On Monday, ThespyHouse—Tyrone Marshall Brown’s bespoke pop-up hub for TV, film, and theater creatives—hosted an intimate Q&A at Seven24 Collective NYC with producer Emily Korteweg, co-founder, Producer, and Executive Vice President of Watch This Ready. This intimate event, Behind the Curtain: How Splitsville Made It to Cannes and Beyond, gave attendees an unfiltered look at the producer’s path into filmmaking, the making of her latest feature Splitsville, and the realities of building a career in an industry known for its unpredictability.

Who is Emily Korteweg?

Originally from the Netherlands, Korteweg studied Finance and Literature before pivoting to film through a series of internships, including at the Weinstein Company and music companies in LA. That early exposure convinced her that producing could be a career, and she pursued it relentlessly. Moving to London, then Los Angeles, and finally New York, she co-founded Watch This Ready with longtime collaborators Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin.

Her company quickly gained traction, working on features that landed at major festivals. Most recently, Splitsville premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, backed by Neon and Topic Studios, with a cast that included Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Michael Angelo Covino, and Kyle Marvin.

About ThespyHouse

The event was hosted at Seven24 Collective , as part of the programming for ThespyHouse, Tyrone Marshall Brown’s innovative pop-up hub hosts workshops and events for film, TV, and theater creatives. With Seven24 Collective’s intimate lounge atmosphere, the Q&A felt less like a panel and more like a group conversation, something Korteweg leaned into by encouraging attendees to ask candid questions throughout.

Highlights & Takeaways

Korteweg’s honesty was a highlight of the evening. She spoke openly about creative integrity, self-doubt, and what it really takes to sustain a producing career.

Some key moments included:

• On knowing she wanted to be a filmmaker:
  Emily admitted she always felt drawn to storytelling but only realized producing was a viable career after interning in LA at age 16. “I didn’t grow up in a film household. I just loved it. It still sets me ablaze.”
  
  
• On starting Watch This Ready:
  After several years working at an agency, she knew she didn’t want to be an agent, she wanted to “make and own the thing and truly be in lock step with the creators.” That conviction led her to co-found her company in 2019, just before the pandemic.
  
  
• On packaging a film:
  One audience member asked how to attract investors. Korteweg explained the importance of creating a “package”: a script, director, and at least one actor attached—before approaching financiers. “It’s very rare to sell your project off a spec unless it’s super high-concept, you want to create an alchemy towards guarantee” she said.
  
  
• On producing as both art and business:
  Asked about her “superpower” as a producer, Korteweg pointed to her dual perspective: a business background with a love for art. She emphasized the importance of respecting both: guiding financiers, making them comfortable with the inevitable discomfort of the process while protecting the creative vision.
  
  
• On advice to emerging filmmakers:
  “Don’t be precious about one project,” she urged. “If something doesn’t land, keep creating. You have more to offer than one idea.”
  
  

Why It Mattered

The night felt less like a lecture and more like an invitation, to interrogate your own motivations, embrace persistence, and understand that filmmaking is a long game. As Korteweg noted, “It might take 20 years, not two. And you have to be okay with that.”

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About Splitsville

The film at the center of the conversation, Splitsville, is a sharp, witty exploration of modern relationships. It begins with a couple whose car accident sets off a chain of revelations and entanglements, leading them into the chaotic world of open marriages, messy friendships, and unexpected reckonings. Both hilarious and heartfelt, the film explores how love and desire spiral when boundaries blur.

Splitsville premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and is now in theatrical release. Find showtimes near you here.

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ThespyHouse continues to host intimate, inspiring gatherings for the creative community. Stay connected for news on future events here.