Title:GEMA Alumni Spotlight – Ilan Arboleda (SFS’97) Co-Founder and Co-CEO, CreativeChaos vmg

Co-Founder and Co-CEO, CreativeChaos vmg

Ilan Arboleda (SFS’97) is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of the independent production company CreativeChaos vmg, dedicated to ambitious films that explore the forces shaping American culture, politics and identity. Across documentary features, TV series and narrative features, the company has built a body of work that combines cinematic storytelling with subjects that live beyond the screen—gender equality, gun violence, healthcare, geo-politics, national security, music, Hollywood history and the institutions that shape public life. Ilan’s films have been released by many of the world’s leading platforms, networks and broadcasters, including HBO, Netflix, Paramount+, Hulu, TCM, and have been shown theatrically around the world. His films have been nominated for multiple Emmys and have won a Latin Grammy, the National Board of Review, several Critic’s Choice awards, and have taken top prize at premiere film festivals around the world.

What was your first “big break”? Or, what is the most significant experience you have had that has made your success possible?

In 2006, someone asked my partner and I to make a film about an unknown 88-year-old casting director named Marion Dougherty. We said yes. Six years later, the film came out and changed the course of Hollywood—and my career. It ignited an industry-wide effort that culminated in casting directors receiving their first competitive Oscar this year. It also opened the door for me into documentary filmmaking, something I never imagined I would do.

What is the most challenging part of your job? What is the most rewarding part?

The most challenging part of my job is that every new project, every new film, is a reset to zero. I have to develop the story, build the resources, conduct deep research, raise the financing, and execute it all from nothing. In some ways, that’s also the most rewarding part. Every project is a new adventure. Every project is a wild ride. My mantra is to always trust the process.

What is something current you are working on that you are excited about?

I always like to say that our next film is our best film. I want to believe that we’re pushing boundaries and form with every project. We’re just now finishing a Japanese political thriller that challenges the viewer’s notion of truth in an age of disinformation. The film is an attempt to innovate while still paying homage to the daring filmmaking of the 1970s. I am also launching a new venture with fellow Georgetown alum Diana Williams, focused on direct-to-audience distribution, curating films, series, podcasts, and other digital content through the distinct lens of our brand.

How is the ever-changing media landscape affecting your industry?

It’s been a great reminder to stay nimble, and an interesting lesson in how to pivot while staying true to the DNA of who you are. We’ve seen the changing landscape as an opportunity to use new mediums, formats, and technology for expression. And while consolidation has taken a toll on distributor buying habits, we’ve reexamined our budgets and models and have gotten scrappy as a matter of form, not just circumstance.

Are there any ways that you feel Georgetown especially prepared you for your career?

Georgetown has prepared me in so many ways for my career. First and foremost, I’ve mined great stories from my classes, professors, and classmates that have become films and TV shows. I’ve even put some of Georgetown’s professors in my films! The wonderful international focus of the school, and my study of International Business Diplomacy, gave me the confidence to go galavanting around the world to making films. And the proximity to Capitol Hill helped me develop a keen sense of how films can engage with issues and advocate for political change.

What is your best advice to those who are starting out in your field?

I learned from the Hollywood legend Lynn Stalmaster the art of being “open.” I would tell anyone entering this field to be open — to people, to ideas, to opportunities, and especially to the unexpected. My own career took a direction I never could have planned simply because I was open to something that came my way.

Best Business Advice Received:

Really, two pieces of advice have always stuck with me:

“No business is better than bad business.”

And sometimes it’s better to have a small piece of a big pie than the biggest piece of a little pie – so share.

Trait You Most Admire in People:

The ability to execute. It’s everything.

Favorite App, Website, Podcast or Social Platform (other than related to your own company):

YouTube. It’s won the content war. It has an amazing ability to be all things to all people, and it has given rise to a multitude of careers, companies, and industries.

Favorite Georgetown Professor:

So many, but the professor who influenced me the most was the one I took four classes with, Professor Lalitha Gopalan. My favorite, though, was a professor I never actually had: Professor Bill Daddio. He sadly passed away in 2024, but not before appearing in two of my TV series. He was an amazing raconteur with a surprisingly terrific on-screen presence. He was also a good friend.

Favorite Georgetown Restaurant or Bar:

Not for the food, but for the late-night camaraderie: Au Pied de Cochon.

Favorite Georgetown Memory:

Sitting in a stall in the basement of Lauinger Library, watching movie after movie on old VHS tapes, certain that I was going to make movies someday.

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