A Conversation with NYFA Producing Alum Dorottya Mathe, producer of the feature film Good Egg

NYFA Producing Alum & Instructor, Dorottya Mathe is the producer behind the feature film Good Egg. The film is distributed by Vertical Entertainment and had a one week theatrical run in five cities across the US, which started on November 17. The same day the film got its VOD release. Dorottya spoke to the NYFA Alumni Network about her career and producing Good Egg.

NYFA Alumni Network: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what brought you to New York Film Academy?

D.M: I am a New Yorker in mind but Hungarian at heart. I am from Budapest, where I worked over 7 years in the television business. As my desire for new challenges and further education grew, I decided to pursue my ambitions abroad. Prior commencing the One-Year Producing Program at NYFA in 2007, I traveled cross-continent to New York for an extended weekend to attend the Open House and I was fortunate to sit in on a producing class as well. 

This was an era predating the advent of social media so connecting with current students in person appeared to be the sole avenue to glean insights to their educational experiences. The multifaceted nature of hands-on training and the inclusion of internships within the curriculum were among the most enticing aspects for me.

Little did I anticipate that embarking on the Producing Course a year later would be a transformative, life-altering experience, especially considering my initial plan to be in the U.S. for only a year. It's hard to believe it's been 17 years since then. What unfolded, exceeded my expectations, intertwining not only my entire career and professional network but also many enduring friendships, collaborations all rooted in my time at NYFA.

My inaugural internship was with Jenette Kahn at Double Nickel Entertainment, the very company responsible for producing the recently premiered "The Burial," starring Jamie Foxx. The synchronicity is striking as 2007, the year of my internship, aligns with the acquisition of the film rights, marking the commencement of its journey to the screen more than one and a half decades later.

At its essence, it embodies sheer tenacity. It is such an inspiration that despite facing myriad rejections, scheduling conflicts, and financial challenges, Jenette Kahn and Adam Richman's steadfast belief in this authentic narrative eventually propelled it into the limelight.

To bring the narrative full circle, a couple of years ago, I joined Women Independent Producers, a global network of female producers, only to discover that one of its founders was none other than Jennette Kahn♡

Dorottya Mathe (Producer) at Good Egg’s World Premiere at the Bentonville Film Festival Photo by Justin Ford Getty Images

Dorottya Mathe (Producer) and Nicole Gomez Fisher (Writer-Director-Producer) at Good Egg’s New York Premiere at the Urbanworld Film Festival Photo by Chris Militzer

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about your latest project & how you got involved in the project?

D.M: In 2018, I joined Good Egg as a line producer, initially focusing on budgeting and scheduling. A year later, I transitioned into the role of a producer, thanks to the trust bestowed upon me by writer-director-producer Nicole Gomez Fisher, who entrusted me with such a deeply personal project. 

Our original plan was to commence shooting in 2020, but the pandemic prompted us to postpone, providing an unexpected opportunity to refine the script and extend our pre-production phase. 

As we embarked on principal photography at the tail end of the pandemic, it marked the first project for many cast and crew members post-Covid. The collective sentiment was one of eagerness to return to the set. 

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the camaraderie we experienced on set was unparalleled. GOOD EGG embodied all the aspects I envisioned as a producer and the approach I aimed to take in reaching those objectives while juggling 36 schedule iterations within a 24-day shoot. The project featured an exceptional cast, a skillful international crew, several accomplished female department heads, and the most exceptional production team I could have wished for. 

Several NYFA alumni played crucial roles in our Good Egg crew, such as Production Supervisor Anthony James Faure, a French-Venezuelan graduate in Filmmaking from NYC, and Assistant Production Coordinator Carolina Bradilli, a Brazilian alum from the Filmmaking program in NYC. 

Both are highly accomplished producers in their own right, who generously dedicated their time to come on board. Maxim Levin from Russia, an alumnus of the 1-year Producing program in NYC, also joined as our Office PA, taking steps towards becoming a producer.

Good Egg Movie Poster

Good Egg BTS Crew Photo & Photo montage (photos by David Hoppe, Chris Militzer, Dorottya Mathe)

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us a little more about the film's festival run and distribution deal? How did it come about? 

D.M: Concourse Media had acquired worldwide sales rights to Good Egg ahead of its world premiere at the Bentonville Film Festival.

Deadline article: https://deadline.com/2022/06/yara-martinez-bull-jane-virgin-concourse-media-good-egg-bentonville-1235049153/

GOOD EGG celebrated its world premiere at the prestigious Bentonville Film Festival in 2022, established by Academy Award Winner Geena Davis. The festival holds a distinct mission of promoting female filmmakers and supporting diversity both in front of and behind the camera.

From left to right: Founder of Bentonville Film Festival and Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, Academy and Golden Globe Winner: Geena Davis, writer-director-producer of Good Egg: Nicole Gomez Fisher, producer of Good Egg: Dorottya Mathe

Bentonville Film Festival marked an exceptional start to our festival journey, followed by screenings at renowned events such as Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival, Vali Film Festival, Cinequest Film and VR Festival, Albany Film Festival, Hill Country Film Festival, and the Women In Film Festival at the Martha's Vineyard Film Center. 

Photo montage from the Bentonville Film Festival (2022)

Our film made its New York festival debut at the 25th Urbanworld Film Festival in October 2022. The premiere unfolded in the prestigious SVA Theatre, captivating the audience on a gigantic screen within a bustling auditorium. This significant event, established by Stacy Spikes, perfectly resonates with our film's ethos, as it aligns seamlessly with the festival's commitment to providing a platform for underrepresented voices in the film industry.

Some of the cast/crew members of Good Egg at the Urbanworld Film Festival (2022)

from left to right: Joseph Melendez (Nick Mendoza), James Bartol (Production Designer), Nick Freeland (Agent Clark), Gopal Divan (Dustin Kramer), Nicole Gomez Fisher (Writer-Director-Producer), Dorottya Mathe (Producer), Haas Manning (Miguel Romeo), Nicholas Cirillo (Gio Mancini)

Ahead of TIFF in September 2023, Concourse Media has sold North American and UK rights on the adventure comedy Good Egg to Vertical Entertainment.

Deadline article: https://deadline.com/2023/09/good-egg-yara-martinez-tiff-jane-the-virgin-1235538905/

After a one-week limited theatrical release in the US, Good Egg is now available on Video on Demand (VOD) and Digital Platforms in the US, UK, and South Africa.

NYFA Alumni Network: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to Good Egg and others?

The invaluable asset provided by NYFA is the international network enabling me to engage in lucrative cross-cultural collaborations with team members from various countries. On the set of Good Egg, the crew represented over 12 different nationalities, creating a vibrant atmosphere adding a unique richness to our collaborative efforts.

I find the cultural juxtaposition within the NYFA community intriguing, including the rich network of accomplished faculty members, many of whom became my collaborators over the years, like Paul Warner (Women: The War Within), Thomas Barnes (Whales), Lanre Olabisi (The Storybook Ending), Maxine Trump (Should We Kid or Not?) or the Chair of the cinematography program, Piero Basso (The Independents).

The philosophy of "learning by doing" was my most rewarding yet challenging experience. Operating in the multifaceted role of producing compelled me to embrace the fact that continuous learning is inevitable. NYFA's advantage lies in providing exposure to various crew positions throughout the academic year, offering a glimpse into every aspect of filmmaking. This prepared me to discern the essential qualities of each crew position, which later I could implement in the hiring process.

Working within an international student circle throughout the academic year, where language barriers sometimes exist, enhanced my communication skills significantly. It taught me how to articulate expectations to my crew and assemble a team where individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds, experiences, and skills can collaborate harmoniously.

NYFA Alumni Network: Any advice for future producers?

D.M: I would recommend mastering the art of delegation - there's no need to shoulder every task alone simply because you're a producer. Skillfully bring on board the right collaborators who can form a unified team and provide steadfast support throughout the production and once you find them, stick with them for your future projects. Recognize your market worth; your skills and work may hold more value than you realize. Lastly, cultivate patience. Success won't materialize overnight; it's a continual learning journey. Fortunately, we're all privileged to pursue our passions, so savor every step of the process.

The NYFA Alumni Network congradulates Dorottya on all her success!

"Good Egg" is now available on Video on Demand (VOD) and Digital Platforms in the US, UK, and South Africa:

Amazon Prime

Google Play

Apple TV

VUDU

Trailer: www.goodeggthemovie.com 

BTS video: https://goodeggthemovie.com/behind-the-scenes-video