Editor’s Note: Each March, in celebration of Women’s History Month, Reel Chicago shines a spotlight on the remarkable women shaping Chicago’s film, television and advertising community. From directors and producers to editors, strategists and creative leaders, these women bring talent, vision and determination to an industry built on collaboration and storytelling. Through our Reel Women series, we invite them to share their journeys, the lessons they have learned and the experiences that continue to inspire their work.
Today we include RoseMary Prodonovich, General Manager of The Fields Studios in our celebration of Reel Women. Let’s hear RoseMary’s story.
What’s your origin story? Where did this journey really begin?
I was a theater kid in Kansas City. I loved the stage, the ritual of rehearsal and the adrenaline of live performance. For a long time, I was certain I’d be an actor and win an Oscar one day.
Eventually, I discovered there was a career that blended my love of the arts with my equally strong love of organization, logistics and—yes—office supplies: stage management. It was the perfect intersection of creativity and structure.
That work took me across the country, into theaters and opera houses where I learned the beauty, stress and precision of live performance. Every production meant a new crew, a new city and a new set of personalities to align toward one shared goal.
Those experiences prepared me to transition my skill set into television and film production. When I decided Chicago had the right mix of artistry, grit and opportunity, I took the leap.
The rest, as they say, is history.
When you walk into a room today, what do you want people to understand about you before you even speak?
That I’m present.
When I’m in a room, I’m fully there. I show up engaged, invested and committed to the work and the people around me. I’m not perfect, but you’ll get my full attention, my full energy and my full effort.
I believe that kind of presence builds trust, and trust is everything.
What’s one decision you made that shifted your trajectory?
Every day you make decisions that shift your trajectory. If you’re doing it right! 😉
But the biggest decision most recently was stepping away from an almost two-decade freelance career in production to become the General Manager of The Fields Studios here in Chicago, IL.
Freelancing gave me an incredible foundation and perspective across productions, teams and creative environments. But stepping into this role allowed me to move from contributing to individual projects to helping shape the infrastructure that supports the entire industry.
That shift has been transformative.
Chicago’s production landscape continues to evolve. Where do you see the biggest opportunity for women right now?
The biggest opportunity is ownership.
Ownership of space. Ownership of voice. Ownership of conviction.
When women show up unapologetically and participate in the conversations that shape and influence decisions—financially, operationally and creatively—it changes the dynamic of the entire industry. There are different lenses and perspectives in the room.
The more women involved in shaping how the business works, the more sustainable and innovative our business becomes.
Imposter syndrome is real for many women. When did you stop questioning whether you belonged in the room?
I challenge the premise of this question a little…. Hear me out:
Earlier in my career, I had a moment where I realized I had reached the goal I originally set for myself. I might not have been the producer winning an Oscar, but I had successfully translated my Theatrical Stage Management skills into a new industry. I was consistently working in a field I loved (TV & Film), financially independent and known as a strong voice with a solid industry reputation.
I remember looking up from my desk and thinking: I made it. I’m doing it. I belong here.
That moment is etched in my memory.
But the truth is, imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear. What changes now is how I respond to it. When it creeps in now, I pause and remind myself that I do belong in the room. Then I ask what I can learn from the people around me.
I’m fortunate to be in rooms with larger-than-life voices, innovators and leaders across cultural, political and business sectors. If I stay curious and listen, every room becomes an opportunity to grow.
And occasionally, if we’re being honest, sometimes you realize you’re sitting in a room where not everyone is the genius you assumed they were. That can be a helpful reminder too! LOL
What conversation about women in this industry still isn’t being said loudly enough?
There still aren’t enough of us.
If we can easily point to and count the women shaping this industry and ushering business forward, our voices still aren’t loud enough.
We are moving in the right direction at a glacial pace. There are countless stories, ideas and perspectives that remain untapped.
The industry will be stronger when women aren’t the exception, when they’re simply part of the foundation.
Have you ever walked away from a lucrative opportunity because it didn’t align with who you are or where you’re headed?
Absolutely.
You must know who you are and what you value. This is a life lesson, not just an industry lesson.
That said, early in my career I didn’t always have the luxury of making those choices. There were projects I took because they were necessary. Survival is a powerful motivator, especially in freelance work.
But as your career evolves, so does your ability to align your work with the values, vision and personalities you want to surround yourself with. Learning when to say no is just as important as knowing when to say yes.
What are you building that will outlast you?
A network.
Chicago’s production industry exists because of the people who built it before us. My goal is to strengthen the connections that allow the next generation to go even further.
I may not be inventing new technology or launching a singular creative project. But I do have a clear vision of what Chicago’s production community can become—an environment where collaboration, curiosity and bold storytelling thrive.
I want to help foster the relationships and infrastructure that allow those stories to be made.
And I want my time at The Fields Studios to be the epicenter of that energy.
Name three women in the Chicago industry you’d like to shine a spotlight on.
Zoë Iltsopoulos Borys
Natasha Parker Olguin
Rubye Lane
Sylvia Jones
Google them. They win.
(A little reference for all my Hoosiers out there!)
If you could change one structural thing about this industry tomorrow,
what would it be?
The myth of “that’s how it’s always been done.”
If I could change one structural thing, it would be the industry’s attachment to tradition.
Production is full of brilliant people, but we sometimes hold onto outdated systems simply because they’ve existed for a long time. Innovation happens when we challenge those assumptions and rethink how the work can be done better.
What’s the title of the chapter you’re currently living in?
On the precipice: Where preparation meets purpose
After all the grind, what still excites you?
The people.
I’m a producer at heart. What excites me most is meeting the individuals who make up this industry—their perspectives, their ideas and the stories they want to tell.
My magic has always been helping take creative ideas and turn them into reality. I’ve even been affectionately referred to as “the facilitator,” because I love bringing the right people together for the right project and helping those ideas find their path forward.
That’s what excites me most about being at The Fields Studios—creating the environment where those connections happen and where great stories can start to take shape.
Bonus: What song plays in your head when you land a big win? And do you happy dance?
The song is part of my secret sauce. 😉 Let’s just say I’m a fan of Aloe Blacc. And yes, there’s definitely a happy dance.
You can find RoseMary Prodonovich on IMDb and Linkedin
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