It all started with an idea- and a film class. After taking and enjoying a collaborative film and acting class at their high school, juniors Phoebe Feldman and Emily Cohen got together and started their own company i10 Productions. TV Wasteland sat down with the co-founders to talk about the process of starting a company so young.

Going to school in LA, the geographic heart of the entertainment industry, was also a big help. There’s a script idea just around every corner and hundreds of possible locations. For Cohen, the range of locations in LA has been a big plus. Feldman is inspired by the infinite amount of ideas concentrated in the city. “We grew up around [the entertainment industry] and it’s such a prevalent part in our life in a way that it’s not in other places and for us that’s really beneficial because we’re constantly looking for other projects so there’s no shortage of work”, she explains.

At their school, Feldman and Cohen were given the opportunity to work together- Cohen would star in one of Feldman’s films and Feldman would get to watch a series of auditions from Cohen and her classmates. The next day, Feldman approached Cohen in math class and explained the idea. Cohen immediately loved it. “When Phoebe told me about it I was so down because I’ve only ever been in theater and I was auditioning for [Phoebe’s] film class and I’ve always been interested in the film aspect of entertainment, instead of actually being in front of the camera,” states Cohen. And so, i10 Productions came to life.

Starting out was not easy. Feldman explained how, because the films were being worked on by teenagers with hectic schedules, coordinating production times has been the hardest part. But there have been many positives. “One of the big motivators of starting this in the first place was making a more professional experience [for young filmmakers]… broadening that opportunity to anyone who wants to try [filmmaking has been really important].” Cohen likes how “[People] can all come together with all our different mediums of arts and create something great.”

This is no ordinary company- the co founders are only 16 years old and they’ve already worked with young stars like Iris Apatow. Yet Cohen didn’t think of the company to be “defined by [her] age, more just determined filmmakers wanting to tell stories they believe in. It’s the youthful determination and passion that fuels Feldman.“I feel like a lot of young projects fizzle out because they’re largely adult motivated but [the company] is completely of our own conviction. Having that self sufficiency has allowed us to be proactive in the way we work because we’re so determined to get what we want.”

The stories they are looking to tell are just as diverse as the city the company was founded in. “None of the things we are working on or have lined up to work on are similar and I love that about them all, [but something the stories] have in common are things that generally can get some emotional reaction out of the audience, whether they laugh, cry, or learn something new”, states Feldman. Cohen values stories that she thinks have meaning and are overall inspiring. 

Fast Facts

If you could make a new Oscars category, what would it be, who would win and why?

Feldman: Best international film director because we honor the films but not the directors and the directors category is crowded and I would have Celine Sciamma win. (Emily and I) love “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”. 10/10 recommend.

Cohen: “Best French speaking actor and Timothee Chalamet would win.”

If you could work with anyone, who would they be and why?

Feldman: I would work with Jodie Comer. Her acting range and accent ability is unheard of and how developed her ear is insane and she’d be so fun to work with.

Cohen: I actually love Adam Driver. I would so wanna work with him. I would also wanna work with Saorise Ronan.

“Lady Bird” or “Little Women”?

Feldman: Lady Bird. I didn’t really like Little Women. I thought it was fine but I got really bored halfway through.

Cohen: Lady Bird. “Little Women” was definitely was long but there were some good scenes. 

Favorite show to binge right now?

Cohen: “Killing Eve” is literally the best show in the whole entire world. 

Feldman: I watched “Killing Eve” in one day and as soon as I finished it I watched it again.

You can be a part of i10 Productions by exploring their website and following them on Instagram @i10filmproductions.