Are you curious about human stories that resonate deeply? Ever wonder how a producer develops stories to pitch for networks? How about pitch meetings and how to conduct them? We get into all of it and so much more with today’s guest Adrien Finkel.
Adrien is a photographer, writer, and producer of television. In today’s episode, we dive into the origin story of My Naked Truth, a visual catalog of quotes, personal confessions, and advice shared with Adrien by friends and strangers. She shares an intimate story of one of her photo subjects that deeply resonated with her during the process of making her book. We also discuss Adrien’s career as a producer for Funny or Die and what her day-to-day looks like. We also touch on pitch meetings and how to best prepare, along with the common qualities that make writers stand out during meetings and pitches. This is an absolute must-listen for Storytellers who are curious about human stories and the television world.
Check out these highlights:
- The origin story of My Naked Truth Project and how it came to life
- Adrien shares the story of one of her photo subjects that deeply resonated with her during the creation of her book
- We dive into Adrien’s career as a producer for Funny or Die and discuss her day-to-day
- We discuss what it’s like to pitch stories to networks and the best ways to present yourself at pitch meetings
- The common qualities that make writers stand-out during meetings and pitches
- We talk about making room for women at the table and the actions companies and co-workers can take to uplift the company culture
“I’m along for the ride. I love where I’m at now and as long as I love where I’m at, that’s what matters.”
-Adrien Finkel
“We all have to be a little less embarrassed about what we do and what we’re striving for.”
-Adrien Finkel
“We’re all pretty fragile, we’re all so creative, and we are all just trying our best. And there’s room for everybody at the table and that’s something that Hollywood has a really hard time with. I’ve struggled with it, especially as a woman, I look incredibly young. I think people don’t, sometimes, want to make room for me at the table. But I know that I need to be around the people that want to.”
-Adrien Finkel
Say ‘Hi’ to Adrien Finkel!
Official Site
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Instagram (My Naked Truth Project)
Instagram (Adrien’s personal account)
Instagram (Adrien’s baking account)
Learn More About “My Naked Truth”
In 2012, photographer and Hollywood executive Adrien Finkel turned her love of insightful quotes into a quest for hope and meaning. Armed with nothing but a camera and a black ink marker, she began asking friends, family, and co-workers to reveal what words moved and shaped them. The response she received was unexpected—timeless quotes were shared, personal confessions and advice flooded in, and total strangers wanted to get involved. My Naked Truth Project, a photoblog celebrating self-expression and emotional healing, soon became a safe space for people to bare all—mind, body, and soul. The experience transformed Finkel’s outlook on life. Now, in her debut book, she continues to ask the world: What’s your truth?
Intimate and empowering, My Naked Truth is a candid photo journey that encourages us to trust more deeply, open our hearts, and expose what matters most. All of us are searching for answers about what our purpose is and why we’re here. All of us have secrets to reveal. But when we share our hopes and fears with each other, we realize that none of us are ever really alone.
Learn More About Adrien Finkel
Adrien Finkel is a photographer, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles, California. When not producing television, Adrien devotes her time to My Naked Truth Project, a visual catalog of quotes, personal confessions, and advice shared with her by friends and strangers. She has a degree in dramatic performance and a French cooking certification.
