24 Hours With... Debra Martin Chase

The first Black woman to produce a $100 million blockbuster (1996’s Courage Under Fire) and land an overall deal at a major studio (she currently has a deal with Universal Television), executive producer Debra Martin Chase is the powerhouse behind the Queen Latifah drama The Equalizer. Here’s a look inside the world of a Hollywood trailblazer.

- By David Hochman

7:00 A.M. After all these months at home, I definitely need an alarm to get me up and out. I usually pretend my iPhone didn’t just ring so I can linger in bed a few minutes. I don’t do breakfast. If I’m in New York, I’ll go to the gym in my building. In L.A., I’ll work out in my garage with the treadmill and weights.

8:30 A.M. My driver comes to me. Most days I’ll divide my time between my office and Zoom meetings and being on set of The Equalizer. Queen Latifah and I met 25 years ago, but she’s very much the same person: honest, down-to-earth, funny. One difference is she has security now!

10:00 A.M. I’ll usually have a green juice with pea protein powder and collagen, take some Bs, have a banana. That gets me through.