VIP Interview with Tugba Yazici, producer of the Pilot Episode ‘Echo’

Today, we introduce Tuğba Yazıcı, the talented producer behind the pilot episode Echoes. In this interview, we delve into the journey of bringing an indie project to life, exploring both the creative and logistical challenges that come with independent production. Above all, we focus on the driving force behind it all: passion.

Hi Tugba! What inspired you to pursue filmmaking, and when did you first realize you wanted to become a producer?

I am someone with many stories. There’s so much I want to share with the world, and cinema is a great way to do that! First, I am an artist and we artists create ourselves through experimental works. No limit restricts me in the field of art! Whatever I did, I did it not to search for identity, but to explain who I am. My biggest inspiration has been Picasso. Being brave and trying many ways of art inspires me. The COVID period has brought production into my life. First, during the COVID period, when our lives were restricted for reasons beyond our control, I produced an international film and the conditions were challenging. In the end, we succeeded, and a product emerged. Afterward, as a producer, I knew more about what I wanted in my second film, Echo.

You’re originally from Istanbul, where you studied Fashion Design in the Painting Department at the Faculty of Fine Arts. How has your background influenced your approach to filmmaking?

Yes, I am originally from Istanbul, but I have been living in America for about 9 years and in Florida for the last 4 years. I always aim to be universal in art. First, I studied Fine Arts Painting and then Fashion Design at Istanbul Fashion Academy. I have a brand that I created with the “Portable Art” mentality that I created from my paintings. Even though the surfaces change in art, the emotions are the same. Coming to the cinema industry from a different background brought me a different vision. In addition to producing, I also work as an art director. Art director; It is very important that the product has aesthetic properties and is passed on to the person. They take an active role in every step of a project, especially in choosing costumes, venues, decor, and music. They help environmental factors develop and progress in a certain order. That’s what I’m doing at the same time. I did the styling of the American shooting of the film and designed some of the costumes.

The locations are truly stunning. Where was the pilot shot, and how challenging was it to find historically accurate locations in cities around the world?

Thank you very much. 😊 Echo Pilot Episode was shot in Rome-Miami and St Augustine. The locations were truly extraordinary. The cities we chose already had their own unique identities, and we first determined the locations to be shot according to the scenario. Of course, this is what needs to be donefirst, it is necessary to consider the budget plan when determining. Obtaining and contacting the necessary permits was part of the film process, and I thank Miami Dade and St. Augustine County for their support with the necessary permits. By the way, for those who don’t know, I have to say; The film industry is now shifting from California / Hollywood to Florida. That’s why Miami has a fast schedule in terms of film shooting, and we shot Echo during Miami Art Week & Miami Basel. Even at that intensity, we worked very harmoniously with Miami Dade. We were in constant contact. The Rome shooting was the responsibility of LP Production and our director. Rome; No matter where you shoot it, it’s an incredibly beautiful place. That’s why our Italian production partner organized the shooting locations. If you don’t have a very big budget in international projects, it makes sense to have co-productions… When you work with the right team, you can overcome difficulties. Otherwise, no one could progress in life. Let me tell you a secret: The biggest key to progress in life is “Passion and Good relationships”.

By the way, I would like to thank our sponsors and our director Livia Oya Proto, because we moved forward together. Our film is an American and Italian production. Our biggest sponsor in America is ARTTMODERNMIAMI MEDIA and our sponsor in Italy is LP PRODUCTION. Our director Livia Oya Proto and LP Production undertook the historical places and shooting locations in Italy. Miami and St. Augustine shootings were created with the support of ACT CONTEMPORARY, RED DOT MIAMI and MIAMI DADE, with ARTTMODERNMIAMI MEDIA as the main sponsor. I would also like to thank production manager Cem Adalı,and İbrahim Güldiken for the Miami home shooting and the entire ECHO team for their devoted and passionate work.

The producer Tugba Yazici and the official poster of ‘Echo’

The pilot is set in Rome, Miami and St. Augustine. Do you anticipate expanding the rest of the series to other Countries as well?

This is exactly our intention! Again, we are considering different cultures and countries and we are looking for partners in those countries. Maybe the next story will take place between New York-Venice-Istanbul. Peru-Havana and Cappadocia are also among the options… Our ambition with this project is to expand it and create an anthological TV series about extinct populations, adding a fantasy element to every episode such as the medallion. We aim to collaborate with talented creative, production companies, and distributors to bring this world to life through exceptional cinematography, art direction, and special effects, making each episode a memorable experience for the audience. Another ambition of mine is making our TV series heard internationally, as Denis Villeneuve says, “Cinema is an art form that is designed to go across borders”. Even with this interview, I feel we are on the right track.

What initially attracted you to this project, and what made you decide to produce the pilot episode?

If I said that life brought me to this role, I would be making the most realistic comment. Everything happened very spontaneously… It may be a classic saying, but “inspiration came from life”. One of our sponsors, Act Contemporary’s Founder Nazan Aktan, and I talked about making an art film while having dinner in Orlando in April 2023. The same day, I called Rome and spoke to our award-winning director. At that time, in addition to directing, she was criticizing cinema in the ArtTmodernmiami Newspaper and I knew her achievements in cinema. She was receptive to the idea of creating an American and Italian film. I contacted Melda Sherman, who lives in Boston and is the author of the bestselling book “Migratory Birds”, and then Livia Proto and Melda Sherman wrote the story and script of ECHO. Everything progressed so quickly and then a good team was formed, the project took shape and I found myself as the producer of the film. 😊 The secret is passion and personally, I am there when I feel that passion.

What was your strategy for assembling the crew and finding the right talent behind the scenes?

We made a good distribution of tasks. As the producer of the film, I found the necessary connections and sponsors. We planned and solved many details such as obtaining American permits, accommodation, determining the shooting locations and of course obtaining permits, and the American organization of the Italian team. Since the film was shot in many cities and countries, the laws and rules were different everywhere. While our production team was working feverishly to obtain Miami permits, St. Augustine permits, and Miami Art Week -Red Dot shooting permits; On the other hand, our director was doing the casting. After dozens of applications, meetings, actor demos, rehearsals;we worked on a very busy schedule. The demos were collected and the ones suitable for our film were carefully selected. After many discussions and meetings, this team came together. I remember a player meeting. We held a zoom meeting in the California-Miami-Rome triangle. The time difference was up to 10 hours.

How did you approach budgeting and financing for the pilot? Were there any unexpected challenges?

Nobody said it was easy. 😊 Unexpected situations can always happen. We got through it with the support of our sponsors. That’s what matters!

‘Echo’ is a captivating blend of fantasy, mystery, and action in its pilot episode. What do you think sets it apart from other shows in the same genre?

Our Echo project is a captivating fantasy-mystery-action pilot episode set across Rome, Miami, and St. Augustine, blending historical elements with supernatural intrigue.

Echo is a tale of reincarnation, ancient magic, and the struggle between good and evil, all intertwined with rich cultural history and vibrant settings. Many actors and behind-the-scenes talents from America, Latin, Italian, American Indian and Turkey came together for Echo. Its difference from other types of TV series; the audience who hears and watches Echo will tell. Our duty is to bring it together with the audience.

How do you plan to pitch the series to networks or streaming platforms and, which platform would be your dream choice for showcasing the full series?

Digital channels would be my choice because they reach millions of people. I believe in physics, energy and frequency. Moreover, I know that this energy and frequency will reach the right channels through Echo. Our current interview is one of the proofs of this… 😊

Is there a tv series that you can’t stop watching and/or inspired you the most while working on Echo?

No, there is not while we are working on Echo, but our memory is full of so many things: experiences, things we have learned, our inspirations; Echo became the expression of all of them.

What is your process for collaborating with a director on set?

The director sets the rules on the set. Cast and crew comply with this. It should be the same for the success of the film. Trust and respect are very important, if even one of these is missing, that job can be very annoying, and this is not a good situation at all. I always work with people I trust.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? And what advice would you give to a young filmmaker?

Picasso said, “Learn the rules like a professional so you can break them like an artist!” This sentence has affected my entire artistic life. My advice to young filmmakers: 50% of success is good relationships; the rest is hard work and sharing success. These things support each other and will lead you to success.

What’s next for you? What current projects are you working on?

We are on the festival journey and waiting for the results. We started working on the second episode of ECHO. I am planning to present the premiere of the film together with a cinema exhibition after the festivals. Apart from these, I am working on an animated film.

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