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 64: Taylor Tracy Walsh, Editor/Post Supervisor

Taylor is an Editor and Post Supervisor for music videos and commercials. Here’s a new one - she was editing videos in her basement in Omaha until she reached out to a Director she admired and changed her life. She now has a successful career in Los Angeles, doing what she loves. 

She is working with big artists and learning how to navigate the boy’s club.  How often do you think about whether or not you should pop your hip?

Taylor is fearless, motivated, and talented. Go ahead and reach out to your idols.  What is the worst that can happen?

Episode 63: Rainy Kerwin, Writer/Director/Producer/Actor

Rainy is a Writer/Producer/Director/Actor and recently made, starred in and released the film The Wedding Invitation. Major accomplishment. This film is adorable, by the way.  Go rent it and watch it. You can find it on the streaming channels. 

Rainy started writing as a vehicle for her acting career and found a whole new world as a filmmaker. She talks about finding her inner fearlessness, kicking down doors, and getting as many women in the room as possible. 

And we spend way too much time riffing on how to eat an elephant.  Baby toe first, obvi.

TRAILER: https://youtu.be/NETGtbkLfs8

WEBSITE: http://www.weddinginvitationmovie.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

https://www.facebook.com/WeddingInvMovie/

https://twitter.com/weddinginvmovie

https://www.instagram.com/weddinginvmovie/

Episode 56: Anabella Casanova, Producer, Director

Anabella is a Producer and Director and she owns a production company with her husband called Vacation Theory.  Her eyes were opened young to socio-economic differences and social justice issues.  She realized early that real change happens with the people and what shapes people is the stories we tell and the art we consume. She wanted to be a part of the storytelling.

Here is some great advice: develop an artisan skill to leverage against the thing you want to do. That means learn a craft to get into the room to gain the influence to get the job you want. In other words, your day job should be on set, not at a coffee shop.

Serious, smart and curious goes a long way. Soak up everything you can from that first job.  You are getting way more out of it than what are you being paid.

And Anabella’s driving priority – be a good human first and create a life.

As for feminism, let’s bring femininity back to feminism – we’ll unpack that.

And my cat makes a cameo. Welcome to my home studio.

You can see some of Anabella's work here:  That's What She Said and That's What He Said. And her company is here:  www.vacationtheory.com.

Episode 55: Heather Cappiello, Director

Heather is a Director. Her TV directing credits include Freakish, Madam Secretary, Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods, and Saving Grace with Holly Hunter. Before transitioning to Director, she was a sought-after Script Supervisor for many years.  Think Six Feet Under, Carnivále, Huff, Monk, Being Mary Jane, etc., etc. Her initial training was in theatre. She is the real deal.

She says that script supervising is the best day job that leads to directing.  And how could it not be?  You’re sitting next to all the directors for the best master class you can have.

We talked about steeling your courage to throw your hat in the ring, balancing your life and family, and how TV directing is a G*dd*&$n spiritual practice.

Episode 46: Stronger Than Pretty, Jaret Martino, Pat Branch, Marjorie LeWit

Stronger Than Pretty is a film about Jaret’s mother. She took her three children out of an awful situation and created a life for them all, despite everything she was expected to do as a nice Catholic girl in New York in the 70’s. In addition to that extraordinary tale, it is remarkable that her son recognizes the strength of her story and has created a piece to celebrate it. 

Jaret Martino is an actor and producer, with 10 films already under his producing belt, most of them with distribution. He is committed to hiring female crews on his projects to help counteract the dismal statistics for women in the industry.  He is a true feminist and is leading by example.

Pat Branch is a comedian, writer and teacher, and wrote the script for this project, with passion, humor and empathy.

Marjorie LeWit is an actor and director, who directed this film and the companion project Inner Warrior, which they tell us all about.

This is a master class in purpose driven content – purpose driven life. Their kindness, empathy and desire to bring people together drives their work and their lives. It is a joy to hang out with them, if only for an hour.

Remember this:  money is not what makes art.  Although, feel free to send the money anyway.  Strongerthanpretty.com.

Episode 34: Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director WIF

Kirsten is the Executive Director of Women in Film, Los Angeles. Prior to WIF, she was the Executive Director of Outfest, the LGBT film festival and media arts organization. She tells us about her history as a student at Evergreen, working at film festivals in Seattle and Olympia, and juggling her life as a mother and wife in this busy city and this business.

Kirsten walks us through the work of Women in Film, as well as the initiative called Reframe - in conjunction with the Sundance Institute, aimed at improving gender parity in entertainment.  If you have been curious as to where all the gender chatter is culminating in action – this is it.