Meet Emma Kragen

We recently connected with Emma Kragen and have shared our conversation below.

Emma, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
All-girls school and team sports! I went to an all-girls school for middle and high school, and it was absolutely formative for my self-confidence. We had uniforms and never wore makeup to school, so I did not worry about my day-to-day appearance. I would run from 6 A.M. basketball practice to my first period of the day looking a mess, but ready for the day. Our basketball games were the biggest athletic event of the school at the time, and drew large crowds during playoffs. That’s absolutely unique to an all-girls environment, and prime for confidence-building.

Years later, when I applied to my MFA program in cinematography, I was asked how I felt about being in a male-dominated profession. They were really asking if I felt intimidated being in situations where I might be the only woman. I told them the truth: I hadn’t given it much thought, because I wasn’t intimidated by the prospect. That’s confidence from an all-girls school.

That said, I struggle with imposter syndrome. I am my toughest critic. Colleagues and higher-ups have seen me as qualified before I am able to see myself as such. To combat this, I have lived by “fake it till you make it.” I “fake it” by telling myself that I am qualified and deserving of an opportunity, even if I doubt myself. Over time, I’ve proven to myself many times over that I do know what I’m doing, and that inner critic is getting a lot less audience.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the co-owner of Zemma Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company, along with my husband and director, Zach Marion. We are currently developing a series of independent film and television projects. Our latest release, “Where She Lies,” is an adoption mystery documentary. The film was distributed in 2020 by Gravitas Ventures and is available on major streaming platforms. We also regularly produce promotion content for a variety of corporate, commercial, and non-profit organizations.

At age 7, I authored the book THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS, which sold over 600,000 copies, and was officially re-released in fall of 2023 for its 25th anniversary. The book also spawned two movies of the same title, which are available on a number of streaming platforms as well.

I would characterize myself as an entrepreneur with varied interests and pursuits. At my core, I am a filmmaker first because I love the medium and telling stories. I would add that my heart is drawn to comedic pursuits, so keep your eyes peeled for something fresh and fun to come in the next year!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
(1) Take risks. If something makes me nervous, that’s an indicator that it’s something I need to pursue. Pushing myself into uncomfortable territory results in meaningful personal growth.

(2) Don’t be afraid of hard work, even if the results seem fruitless. There are a lot of creative people in the world, but most are too afraid to realize their vision. Failures are actually successful attempts to gain insight into what is not yet working.

(3) Stay curious. Read the news, read the trades, read books, read screenplays, watch movies, watch TV, go to exhibits, see theater, travel.  Remaining curious and informed helps me contextualize my voice as a creative person.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Move. Go outside. Take breaks.

Movement keeps my mental health in check. It’s also an excellent way to generate creative ideas. Sitting down to be creative is never productive for me.  I find that taking a walk can lead to my best ideas.

Be patient with yourself.

A good project takes time, sometimes years, to develop. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so pace yourself. I’m forever on this journey as well.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Nick Cruz

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?

We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some

Highlighter Series
When do you feel most at peace?

In a culture that often celebrates hustle and noise, peace can feel rare. Yet, peace

Highlighter Series
What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?

Over the past decade, we have been profoundly impacted by the wisdom of the community.