-winning short films like “The Secret Weapon: Yesterday is Today” and “The McHenry Trial-Don’t Judge a Kid by Their Hoodie,” which have collectively garnered over 147 awards. In this episode, she shares invaluable advice for aspiring independent producers, drawing from her extensive experience in the industry.

Cirina says, “As a poignant aside, after we hung up, I realized that our conversation reminded me of the fact that it has been 60 years since the Civil Rights Act was passed—a milestone closely tied to the legacy of Bob Moses, a key figure in that movement. We’ll dive deeper into that topic in a future episode.”

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe and tell all your friends about us! We love our listeners. And, if you have ideas for segments, write to OWCRadio@catania.us. Cirina is always up for new ideas!

OWC RADiO is sponsored by Other World Computing, creating technology for over 30 years that is changing our media world for the better. As a partner to the digital artist, the company provides a range of 21st-century solutions to Capture, Create, and Collaborate. From live recordings in the studio, on film sets, in the field and athletic stadiums, whether ingesting data locally or to an enterprise rack; Other World Computing knows that there is no room for compromise when it comes to a creative vision.

Cirina Catania Host OWC RADiO
Cirina Catania Host OWC RADiO

Visit owc.com to maximize your budget, and find your perfectly reliable solution.

ABOUT OUR HOST: Filmmaker Cirina Catania, the Co-Founder and prior Executive Director of the Sundance Film Festival, and Founder and Lead Creative at The Catania Group Global, has been involved as a writer, director, producer, cinematographer or marketing exec on over 150 film, television and new media projects for the big screen as well as for networks such as National Geographic, Discovery, etc. She was a senior executive at MGM-UA and United Artists and is a member of the WGA-West, the PGA, IATSE Local 600, NPPA, the National Press Club, and more. Cirina lives in San Diego, D.C. and Berlin when she is not on the road filming for her projects or for clients, or speaking as a tech evangelist for companies such as Blackmagic Design and Lumberjack System. Cirina is the Founder and Executive Director of the High Media Collective (HSMC) a national nonprofit with top industry mentors bringing media literacy and new career pathways to classrooms across the country.