Elizabeth Cantillon
Elizabeth Cantillon is a producer and principal of Bisous Pictures, a romance label under MRC Film. In 2022, she completed a film adaptation of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION starring Dakota Johnson. You can stream it on Netflix.
A Los Angeles native, Elizabeth has extensive experience working as a studio executive and a producer. She also had a brief stint at the UCLA where she taught screenplay development for producers.
Cantillon previously served as EVP of Production at Columbia Pictures. During her tenure there, she oversaw Academy Award winners THE SOCIAL NETWORK, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and the last four installments of James Bond movies CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, SKYFALL and SPECTRE.
The films she has worked on as a studio executive have garnered more than $300 million at the box office worldwide.
In 2014, Elizabeth left Columbia Pictures to go back to her first love of producing with a first look deal at Sony under, “The Cantillion Company.” While there, she produced CONCUSSION (2015), THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB (2018), and PERSUASION (2022).
Currently, Elizabeth is producing THE NIGHTINGALE, an American drama film based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Kristin Hannah.
Gems from our chat include:
The difference between a studio executive and a producer
How to achieve gender parity in film production
The importance of setting boundaries
Recommended Reading
A Pound of Flesh: Perilous Tales of How to Produce Movies in Hollywood by Art Linson
Making Movies by Sidney Lumet
Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg
Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
Click here for the show transcript
Show Highlights
[00:02:43] How Elizabeth became a producer
[00:07:44] The biggest differences between an executive's role and a producer's role
[00:09:44] Why Carolina believes executives and agents should have on-set experience
[00:13:06] Elizabeth’s experience working as a female producer over the last decade
[00:14:23] How true gender parity in film production can be achieved
[00:17:28] Why mentorship in the film industry is important
[00:18:47] How Carolina’s work at ColorCreative can help young people enter the production industry
[00:21:41] How Elizabeth kept cynicism at bay given the nature of her work
[00:22:07] How Elizabeth navigated the lows in her career and what she learned from those experiences
[00:25:00] Why show business is an inherently emotional business
[00:27:30] How Elizabeth keeps herself grounded
[00:29:25] Elizabeth’s recommended books and resources for people who want to go into film production
[00:32:23] The challenges that Elizabeth faced when she transitioned from studio executive to producer
[00:35:53] How the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the decline of theaters
[00:36:42] How film exhibition impacted movies
[00:37:26] Elizabeth’s vision for Bisous Pictures
[00:40:43] Elizabeth’s career highlights
[00:43:11] Elizabeth’s advice for up-and-coming filmmakers and producers
[00:43:50] Lightning round questions
[00:47:05] How Elizabeth thinks women can get ahead in the film industry
[00:49:14] Closing statements