DeVon Franklin rose from intern to executive producer in Hollywood—but how did that actually happen?

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, DeVon Franklin—producer behind films like "The Pursuit of Happyness," "Moneyball," and "The Karate Kid"—shares what it really takes to grow in this business, navigate opportunity, and build a career with purpose.

We'll cover topics such as:

- What it takes to stand out early in your career

- What ownership means in today’s entertainment industry

- Where the biggest opportunities are for creatives right now

From studio systems to independent production, this conversation breaks down what it takes to create and lead projects at the highest level of filmmaking.

About Devon Franklin:

Devon Franklin is a producer, author, and former studio executive at Columbia Pictures. His work spans major box office films, faith-based storytelling, and independent production, with a focus on purpose-driven content and long-term impact.

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• (00:00:00) - Sneak Peek into the Episode
• (00:01:00) - Episode Starts
• (00:01:35) - The Key to His Success
• (00:04:03) - Black Producer on Me and Tuscany
• (00:06:06) - Does it Feel Harder to Get Faith Based Films Greenlit?
• (00:09:29) - In the Elevator With Steven Spielberg
• (00:11:01) - Tyler Perry on His Cross-Discipline
• (00:13:44) - Black Storytellers: The Future of Creativity
• (00:16:04) - When Did You First Fall in Love with Film?
• (00:18:27) - The Artist's Service in Work
• (00:20:25) - Pastor Jefferson on Divorce Sisters
• (00:24:24) - Tom Holland on Shaping the Film Industry
• (00:26:44) - What A Producers Do
• (00:29:09) - Paul Feist on Heaven Is for Real Box Office Success
• (00:35:03) - Sony's Amy Pascal on Patience
• (00:37:38) - What Do Producers Need To Know To Become a Producers?
• (00:40:30) - What's The Hard Part of Making It in Hollywood?
• (00:42:09) - How to Manage Relationships
• (00:46:11) - What Draws You To a Project?
• (00:47:48) - Black Storytellers on the Future
• (00:50:05) - The Role of a Producers
• (00:52:07) - The Legacy of Steven Spielberg
• (00:54:21) - Inside Your Industry Bag
• (00:55:09) - Independent Producers: You Have to Know Somebody to Break In
• (00:59:13) - Devon Franklin on Talking To People