We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary McBain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’d wanted to run my own business for quite a while. However, it was following the filming of my short film Spaghetti: Silence Is Not Consent that I was finally able to make that dream a reality. I opened MMCB Productions in 2019 and it’s certainly been a learning curve. Before starting the Production Company, I’d worked in various different capacities: Fundraising Co-Ordinator for a UK Cancer charity, Event Fundraising Manager, COO of a Malibu Recording Studio amongst them, so I felt I had the necessary skills to do it. I’ve also never been afraid of asking for things or putting myself out there – so even though I knew it was a big step I felt excited about it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Last year I was filming interviews for a documentary which will hopefully be out next year, and our DP had a phrase he used every day whenever something didn’t go to plan “adapt and overcome”. Looking back I think that’s been such a theme for me – there have been so many twists and turns since I arrived in America 13 years ago, but I’ve always wanted to keep going and make a success of myself. My mission statement for life is ‘to make a wider difference in the world through joy’ – whatever that might look like. The project I’m most proud of right now is the book I’m writing, I hope to have a first draft complete by the end of this year. I’m hoping this will be the book I wish I’d read when I was 20. In the book will be the stories of all the mad and magic things that have happened for me, the lessons I’ve learned and hopefully a lot of helpful advice on how to start getting your s**t together when you don’t know where to begin. It’s especially geared towards woman who are not following the timelines which are so often forced upon us. It certainly hasn’t been easy to get to where I am today, and I know I still have a long way to go. I am very lucky though in that I have a naturally positive disposition, I love finding solutions and I am just about the most determined person I’ve ever met! I think another thing that’s always proven very useful is that I absolutely love networking – the way I see it is so long as you know you’ve got something positive to offer then there’s never a need to feel intimidated when meeting people who may be further up the ladder than you are!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve not done many beach days in LA but I absolutely love my beach walks! So I try to get those in as often as possible – we’d definitely do a few of those. Also, I love outdoor venues for daytime weekend hangouts or evening drinks/dinners – so on the list would be Local Peasant in Sherman Oaks, AOC, Bacari on 3rd, Conservatory, Zinque (either the WeHo or Venice locations). I also just discovered Sour Beer on a roadtrip so I’d go to Brews Brothers or Golden Road. There are of course all the wonderful hikes you can do here – Runyon Canyon and Griffith Park etc etc.
I’ve been terrible at getting to museums here! So I’d definitely have those on the list – LACMA, Getty Villa and Museum amongst them. Some comedy shows and good theater too. And if time allowed maybe a day trip up to Santa Barbara, Ojai or if it was a winter trip then Solvang!
Oh! And lastly I flippin love Diners – so Paty’s in Toluca Lake for a brunch!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh my gosh! It takes an absolute village in this business! And I am so, very lucky to have such amazing people in my life. First and foremost, always, my shoutout is to Edmund O’Reilly Hyland – without whom none of this would ever have been possible. Edmund has believed in me, and pushed me, since the very beginning. It all began with an article I’d posted in the Private Eye Magazine which Edmund happened to read and then changed my life. I also want to give a shoutout to Susie Duff and Jerry Wolf – to whom I can trace almost every connection I have in LA; They took me under their wings when I first arrived in LA and made sure to introduce me to everyone they could. To my teachers, especially the late, great Gordon Hunt who taught me what it means to show up – no matter what. To the incredible list of people who’ve had me live with them over the years in LA – I think I’ve lived in about 16 homes over the last 7 years – it’s no secret how high the cost of living is in LA and I’d never have been able to do it without these angels. Also, to my family for being so patient with me for so many missed events and general absences as I continue to follow my dreams. My friends who are by my side and keep me going especially during the tougher moments. To Lonnie Galate for transforming my ideas around fitness. The list could go on and on – I would never be able to count or shoutout to all the people who have made an impact – but I am more grateful than I could ever express for my mentors on this journey.

Website: marymcbain.com

Instagram: @littlemissjolly

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRPekLOXfPg&t=1s

Image Credits
Tasha Best, UK Wes Klain, US

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