Behind every great executive is an assistant that keeps the trains running on time.
That is no different at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Atlanta, where Margaret Joiner is tasked with not only making sure the train is on time, but that it also remains on the tracks.
Between keeping tabs on dozens of productions, including Hunger Games, Black Panther and The Founder, and helping the hundreds of people that come along with them, Margaret stays busy. Ask her to name her title and she may say Assistant to the Executive Vice President, but when it comes down to it she is one thing … a problem solver.
Long before Georgia was the No. 1 filming location in the world, Margaret knew the entertainment industry was where she wanted to be.
“I’ve known I wanted to be in the entertainment industry since I was in middle school,” says Margaret, born and raised in Brunswick. “I’m excited to be able to do the work I love right here in Georgia.”
It was a middle school career class that sparked a series of events that would lead this small-town girl from coastal Georgia to the bright lights of the film industry. As usually happens, Margaret had to serve her time as a “button pusher” while learning the ropes at a local rock station in her hometown. It didn’t take long for everyone to realize her potential, and she was soon hosting her own late-night talk show.
The radio gig in high school was just the mouth of the river — the entertainment industry was the ocean it would lead her to. While in school at Georgia Southern
University, Margaret studied production and worked on various projects while earning her degree, but she couldn’t walk away from radio completely. To stay versatile, she continued working with radio throughout college by helping produce radio talk shows on campus. When it was time to find an internship, GSU’s internship director Reed Smith knew a great fit for Margaret. Enter EUE/Screen Gems.
EUE/Screen Gems opened its Atlanta studio in 2010, and although Margaret had not yet become a full-time problem solver, she was certainly learning the ropes. Today, as the Assistant to the Executive VP, no two days are the same, and that’s just how Margaret likes it.
“Being on-call to do whatever is needed definitely keeps it interesting,” Margaret says. “Office hours and studio hours can be very different, but I live close and am always one call away.”