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A Recent White House Press Secretary Has a New Job: Film Producer (Exclusive)
Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is moving into film production, joining indie director Jesse Harris on Terroir, a thriller set in the wine industry. The role draws on her experience communicating ideas and building relationships, and marks a new direction after about 20 years in politics.
The film follows a vineyard worker and a wine critic as they uncover secrets at a renowned vineyard. Harris is seeking a budget of $3 million to $5 million and hopes to attract prominent cast members; filming is planned for March in Chile, during harvest season. He sees the story as combining commercial suspense with themes of class and power, including the industry’s reliance on low-paid migrant labour.
In short
- Karine Jean-Pierre is producing an indie wine-country thriller.
- Terroir is targeting a $3 million to $5 million budget.
- Filming is planned in Chile during harvest season.
Explained simply
A White House press secretary speaks for the president’s administration, answering journalists’ questions and explaining its policies. Karine Jean-Pierre held the role under President Joe Biden; before that, she spent years working in US politics and public communications.
Independent films are made outside the major Hollywood studio system and often rely on private funding and smaller budgets. Terroir is planned as a thriller set in the wine business, where vineyard workers and critics encounter questions of status, wealth and labour. Films about the industry can also draw attention to the seasonal migrant workers involved in harvesting grapes.