MARTINE BIO

Martine Côté, a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience in the cultural industry, has a career that spans across various sectors. She began her journey in the music industry, where she excelled as a copyright manager, negotiating agent, and artist manager. However, it was her early thirties that saw her venture into the world of audiovisual production, a move that showcased her adaptability and versatility. Currently a Senior Producer at Bardel Entertainment, she has also made significant contributions as associate producer and executive producer on five animated films for On Animation, Studio Canal-M6, Netflix. Her diverse experience also includes managing the production of 3500 hours of animated and fiction TV series with VFX, a testament to her ability to thrive in different environments.

Q: WHAT RECENT PERSONAL WORK ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AND WHY?

I delivered The Monkey King to Netflix a year ago and was very proud of it. We faced several challenges while working on it:

  • We had to take over the movie from a closed studio, and the budget was reduced.
  • The assets were done using different software, we had to redo them.
  • We lost 30% of our assets six months before delivery after a technical issue.

The studio executive and the client thought we would not been able to deliver on time. However, we took time to find solutions, and in the end, we could provide them with minimal delay, exceeding everyone’s expectations.

Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’VE LEARNED RECENTLY THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR WORK?

I have been working on being a better person since I was a teenager, and recently, I discovered that our brain fully listens to our thoughts. I knew that positive thinking was good, but more than that, science has proved that we can reprogram ourselves and make significant changes in our health only by meditating and taking control of our thoughts instead of reacting by automatism. Thinking better helps me to get through challenges and allows me to stay calm.

Q: WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE DO WISH SOMEONE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU WHEN YOU WERE STARTING OUT OR WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE?

Don’t fear the unknown, and advance one step at a time. Be patient, and solutions will appear when needed.

Q: WHAT SKILLS OR QUALITIES DO YOU THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT FOR SUCCESS IN YOUR ROLE?

As a producer, it’s essential to have a comprehensive understanding of finance and management. Equally important is our ability to empathize with and comprehend the client’s vision. This skill allows us to align our strategies and actions with their goals, critical to delivering value and fostering a productive and collaborative relationship.

Q: WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED IN YOUR CAREER, AND CAN YOU ADVISE ON HOW YOU OVERCAME THEM?

Over the last 25 years, I’ve lost my job several times because of the fluctuating market. I had to start over in different studios with different pipelines and cultural working methods. Each time I started over at a new place, I was still determining my ability to perform in my role.
But after all these years, I know now that it’s like getting on a bicycle, and the more road you travel, the easier it is to adapt to a new one.