After spending years answering tough questions from reporters and navigating political crises from behind the White House podium, Karine Jean-Pierre is ready for a different kind of drama.
The former White House press secretary is trading Washington for Hollywood, stepping into a new role as a film producer.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jean-Pierre has joined the production team of “Terroir,” an upcoming independent thriller from filmmaker Jesse Harris, whose 2022 survival thriller “Borrego” starred Lucy Hale.
Set in the world of wine production, “Terroir” follows a vineyard worker and a wine critic as they uncover secrets at a renowned vineyard. The film will explore themes of class and power, examining the contrasts between the luxury wine industry and the migrant and low-income laborers who help sustain it.
Harris, who hopes to shoot the film in Chile next March, is targeting a budget between $3 million and $5 million. He described the project as being in the vein of films like “Get Out” and “The Menu,” combining commercial appeal with social commentary.
Jean-Pierre, who spent two decades working in politics, acknowledges that filmmaking is new territory, but she’s excited about the possibilities.
“I think I’m just finding next stage of my career,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve done politics for 20 years. There are many roads you can take [from here]. I believe being in a filmmaking producing space or a TV producing space is something I can bring a lot to.”
And she’s not just lending her name to the credits.
Jean-Pierre has already begun tapping into her extensive network to help Harris connect with potential cast members, collaborators and investors.
Harris believes her experience communicating complex messages and building relationships makes her particularly well-suited to independent filmmaking.
“Not just because of her connections but because her whole career is communicating messages and getting people behind big ideas,” he told THR.
Jean-Pierre made history in May 2022 when she became the first Black person and first openly LGBTQ person to serve as White House press secretary. She held the position through the end of President Joe Biden’s administration in January 2025.
Since leaving the White House, she’s pursued consulting, speaking engagements and media commentary. She also published her memoir, “Independent,” which explored her departure from the Democratic Party and her frustrations with the country’s political system.
Although she’s a longtime movie lover who counts “The Godfather” and the Black romantic classic “Love Jones” among her favorites, Jean-Pierre isn’t pretending to have all the answers about her new profession.
“I am not a producer, and there’s going to be a lot for me to learn,” she admitted. “But I’m excited to learn how these stories get done.”
After years spent shaping political narratives, Jean-Pierre is now preparing to help bring a different kind of story to the screen.
