About Us
We are a company of producers with an appetite for bold, unusual, beautiful narratives. Our films are as unique and diverse as the directors behind them, with subjects ranging from personal stories, pop culture and music, to social issues, activism and the criminal justice system. We seek out high-profile subjects as well as surprising and untold stories.
Our films have screened at all the top international festivals including Sundance, Toronto, and Berlin, and have been released in theaters, on television, digital platforms and streaming services worldwide.
We’ve worked with top production companies and distributors on creative and critically acclaimed content including HBO, Sky Atlantic, Showtime, ZDF/Arte, IFC Films, Magnolia Pictures, Dogwoof, Cinereach, Story AB, SDI and Zeppers Film & TV.
THE TEAM
The Hard Working Movies family is a mix of talented, experienced, hard working and passionate storytellers. We develop, create and produce films with strong characters and important, inspiring and entertaining stories to tell.
Lori Cheatle
Producer/ Founder
Lori is an award-winning Producer and Executive Producer and the founder of Hard Working Movies, a company of producers interested in working with exciting and visionary directors and talent. Her films have screened at top international festivals including Sundance, Berlin, Toronto, SXSW, London and Tribeca, and they’ve been released in cinemas and on major broadcast and streaming platforms worldwide. She received the Sundance/Amazon Producers Award for her commitment to projects of “bold vision” and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and BAFTA.
Amy Hobby
Producer
Amy is an Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award winning Producer with a track record delivering films and series to major distributors including Netflix, HBO, Sony, Lion’s Gate, Magnolia, Greenwich Entertainment, PBS and more. She also is a sought after story producer and distribution consultant. She is the co-founder of Distribution Advocates.
Cristina Rodriguez
Co-Producer
Cristina is a proud native New Yorker and a certified cinephile. With a versatile background spanning both narrative and documentary filmmaking, Cristina has played an integral role in a diverse range of projects at Hard Working Movies over the past five years. Cristina’s ability to craft compelling narratives from behind the scenes has made her an integral force in the production of both short and feature-length films, helping bring powerful stories to life in ways that resonate with audiences.
Samyuktha Sridhar
Development Producer
Samyu has a background in documentary filmmaking, music marketing analysis, and multimedia journalism. As Development Producer at Hard Working Movies, she is passionate about finding unique and beautiful stories and giving them a platform. She is currently involved in developing the music slate for HWM’s sister company, Record Breaker Films+. Samyu is a graduate of NYU’s documentary journalism program, and lives in Brooklyn. In her free time, you can find her taking photos and curating playlists for oddly specific moods.
Philip Thompson
Editor and Post-Production Manager
Philip Thompson is a filmmaker and editor from New England, based in Brooklyn, and selected as one of Filmmaker magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” and a Sundance Adobe x Ignite Fellow in 2024. Phil has been involved in production and post-production on all Hard Working Movies recent projects, as well as the new music slate at Record Breaker Films+. Phil is interested in work that investigates popular media’s influence on culture. He was raised by his mother, his father, and his television.