RED SQUARED Welcomes Thabi Moyo to the Team: A Day In the Life

We kick off our “Day In The Life” series with our newest team member.

Sometimes, new team members fit like a glove—and that’s exactly the case with Thabi Moyo. Before joining our team, Thabi made her mark as the Production and Workforce Manager at the Mississippi Film Office, where she guided film productions and spearheaded workforce training to grow Mississippi’s creative economy. She’s also the founder of Magnolia Sunset Markets, a staple of art, culture, and commerce in the City of Jackson. She joins the RED SQUARED team as our Operations Director and Producer.

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“A Day In The Life” by Thabi Moyo

6:00 AM: Morning Ride and Playtime

Today started like any other—with Addie, my energetic alarm clock, ready for her morning ride and play session. What’s different is my schedule: it’s a production day, and I need to be on set early. With so many moving parts to coordinate, being available to answer questions before we arrive on set is crucial. Today, I woke up earlier than usual because punctuality is non-negotiable in production. I’ll admit, I only got 5 out of my usual 7 hours of sleep—pretty typical for production mode! Last night, I sent out the final call sheet and ensured our locations were ready for a smooth shoot. Now, it’s time to hit the ground running—thanks to Addie, my trusty motivator. Off we go!

8:00 AM: Filming at the Mississippi State Capitol

One of the coolest aspects of my job is filming at stunning locations like the Mississippi State Capitol. This building’s beauty never fails to inspire. Securing a location like this might sound daunting, but it’s simpler than you think if you know who to contact. In this case, I reached out to my friends at the Mississippi Film Office, who connected me with the right person to make it happen. A pro tip for filmmakers: always leave a location better than you found it—it’s the key to being welcomed back!

9:30 AM: Set Arrival

With my pink beanie, handmade earrings, clipboard, and iPad in hand, I’m ready to tackle the day. Confidence is key in my role as a producer. I check in with the crew, ensuring they have everything they need. Once shooting begins, I’m on standby to provide feedback or handle any unexpected issues. Fortunately, there were no fires—literal or figurative—to put out today. On location at Jackson State University, our main challenge was managing foot traffic and curious onlookers, but we handled it like pros.

10:30 AM: Managing Releases

Handling releases for on-screen talent and locations is my least favorite part of producing, but in a small team, you wear many hats. Staying proactive and organized is critical. Fun fact: I recently returned to field production, and some of my old-school processes might now be considered antiquated. I’ve officially earned “auntie status,” and I’m cool with it. Initially, I carried around a folder of blank releases for signatures until Neha suggested using an iPad—a lightbulb moment! Whether your process is digital or analog, staying organized and proactive is the key to managing releases effectively.

11:00 AM: Collaborative Filmmaking

This is my favorite part of the job—working with the team to create something amazing and connecting with people like William at Jackson State. Here, you can see me, Sara Caroline, and William reviewing the latest shots to ensure we got everything we needed. Sometimes, we decide to reshoot, give notes to on-screen talent, or tweak the camera setup. Flexibility and creative problem-solving are essential because there’s always a wild card on location.

1:00 PM: Debrief with Rod

The day wraps up, and I stop by to chat with Rod about how the shoot went. At this point, I’m either relieved or reflective, depending on whether everything went smoothly or we faced challenges. Fortunately, today’s fires were all manageable, and I was thrilled to share the good news. This moment felt particularly special as it marked my return as a producer. There were moments of doubt where I questioned if I should stick to my comfort zone, but stepping out on faith paid off. It feels amazing to be back in the saddle—officially donning my producer hat once again!