ROLE: Production Assistant
PRODUCTION: Cultured Magazine — CULT100
PRODUCTION TYPE: Editorial / Photo & Interview Production
TALENT: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
LOCATION: Salon 94, New York
Cultured Magazine's annual CULT100 issue spotlights 100 people shaping culture across five generations. For the 2025 issue, I worked production assistance on the shoot and interview feature for Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — the Nigerian novelist behind Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah — timed to the release of her new novel, Dream Count. Shot on location at Salon 94.
My Role
Managed on-set production logistics and schedule coordination to keep the editorial shoot and interview running against a fixed production timeline.
Managed talent care for Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie throughout the shoot, maintaining clear communication between talent and the production team while supporting comfort, timing, and overall experience.
Coordinated catering and meal timing across talent and crew without disrupting scheduled shoot windows.
Supported cross-functional production teams across hair, makeup, styling, and tailoring, helping maintain efficient transitions and overall production readiness throughout the da
How I Handled It
• Worked backward from a non-negotiable 7 p.m. return deadline to establish timing checkpoints across hair, makeup, styling, shoot execution, and talent departure, while building in buffer for travel.
• Monitored the production's running time throughout the day, identifying potential delays early and adjusting priorities before they could impact the broader schedule.
• Built rapport with talent early in the production, allowing timing check-ins and schedule communication to remain natural while maintaining a calm, low-friction set environment.
• Coordinated catering around production breaks so meals supported rather than interrupted the shoot schedule.
• Maintained close communication across hair, makeup, styling, and production teams to keep transitions efficient and protect the final deadline.
The Challenge
With approximately four hours of travel each way and a non-negotiable 7 p.m. return deadline, the entire production — hair, makeup, styling, interview, photography, and breaks needed to operate against a tightly controlled schedule with little room for delay.
At the same time, maintaining a calm and comfortable talent experience was essential. The challenge was balancing strict production timing with a set environment that never felt rushed or transactional.
The Result
The shoot and interview wrapped on schedule with all planned content captured and no reshoots required, allowing Adichie to depart in time for her 7 p.m. return deadline. The final feature was published in Cultured Magazine's 2025 CULT100 issue alongside coverage of Dream Count.
