Paula Mae Schwartz knows a thing or two about success. Paula, along with her husband, Steve, founded a digital communications company in 1990 and built it to four offices and 250 employees. After much success, they decided to sell it and make a big change in their lives and move to Malibu or, as she calls it, “paradise.”
They founded Chockstone Pictures, with Schwartz its successful CEO, producing an array of acclaimed motion pictures, including “The Counselor,” “The Tree of Life,” “Killing Them Softly” and many more.
Schwartz has been living in Malibu for 10 years and is very involved in the community. She is chair of the Malibu Playhouse and most recently took on the role of joining the Malibu Task Force on Homelessness.
The Malibu Times got a chance to sit down with the woman who has no regrets in life.
How did you go from a career in journalism to CEO of a very successful film company?
What drew me to the film business is the opportunity to work with screenwriters and actors and watch words come to life on the screen. It’s all about storytelling.
Of all the movies that you have produced, which is your favorite or most memorable and why?
“The Counselor.” We had a living legend as a director: Ridley Scott. We had the opportunity to get to know him and witness his genius work. We also worked with scriptwriter Cormac McCarthy — and an incredible cast, including Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz. So I was working with people who are all at the top of their craft.
What advice do you have for all of those people who are aspiring to become Hollywood film producers?
Keep plugging away.
You recently took on the role of chair person of the Malibu Playhouse in June 2016. What do you hope to accomplish with this new role?
Well, the problem is that we don’t have a playhouse now. The playhouse is owned privately and they want to sell it. It’s on the market. They have a month-to-month lease. A play needs at least three months to get it up and running. With a month-to-month it is very difficult to get a production. At this point, we’re hoping an angel will come along and buy the theater and keep it as the Malibu Theater. With all the talent we have in Malibu, it’s a shame that we don’t have our own theater.
The first company you co-founded made the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies three times. You also run a very successful film company. What is the secret to success?
You have to clearly understand your skill set and very carefully set out what it is that you do really well and then do it. It helps to have a partner who’s complementary to your abilities. For example, my husband and I are good at different things, but together we make a perfect team. We have lived together and worked together for 38 years.
What are some behind-the-scenes secrets about “The Counselor?”
It was a Fox film and they put us in lovely accommodations in London. I had a dress ready for an event but it was wrinkled. While I was at the studio shooting, I called someone to iron it for me. I come back at 11 p.m. and there is an ironing board and an iron in the middle of my room. It was a small room and as I was getting ready I was annoyed with it. I opened the door to throw it out. I was completely naked. As I threw it out, I also threw myself out with it. And was locked out. I was standing there naked in an elegant hotel with an ironing board. I couldn’t knock or make noise because I would draw more attention and people would see me naked. Eventually my husband Steve woke up and opened the door and I went in.
If you had to choose between Broadway or cinema, which would you choose and why?
It’s really hard to pick one because I love both. But if I had to choose, I’d choose Broadway. I like the audience interaction that comes with a live performance.
What’s an interesting or unique fact about you?
Our family is like the rainbow coalition. It’s a multiracial, multi-cultural group. We were having a family dinner and my daughter-in-law, who is Vietnamese, said, “This is like the United Nations.”
What is your favorite thing about Malibu? If you could change one thing about Malibu, what would it be and why?
The weather. Coming from the East Coast where there’s snow, ice, freezing rain. Here it’s mostly warm and sunny. I would change the traffic.
How was it having your portrait painted by Johanna Spinks?
Wonderful. I really enjoyed the whole experience of having someone give me such intense attention. I felt very privileged and very flattered that I was going to be the subject of the portrait. She is so entertaining.