Interview: Bo Youngblood Details Her Journey From Indie Roots to High-Altitude Thrills

Bo Youngblood’s journey into filmmaking is a testament to perseverance, versatility, and a deep-seated passion for storytelling. Born in San Mateo County, California, she ventured to Los Angeles in 2007 with little more than ambition and determination. “For the next 10 years, I worked in multiple departments. I was a production assistant and a camera assistant; I worked in unscripted casting. I spent a few years pursuing acting, and after some wonderful opportunities in front of the camera, I decided to try producing,” Youngblood tells Hollywood First Look. “My acting studio at the time, BGB, encouraged us to create our own material. With their support, I got together with some friends and wrote, produced, and acted in a web series. I then realized that producing and directing was where I wanted to stay. I worked in freelance independent production until my partner John Ierardi and I decided to start our own company in 2020.”

Youngblood made her directorial debut in the 2024 thriller In Flight. The movie follows Claire (Tiffany Smith), who, after planning a trip to Paris, wakes up on a plane with no recollection of how she got there. Youngblood and Ierardi came up with the story while visiting with their friend Drew McAnany at Aero Mock-ups. “Drew loved the idea, and they wrote the script together. Everything came together really quickly. While we were talking about the story, John suggested I direct it, so I was part of the story process throughout. It was collaborative and creative,” she said.

Youngblood describes wanting to make a good high-concept thriller, something that had a big twist at the end, and points out she had never seen that with a female lead. “I found it really exciting. I knew the color palette I wanted and the tones and feel I wanted immediately,” she explained. “As we were working on the script, I had strong inclinations of who I wanted to play specific roles. It is not lost on me what a rare, wonderful experience it is to work with friends and cast them in roles they haven’t played yet,” she shared.

Youngblood said they shot all of the plane scenes in the script in order, which was a good way to build tension and amp up the stakes throughout the shoot. After the film’s success, people want to know if there might be a sequel in the works. “I am open to it,” Youngblood says. “We have some ideas of where the sequel could go already, we just need to get the green light to do it.” 

Expanding on the character of Claire is something Youngblood would love to do. “Claire is really grounded and smart, and she trusts herself. I love that about her. Tiffany Smith and I always talked about that. I think being able to trust yourself completely and follow your gut like Claire does is inspiring,” she explained. 

At the heart of In Flight is a woman who comes to the table with all of the tools she needs to get out of a situation. She doesn’t need anyone else but herself. The thriller adds an extra element of surprise at the end, and audiences love it.

“I love directing. It is so much fun,” Youngblood adds. “I think being a part of the decision-making of every department is invigorating. I love working with people who are smarter than me and the best at what they do. I was constantly learning from everyone around me.” 

In Flight changed everything about Youngblood’s life. Directing a feature film was a dream come true. “I really hope more female filmmakers get the opportunity to make their first feature,” she added. “I hope that studios and financing companies see the value in female voices. Women in entertainment are so supportive of each other; it’s really a beautiful community. We need financial and viewer support to allow us to tell the stories we have been trying to tell for years.” 

As a producer, Youngblood just wrapped the feature rom-com F*ck Valentine’s Day with Marisa Tomei, Virginia Gardner, and Skylar Astin. “We shot it in Malta, which was amazing,” she added. “I have a film I am attached to direct in development. We just attached an amazing actress, and I am so excited to announce it when the time is right.”