Golden Time with Bark Bark’s Tabitha Mason-Elliott
By Anthony Vagnoni & Chandler Atton
Pinning down Tabitha Mason-Elliott is always a heck of a task. When she’s not busy running productions at Bark Bark, the Atlanta-based studio where she’s Partner and Head of Production, she’s working on industry-wide issues and solutions as Chairwoman of AICP’s National Board or as President of its Southeast Chapter. In addition, she chairs AICP’s Equity and Inclusion Committee, is active in a myriad of social justice and cultural initiatives and squeezes in speaking engagements and panel participation at industry conferences and symposia around the country.
Sounds like a full plate, no? Add an active family life on top of that, and a list of passions and interests that keep her fully rounded and recharged, and you can see just how jammed her calendar typically is.
Then again, that’s what weekends are for. While at Bark Bark she’s leading production on everything from commercials to TV shows and documentaries, when Saturday comes, she’s more likely to be thinking about her bike, her kayak, her family, or her pottery wheel, and not in that order, either. The Howler caught up with her recently to find out how she spends her precious Golden Time. Here’s what she told us:
Where do you live, and what do you love about it?
Tabitha: I’ve been living in Atlanta for 14 years now, and I still love the balance it offers. It’s a city with real creative energy, but somehow it still feels like a neighborhood. We’re close to family, part of a tight-knit community, and we get the benefits of a bustling city without the sense of burnout. There’s a rhythm here that makes space for ambition and connection.
How’d you get into the business, and what’s your current role?
Tabitha: I got bit by the TV bug early, interning at local news stations in high school, fascinated by what happened behind the scenes. I started my career at HBO Sports in New York, moved west to L.A. to do the studio and production company shuffle before falling into the wild world of music videos and commercials. I eventually left music videos and was pretty sure I’d never take another staff job again, until I moved to Atlanta and joined Bark Bark as Head of Production. That was 12 years ago. Eight years ago, I bought the company with my partners. Since then, we’ve grown from a small branded content studio to a multi-media entertainment company, expanding into promos, long-form storytelling with brand-funded series and docs. It’s been a great ride.
How often are you working on weekends, really?
Tabitha: It ebbs and flows with the madness of the calendar. If we’re in multiple productions, weekends are fair game. If not, I try to protect that time fiercely; it’s when I reset, think clearly, and show up as a human for my family. Saturdays are light lifting: a few check-ins, maybe catching up on emails. Sundays are my deep-focus day: I tackle the tasks that require full brain power, and I prep for the week ahead so Monday doesn’t slap me in the face.
What’s your favorite weekend decompression activity? How often do you get to do it?
Tabitha: Being outdoors is my happy place: long walks, bike rides or kayaking when the weather cooperates. I also take a pottery class, learning to wheel throw, which is humbling in the best way. I love the gentle reminder that being terrible at something presents. It’s a beautiful way of teaching you that that mastery takes time, patience, and a lot of hard work.
It’s a three-day weekend – what’s your dream way of spending that bonus day?
Tabitha: Twenty miles on a bike or a quiet lake in a kayak. And if it rains? You’ll find me in the pottery studio, elbows deep in clay.
How much screen time do you log on weekends?
Tabitha: Not counting my Kindle? I spend most of the week on Zoom calls and screens, so on weekends, I make it a point to unplug. If I’m not working or coordinating something for my family, I’m not glued to a device. The one exception: my Kindle. I love a good novel and I’ll read anywhere, anytime.
What are you watching these days? And how do you keep up with all the content?
Tabitha: We just finished “Paradise,” and Sterling K. Brown better take home that Emmy. As for staying current, I don’t even try. Honestly, after a full week of screens, I can’t bring myself to binge. I keep a running list of recs from friends and colleagues, and I’ll get to them eventually…
What’s on your playlist? Or in your earbuds?
Tabitha: I’m big on Audible—non-fiction audiobooks are my jam. I love learning and absorbing new ideas while moving around. When it comes to music, it depends on the mood: lifting weights? It’s hip hop and Beyoncé. Cooking at home? Maybe Tems, Burna Boy, Cleo Sol, Elmiene. I love a good mix and quiet as it’s kept, Pandora’s algorithm bangs. It’s wildly good and introduces me to so much new music.
What’s been your best live experience of the past year? What made it stand out?
Tabitha: Beyoncé. No contest. I left hoarse and inspired. Not just as a fan, but as a producer, the show is meticulous, seamless, and so thoughtfully designed for the full audience experience. Virtual production, lighting, choreography, flying horses—every element was *chef’s kiss.* It was a masterclass in execution.
It’s Sunday night. How do you prep for Monday?
Tabitha: Sundays are sacred in our house. They’re for us. My husband introduced this as our children’s lives got busier and I love it. No plans unless they’re family plans. We cook, talk about the week ahead, and get organized so we’re not chasing our tails come Monday. It’s all about checking in with each other and making sure everyone has what they need to show up strong.
