The Other 50%

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Episode 190: Gabriela Ledesma and Callie Schuttera, Filmmakers

March 18, 2020 by Julie Harris Oliver in entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, Producer, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, film festivals, PGA, Unscripted, Post Production

For this episode, I got to speak with the founders of the production company, Poison Pictures: Gabriela Ledesma and Callie Schuttera. The pair met in 2015 and have since written and produced countless projects together including comedy specials, feature films, live events, commercials, and documentaries.

​Their work has been featured and acclaimed by Film Pulse, CherryPicks, Film Threat, Film Inquiry, and more.

We talked about their journeys, both before each other and together, and their film Blue, which you can find on Amazon Prime.  

March 18, 2020 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, indie film, short film, commercials, branded entertainment, film production, sundance
entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, Producer, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, film festivals, PGA, Unscripted, Post Production
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Episode 189: Mary Montiforte, Production Executive

March 05, 2020 by Julie Harris Oliver in entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, Producer, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, film festivals, PGA, Unscripted, Post Production

Mary Montiforte is the Vice President of Physical Production at Endeavor Content. She originally came up through production accounting and producing as a freelancer, then moved into staff positions in production finance and physical production.

Her longest stint was as a staff production controller for NBCUniversal before moving on to Lionsgate and now Endeavor Content. Some of her credits include 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Santa Clause 2, Thirteen Days, Air Force One and a crowd favorite The Commitments - just to barely scratch the surface.

Amongst everything else, we talked about the tenacity and persistence it takes to have longevity in this career.

March 05, 2020 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, indie film, short film, commercials, branded entertainment, film production, sundance
entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, Producer, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, film festivals, PGA, Unscripted, Post Production
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Episode 188: Carolina Groppa, Producer

February 18, 2020 by Julie Harris Oliver in entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, Producer, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, film festivals, PGA, Unscripted

Carolina is a Brazilian born Emmy nominated producer living in Los Angeles.

She produced the award winning and 2017 Emmy nominated documentary AUTISM IN LOVE, which explores how adults with autism find and navigate romantic relationships.   Her narrative feature films include MISS VIRGINIA, starring Uzo Aduba, the Netflix Originals GIRLFRIEND'S DAY and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. She co-produced THE FEMALE BRAIN, Whitney Cummings' directing debut feature film, and also produced SYLVIE'S LOVE which had its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. 

She also has her own podcast that you should check out – it’s called Life with Caca – It’s a podcast of intimate and honest conversations with producers from all corners of the entertainment industry.

It shines a light on the many career paths that exist under the umbrella of producing, the messy, unglamorous realities behind the title, and why we love it so much.

February 18, 2020 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, indie film, short film, commercials, branded entertainment, film production, sundance
entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, Producer, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, film festivals, PGA, Unscripted
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Episode 187: Becky Morrison, Founder

January 14, 2020 by Julie Harris Oliver in entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, composers, Producer, Unscripted, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, Music Videos, NYU, Politics, PTSD

The production process when it comes to film, television, and advertising has lately been seen as outdated and needs to be simplified to be able to adhere to society’s needs for more diverse creators and stories. When Becky Morrison founded The Light, a production studio in Brooklyn, NY, she did it with a simple mission: change the culture of production, overhauling an outdated model in favor of one founded on values of equality, transparency and inclusion. She aims to create a system that prioritizes people, profit and the environment, responding to the ever-evolving economic landscape of the advertising industry. With that set model, Becky and The Light team have been able to secure work for brands like Lexus, JCPenney, and A&E. We spoke in her Brooklyn studio on a snowy day in NY.

January 14, 2020 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, indie film, short film, music, composer, commercials, branded entertainment, film production
entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, composers, Producer, Unscripted, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, Music Videos, NYU, Politics, PTSD
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Episode 186: Edith Mudge, Composer

January 11, 2020 by Julie Harris Oliver in entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, webseries, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, Independent Film, composers, film scores, Producer, songwriting, Sound Mixer, Unscripted

This episode is brought to you by:

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Edith is a composer and music producer. To date, her music has been placed in 790 episodes of 259 series.  Due to her rigorous 3-year training at Hans Zimmer's Remote Control Productions and Bleeding Fingers, and 2 years of full-time composing at Jingle Punks, Edith has acquired a comprehensive set of musical, technical, and collaborative skills.  Her composing credits include YouTube Premium series Step Up: High Water, Saturday Night Live, and Showtime's The Circus, as well as a plethora of reality TV series, including Queer Eye, Project Runway, and The Real Housewives franchise. She currently composes for TV, film, podcasts, live theater and more, with a specialty in electronic drama, synth pop, and choral music. She told me all about being one of few women in this space, and you will hear her music right here.

January 11, 2020 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, indie film, short film, music, composer
entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, webseries, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, Independent Film, composers, film scores, Producer, songwriting, Sound Mixer, Unscripted
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Episode 167: Farhoud Meybodi, Wayfarer Entertainment

July 02, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, acting, theatre, WGA, Editorial, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries, business, Commercials, immigration, Directors, capital, DGA, Digital content, documentary, entrepreneur, Post Production, PTSD, Reality, superhero, Unscripted, women, youtube influencer

This episode is brought to you by:

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As EVP of Creative at Wayfarer Entertainment, Farhoud Meybodi sets and executes Wayfarer’s overall creative vision across feature film, documentary, series, and commercial content, further strengthening the company’s mission to create entertainment that compels social change.

At his core, Farhoud is passionate about storytelling that entertains, educates, and inspires. He also believes in the transformational power of empathy and shared human experience to heal the political-social divide of the present day.

Mostly recently, Farhoud directed and executive produced several episodes of Wayfarer’s flagship series, My Last Days. He received a Television Academy Honors Award, Muse and Clio for his work on the series. Farhoud also executive produced and wrote Man Enough, for which he received a Telly and Adweek Arc award, and created Project Upgrade, an unscripted series featuring YouTube stars, The Merrell Twins, as they set out to design and build a new consumer product with the help of successful female mentors.

Farhoud serves as a board member of the Wayfarer Foundation, The Muslim Public Affairs Council, as well as Loyola Marymount University’s Business School A-LIST Marketing Pathway, where he teaches a course on Branded Content for Social Impact.

We talked about many things, but one of them was how to invite men into the conversation about equality that promotes healing and forward movement.

See more of Farhoud’s work here:

My Last Days: Meet Anthony: https://www.facebook.com/mylastdayssoulpancake/videos/391034138419712/

Man Enough: #metoo: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreManEnough/videos/2129001024007697/


July 02, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
writer, culture, politics, indie film, commercials, healing masculinity, gender equality, social change
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, acting, theatre, WGA, Editorial, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries, business, Commercials, immigration, Directors, capital, DGA, Digital content, documentary, entrepreneur, Post Production, PTSD, Reality, superhero, Unscripted, women, youtube influencer
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Episode 156: Liz Jenkins, CFO, Hello Sunshine

April 16, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Editorial, Producer, Studios, Writers, entrepreneur, business, Coaching, Commercials, Consulting, Digital content, investment, capital, DGA, Directors, documentary, human rights, LGBT, Unscripted, WGA

This episode generously sponsored by:

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Liz is the Chief Financial Officer of Hello Sunshine, the media brand founded by Reese Witherspoon. She tells us all about the company, their mission, and their culture. It’s as good as you imagined. Liz was formerly the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Media Rights Capital. While there, she worked on the deal to bring House of Cards to Netflix, which was then written up as a Harvard Business Review business case, and she talks it about it here as well. Liz is very much one of the best and brightest, and I’m so happy to have her on the show.

April 16, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
digital content, digital marketing, women in leadership, women in business, Hello Sunshine, women in tv, women in entertainment, women focused story, book club, female CFO
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Editorial, Producer, Studios, Writers, entrepreneur, business, Coaching, Commercials, Consulting, Digital content, investment, capital, DGA, Directors, documentary, human rights, LGBT, Unscripted, WGA
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Episode 153: Mari Meyer, Writer, Journalist, Filmmaker and Actor

March 26, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, Studios, Writers, activism, Comedy, documentary, entrepreneur, Unscripted, human rights, AFI, DGA, family films, film festivals, Immigration, Independent Film, Reality, WGA, LGBT, theatre

This episode generously sponsored by:

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Mari is a writer, journalist, filmmaker and actor. She holds a BA in Journalism and completed the 3 Year Conservatory program at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York.

As a journalist, she has over ten years of experience in news, art and entertainment journalism, both in the Netherlands and in the U.S. She is producer and director of VAGILANT, a short documentary film about the Women's March on Washington and was the lead producer on music video project A Whole New World. She co-wrote, produced and starred in The Soothing System, an award winning narrative short film. In 2018, Female Filmmakers Fuse Film Festival in Los Angeles named her Filmmaker of the Year.

We talked about her new projects in development, her work within the prison system in New York and how finding your voice and telling your story, as cliché as that is starting to sound, is still imperative.

You can find more about Mari here.

March 26, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
women in film, short film, immigration, indie film, editing, journalism, writing, acting
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, Studios, Writers, activism, Comedy, documentary, entrepreneur, Unscripted, human rights, AFI, DGA, family films, film festivals, Immigration, Independent Film, Reality, WGA, LGBT, theatre
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Episode 152: Michelle Salcedo, Director/Writer

March 21, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, Studios, Writers, activism, Comedy, documentary, entrepreneur, Unscripted, human rights, AFI, DGA, family films, film festivals, Immigration, Independent Film, Reality, WGA

This episode generously sponsored by:

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Michelle directed a gorgeous short film called Piel Canela, that she shot in Cuba and which is screening at several film festivals this week. It will be premiering at the San Diego Latino Film festival March 23, as well as the Chicago Latino Film Festival March 29, and 31st, with a Miami screening happening first weekend in April at the Indie Pasión Film festival! So, if you are anywhere near any of those places, make a point of going to see it. I have seen the trailer and it is gorgeous. You can see the trailer here.

Michelle came up through marketing and editing at Miramax during the heyday, editing with Bunim Murray, and is now writing and directing full time. She tells us the whole story of scouting and then shooting in Cuba, counting all her cash in a bathroom stall at LAX to make sure TSA hadn’t taken any, and her Grandmother’s spirit yelling at her about all of it.

You can find more about Michelle and Piel Canela here.

March 21, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
women in film, short film, cuba, immigration, adoption, indie film, editing
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, Studios, Writers, activism, Comedy, documentary, entrepreneur, Unscripted, human rights, AFI, DGA, family films, film festivals, Immigration, Independent Film, Reality, WGA
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Episode 150: Amanda Blumenthal, Intimacy Coordinator

March 12, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, Studios, Writers, activism, Comedy, business, Digital content, documentary, entrepreneur, Unscripted, webseries, Coaching, human rights, LGBT, PTSD, theatre, intimacy coordinator

This episode generously sponsored by:

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Today we have something new - new for the podcast and new for the industry. I sat down with Amanda Blumenthal who is one of a handful of people working in the new position called “Intimacy Coordinator.” She is currently working on the HBO show called Euphoria. She breaks down for us what that job really entails, how her unique background, education and work history prepared her perfectly for it, and the real need for this position on a set. It makes total sense and it’s one of those things that makes you hit your forehead with your palm and ask why haven’t we always had this!? You can reach Amanda via her website here: intimacycoordinator.com.

March 12, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
women in film, video, education, global education, intimacy, sexual harassment, sex positive, sex scenes, nudity
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, Studios, Writers, activism, Comedy, business, Digital content, documentary, entrepreneur, Unscripted, webseries, Coaching, human rights, LGBT, PTSD, theatre, intimacy coordinator
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Episode 149: Jenny Buccos, Director, Producer, Explorer

March 05, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, Studios, Writers, activism, Comedy, Immigration, business, Digital content, documentary, entrepreneur, family films, Unscripted, webseries

This episode generously sponsored by:

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Jenny is a multi-award winning director and producer of the long running program called Project Explorer, and the founder of Project Explorer.org. which is a free multimedia website designed to educate kids about global cultures and histories. She has explored six continents, in over 500 episodes, and has met incredible people and seen amazing places.

She is currently working on a television show to bring this programming to an even wider audience. Jenny is incredibly purpose driven, an explorer, an entrepreneur, and is living her mission every day. I am very inspired by her and I’m sure you will be too.

March 05, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
women in film, women writers, video, education, travel, global education
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, Post Production, women, hollywood, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, Studios, Writers, activism, Comedy, Immigration, business, Digital content, documentary, entrepreneur, family films, Unscripted, webseries
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Episode 147: Matt Birch, Agent

February 26, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Digital content, Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Post Production, women, business, film festivals, film scores, hollywood, Independent Film, documentary, Reality, Unscripted, Sound Mixer, DGA, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, PTSD, Studios, VFX, WGA, Writers

This episode generously sponsored by:

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I took a detour into male ally-ship and spoke with Matt Birch. Matt is a partner at the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) and is a co-head of the physical production department. He came up through production, reluctantly became an agent in 2009, and makes sure to bring a little something different to the art of agent-ing.  I met Matt while recording for the soon to launch podcast called Catch A Break – which is the insider’s guide to breaking into and navigating Hollywood (which you’re going to want to know about, click here to subscribe so you will be notified when it launches.)

During that interview, Matt mentioned he was on the men’s committee of #TimesUp, which as you can imagine made my ears perk up and I immediately booked him for this show to dig a little deeper. This corresponds with the feeling I have been having that it is time to start bringing men into the conversation and engaging them in the process toward equality. And Matt is one of the men who are actively evolving and trying to be part of the solution. We talked about #MeToo/TimesUp and harassment, hiring practices, the wage gap, how men are talking to each other, and a little bit about how men can hold each other accountable in ways that will be effective.

February 26, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
hollywood agent, BTL, he for she, male allyship
Digital content, Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Post Production, women, business, film festivals, film scores, hollywood, Independent Film, documentary, Reality, Unscripted, Sound Mixer, DGA, Directors, Editorial, Politics, Producer, PTSD, Studios, VFX, WGA, Writers
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Episode 146: Allie Boettger, Sound Mixer

February 19, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Digital content, Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Post Production, women, business, film festivals, film scores, hollywood, Independent Film, music, Competition Show, documentary, healthcare, Reality, Unscripted, Sound Mixer
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I was lucky enough to pin down Allie Boettger. Allie is a sound mixer. And I don’t mean the kind of sound mixer who works on a stage, although she can do that too. Allie is the kind of sound mixer that goes around the world on the Amazing Race, goes to Alaska in winter to shoot Alaskan Bush People, hikes to the top of a mountain and then rappels down it. She is super badass. And she is quite the storyteller, so this episode was really fun.

As a bonus, she taught me how to wrap my own audio cable, which I had been doing wrong for three years, but am happy to report I now take the time to do it correctly every time.

February 19, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
women in entertainment, SOUND MIXER, amazing race, alaskan bush people
Digital content, Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Post Production, women, business, film festivals, film scores, hollywood, Independent Film, music, Competition Show, documentary, healthcare, Reality, Unscripted, Sound Mixer
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Episode 134: Julia Lynn Huffman, Storyteller, Filmmaker, Coach

December 04, 2018 by Julie Harris Oliver in activism, business, Coaching, Consulting, Directors, Diversity, documentary, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, Independent Film, Politics, Post Production, Producer, Reality, Unscripted, webseries, WGA, women, Writers

This episode is brought to you by:

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Julia started out in broadcast journalism and acting, and then transitioned to working behind the camera. Having worked in the television industry for over two decades and cutting her teeth as a coordinator, writer, producer, shooter and editor for companies like E! Entertainment, Steven Bochko Productions and HGTV, Julia went on to direct, write and produce her own feature film and become one of a handful of female directors to win multiple awards in the film festival circuit and secure world-wide distribution for her first feature film, endorsed by Dr Jane Goodall, Medicine of the Wolf.

Julia just finished her short film WOLF SPIRIT starring world renowned National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg and will be using the film as a tool for education about the value of wolves and their necessary place on the north American landscape.

We talked about her passion projects, tenacity in the business, and the state of women in the world. As we do.

You can reach Julia via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-h-30a7734/

December 04, 2018 /Julie Harris Oliver
filmmaker, women in entertainment, wolves, documentaries, storyteller, director, writers, women in tv
activism, business, Coaching, Consulting, Directors, Diversity, documentary, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, Independent Film, Politics, Post Production, Producer, Reality, Unscripted, webseries, WGA, women, Writers
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Episode 133: Ally Iseman, Actor, Writer, Producer

November 27, 2018 by Julie Harris Oliver in activism, animation, business, Comedy, Commercials, daytime drama, Digital content, Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, human rights, Independent Film, LGBT, Music Videos, PGA, Politics, Producer, Reality, soap opera, Studios, theatre, Unscripted, webseries, WGA, women, Writers, youtube influencer

This episode is sponsored by:

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Ally is an actor, writer, and producer. She has worked on stage in productions like Jekyll & Hyde, as well as on screens big and small including shows like American Housewife, Criminal Minds, and Days of Our Lives. Ally makes an appearance in Nicole Conn's newest feature film Nesting Doll, in Jorge Xolalpa Jr.'s latest feature A Giant Without A Head, and as a lead opposite Ray Wise and Bonnie Bedelia in the feature film Life On The Rocks.

Ally has spoken on numerous panels about gender parity and intersectional, inclusive feminism and does her best to align herself with work that has an eye on advocacy. Her internationally award-winning film Wedlocked, an LGBTQ comedy about gay divorce toured at over 45 film festivals worldwide securing digital, broadcast and theatrical distribution.

Most recently she can be seen in the feature film Solver, hosting the new plant-based food travel show The Road Less Eaten, and in her gender parity comedy series Flip the Script, which is being produced in partnership with Women In Film. 

Ally is driven, fearless, and hilarious. Grab your tea and enjoy some time with us.

You can find out more about Ally here: www.allyiseman.com.

November 27, 2018 /Julie Harris Oliver
women writers, women in entertainment, women in comedy, actor, comedy, artivist, flip the script
activism, animation, business, Comedy, Commercials, daytime drama, Digital content, Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, human rights, Independent Film, LGBT, Music Videos, PGA, Politics, Producer, Reality, soap opera, Studios, theatre, Unscripted, webseries, WGA, women, Writers, youtube influencer
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Episode 132: Sasheen R. Artis, Writer/Producer

November 20, 2018 by Julie Harris Oliver in activism, business, Coaching, Diversity, documentary, entertainment, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, human rights, Independent Film, investment, PGA, Producer, PTSD, Reality, Studios, Unscripted, WGA, women, Writers

This episode is brought to you by:

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Sasheen is a Writer/Producer with over 20 years of experience in live events, documentaries, talk shows and scripted programming, such as “Fight for $15” and its impact on small business, the school-to-prison pipeline, the plight of New Orleans residents on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and a “one-night only” Prince concert at the Conga Room in Los Angeles. Sasheen also produced the late-night talk show, Tavis Smiley.

Currently, she is in development with several TV and film projects and co-chairs the Producers Guild of America Power of Diversity Master Workshop. 

This summer, she was invited by the Royal Film Commission - Jordan to develop a curriculum and teach a 5-day Workshop to their local filmmakers on how to prepare their projects for the marketplace. The Workshop culminated with the filmmakers pitching their projects for feedback to top Hollywood execs from Sony, Fox, Paramount, Media Rights Capital and HBO. 

We talked about her incredible journey from homelessness to producing, and broke down the business case for diversity. This is a good one.

November 20, 2018 /Julie Harris Oliver
women in tv, women writers, women in entertainment, writers, Producers Guild, diversity, producer, documentaries
activism, business, Coaching, Diversity, documentary, entertainment, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, human rights, Independent Film, investment, PGA, Producer, PTSD, Reality, Studios, Unscripted, WGA, women, Writers
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Episode 131: Monique Sorgen, Writer, Director

November 13, 2018 by Julie Harris Oliver in Comedy, DGA, Directors, Diversity, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Music Videos, Producer, Reality, Studios, theatre, Unscripted, webseries, WGA, women, Writers

This episode is brought to you by:

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Monique is a writer and director of TV and film. After graduating from UCLA, Monique worked as a director’s assistant in television dramas and comedies. She then made a short film, Pants on Fire, which garnered international distribution and led to writing jobs such as “Blind Date,” and for variety and alternative shows on Comedy Central, and VH1; after which she landed a staff position at ABC in a development think tank.

Monique has also written the feature films The Babymaker, a Chinese remake of the film Love Stinks, Rock n’ Roll Princess, and All the Way Down. In 2014, she was selected as a finalist for the ABC TV writing program. During this time, Monique also completed her first novel, How Long You Should Wait to Have Sex.

Her most recent directing work includes several music videos, a web series pilot, and 3 unscripted series for the international network Fashion One, which she produced in the Philippines.  

There is more, but I will let her tell it in the interview. Also, she has many stories about being the only woman in a writer’s room. Let’s just say it wasn’t awesome, but it does seem to be getting better.

Now, a brief disclaimer. We conducted this interview outside in a park. So, there is plenty of ambient noise of children, traffic, and an ill-times roofer across the street. Pretend you are on a nature walk and having this conversation with Monique. It will be worth it, I promise.

You can reach Monique here:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/moniquesorgen 

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/moniquesorgen

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/moniquesorgenlove/

Website: https://sorgenm.wixsite.com/moniquesorgen

New Short Film website: https://sorgenm.wixsite.com/sorrynotsorry

Short film twitter: https://twitter.com/NotSorryFilm 

Book: "HOW LONG YOU SHOULD WAIT TO HAVE SEX" on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Long-Should-Wait-Have-ebook/dp/B00CCH4VIQ



November 13, 2018 /Julie Harris Oliver
women writers, women in tv, women in entertainment, women podcasters, writers room, writer's room, female writer, filmmaker, director, Alliance of Women Directors
Comedy, DGA, Directors, Diversity, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Music Videos, Producer, Reality, Studios, theatre, Unscripted, webseries, WGA, women, Writers
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Episode 119: Lisa Singer Haese, Producer, Filmmaker

August 28, 2018 by Julie Harris Oliver in Competition Show, Digital content, Directors, Diversity, documentary, Editorial, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, human rights, Independent Film, Post Production, Reality, Unscripted, women, Producer

This episode is brought to you by:

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Lisa is an Executive Producer for unscripted television, and her credits include Married at First Sight, I Used to be Fat, Master Chef, Celebrity Rehab, and The Biggest Loser.

We talked a lot about telling people's stories and how important it is. And about her transition from telling other's stories to telling her own.

Currently, she is producing a documentary about her family, called My Dad, Stephanie. That should be quite a journey.

August 28, 2018 /Julie Harris Oliver
women in entertainment, women in tv, women in reality, unscripted, documentaries, transgender
Competition Show, Digital content, Directors, Diversity, documentary, Editorial, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, human rights, Independent Film, Post Production, Reality, Unscripted, women, Producer
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Episode 107: Deborah Wolff, Producer, Author

June 12, 2018 by Julie Harris Oliver in business, Consulting, Diversity, documentary, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Reality, Unscripted, Competition Show

Deborah is a television producer – think The Mole, The Amazing Race, and Fear Factor. And then she wrote a book about it called One Year of Reality and How It Nearly Killed Me: My Life Behind the Scenes. And I believe her. She showed up in a sling. She has stories. She told a couple of them to me on the show and to get the rest, buy the book.

And you can find Deborah in all of these places:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pkrmama

LinkedIn:   www.linkedin.com/in/digitaldebwolff

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June 12, 2018 /Julie Harris Oliver
women in entertainment, reality, women in reality, amazing race, producer
business, Consulting, Diversity, documentary, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Reality, Unscripted, Competition Show
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