Startup Team Spotlight: Sky Hardison and Fallon Goodson, In Ceremony Productions
A Women-Centered, Locally Driven Film Company launches in Louisiana
Following in the footsteps of Hollywood female powerhouses like Reese Witherspoon, Drew Barrymore, and Kerry Washington, New Orleans-based actresses Sky Hardison and Fallon Goodson have launched their own film production company, In Ceremony Productions. They aim to create a sustainable, women-centered film company in Louisiana that supports local resources and talent while working with others in the Southeast film market to help the entire region thrive.
Hardison and Goodson, who spent years honing their craft in Los Angeles, are now based in New Orleans with a wealth of knowledge and a shared vision. Through their production company, they aim to shift the film industry’s business model by prioritizing local directors, writers, and crew members instead of outsourcing film production resources and talent. They plan to create a successful local company that produces high-quality, profitable productions.
The film industry has faced many challenges in recent years due to a freeze in new productions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 writers' strike. However, the industry is back in business now that Louisiana state film tax credits have been extended until 2031, and In Ceremony Productions is poised for growth.
Fiscally responsible filmmaking is a core principle of In Ceremony Productions, extending from smart creative decisions to solid budget planning. The company emphasizes that “keeping jobs local and minimizing out-of-state outsourcing ensures Louisiana’s vibrant cultural and economic landscape is at the heart of their projects.”
In the fall of 2023, the In Ceremony team began working with the Tulane Innovation Institute, and they were selected to participate in the first Startup Team Mentorship cohort. As part of this program, Hardison and Goodson met monthly with Green Wave Innovation Network mentors Jennifer Jeansonne, Viqar Shariff, and Kelly Cahn to receive professional advice and business coaching. The female-founded company was later selected as a semifinalist to compete in the Tulane Innovation Institute’s $50K Demo Day, a competition held at the Third Coast Venture Summit during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. The competition aimed to match Louisiana-based companies with venture capitalists while competing for startup funding.
As part of their pitch, Hardison and Goodson initially focused on a revenue model that included a digital subscription-based platform to help other production companies source local talent and resources. The revenue from this platform was intended to help fund future In Ceremony productions and projects. However, they have now pivoted, realizing this model was unsustainable.
“Our North Star has always been to produce films prioritizing local talent,” Goodson said. “We briefly considered this digital product as a way to secure independent film funding, but when we realized that approach was just as challenging as traditional fundraising, we returned to our roots.”
The team is now pitching to investors to raise capital for their upcoming projects. They demonstrated recent success at HollyShorts, an Oscar®-Qualifying short film festival in Los Angeles, where their short film, "Ruby," premiered. The film is now set for screenings at the 2024 New Orleans Film Festival and in London.
Looking ahead, Hardison and Goodson are gearing up for a larger project—a Louisiana-set horror film that is nearly ready for pre-production. They are currently securing funding, and once in place, they plan to move forward at full speed.
To connect with In Ceremony Productions, visit their LinkedIn page.
