Episode 117: Marie Cantin, Producer and Educator

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Marie Cantin is a Producer and Educator, having worked in independent and studio film and television productions. She was an Associate Dean at the AFI Conservatory, and in 2017 was the recipient of the Frank Capra Achievement Award from the DGA – a very big deal.  Some of her many credits include, Torch Song Trilogy, Save the Last Dance, Dante’s Peak, and Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead.

We talked about her long and circuitous journey into the business.  At one point she was rumored to be a nun. There’s a story.

She says it is important to figure out who you are and how you want to be in the world. This will inform your path. I think she’s right.

Episode 78: Jen McGowan, Director

Jen McGowan is a film Director who directed the shorts Confessions of a Late Bloomer and Touch, and the feature film Kelly and Cal, which is a delicious movie that you can see on the streaming platforms. This film won the Gamechanger award at SXSW. She is currently finishing her next film called Rust Creek.

Jen is also the founder of the amazing group for women in this business called Film Powered – which she tells us all about.

If you are in LA in the film community, you have seen Jen everywhere lately. She has a big online platform, she is speaking on panels, she is doing the work. A somewhat reluctant activist, she is paving the way forward for the women behind her.

And this: As long as women don’t get to tell the stories, we will have no control over our destiny.

You can find Jen here.

Episode 17: Kool Marder, AFI Mentor/Production Executive

Kool is currently a Faculty Mentor at the American Film Institute. Prior to that, she was a Production Executive, Producer, DGA UPM, Location Manager, Production Coordinator – name the production job, she has done it. Kool has overseen and/or made about 100 films.  How many people can say that, let alone how many women?

Some credits include, Blue Valentine, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street 5, Casual Sex, Fried Green Tomatoes, American Pie, Erin Brokovich, The Fast and the Furious, and Bourne Identity.

We talked about the early days, when cell phones were in briefcases and coordinators prepared call sheets on typewriters. You think it’s hard to make movies now….

And now for Kool's Tales from the Trenches.  Is it a federal crime to receive cocaine via fedex? From UPM to Expert Witness in the Big Easy.