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Marie Alyse Rodriguez is a producer, development executive, and director boldly forging new lanes in the film industry. The LA-based Latinx filmmaker prioritizes community, innovation, intentionality, and equity in her work. She has produced award-winning feature films such as HAPPY TIMES directed by Michael Mayer, HOLLYWOOD FRINGE directed by Megan Huber and Wyatt McDill, and short film SUMMERWINTER SUMMER directed by Thy Tran. Her first self-directed short film NAY NAY TOO BOMB was nominated for Best Actor, Best Film, and Best Director for the Easterseals Disability Challenges, taking home Best Actor and now making its way through the film festival circuit. Rodriguez’s roster of previous clients include Warner Bros. Records, Hulu, Square, Diageo, Staples, Dom Perignon, 20th Century Fox, and more.

Her company Intuition Films, founded in 2020, is on a mission to develop and produce socially conscious material for underrepresented voices while advocating for women, racial equity in the film industry, LGBTQIA+, and folks with disabilities.

Rodriguez said what pushed her to start her company was the need for “inclusive conscious film sets and the desire to collaborate with other filmmakers with a focus on amplifying voices from historically marginalized communities.”

“I wanted to see real-life on the screen,” she said. “Which isn’t what’s been funded for so long. With my skill set and experience, I knew that this company was an endeavor I could take on with full confidence and could be a safe place where we can continue to work with clients, develop original content, and uplift marginalized creators.” In their short tenure they’ve acquired clients such as Hulu, Vogue, Condé Nast Entertainment, and The Broad. Rodriguez believes in investing in the future of indie filmmakers by facilitating growth opportunities via mentorship, training, and cost-free consultations to those who are experiencing challenges with accessibility into the industry. “I wanted to create a company where the door is open for folks to ask questions that they may not normally ask in a standard production company setting,” said Rodriguez.

Not only is she working to create pathways through film production via Intuition Films but Rodriguez lends her talent, time, and skillset to grassroots organizations whose focuses are on education, job training, and getting folks hired in the spirit of service and community. This work, she believes, does not only impact individuals, rather it can break cycles of oppression by creating outlets for opportunity. She is an ally of the non-profit organization Justice for My Sister, a gender-inclusive and pro-immigrant rights organization that promotes healing, healthy relationships, and economic independence through the arts. She also supports ManifestWorks which she finds to be crucial in propelling progressive thinking and opportunity to those who have experienced homelessness, incarceration, or have been through the foster care system. Additional affiliations are Women In Film, Film Independent, NALIP, and the Echo Park Film Center.