Episode 78: Jen McGowan, Director

November 28, 2017 by Julie Harris Oliver in AFI, Commercials, Consulting, DGA, Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, NYU, theatre, women, Writers

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 77: Women in Entertainment Summit 2017

November 21, 2017 by Julie Harris Oliver in AFI, Comedy, animation, Commercials, DGA, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, Editorial, entertainment, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, investment, LGBT, Music Videos, PGA, Politics, PTSD, theatre, webseries, WGA, women, Writers

Patty Jenkins talks with WIE Co-Founder Gretchen McCourt

On November 2nd, I went to the third annual Women In Entertainment Summit. I love this event.

The day started out with Geena Davis. The Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media Studies has provided a heap of data surrounding women and girls in media. She presented some data on the day, and as usual, representation of women on screen and behind the scenes are still dismally small. There are some very easy fixes however, and this is a point that really resonated with a lot of people.

She told us that Media can actually fix the problem is has created.

There was a also a lot of talk at the conference about the parts that we own - namely, confidence and advocacy.

On the side, we talked about #metoo.

During the lunch break I caught up with McKenna Koon and Dana Kelly who both work at FullScreen, and I talked with Shirley Davis, EVP of Production at Alcon Entertainment.

On this episode I share a lot of the high points and inspiration from the day – from women such as Geena Davis, Victoria Mahoney, Dee Rees, Jordyn Wieber, Christine Simmons, Gabrielle Carteris and Greta Gerwig.

It was a great day, and this is but a tip of the iceberg.

And my must see films list from the summit: LadyBird, Mudbound, Fear Us Women

Episode 69: Camille Brown, Director, Writer, Producer

October 17, 2017 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, Independent Film, women, Writers

Camille is a Writer/Producer/Director. She recently released her feature film called “The Nth Ward.” She also made the short film, “Thank You for Washing.” Her first film, a documentary film called “A Second Chance at Life” was narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. How did she get Whoopi? She asked her. As you do.

As a funny twist, her backup plan was to go to med school and become an OB/GYN. You know, if this filmmaking thing doesn’t work out. It is working out.

Camille is pretty clear on this – you can figure anything out. Don’t ask for permission and don’t wait. You can do it. And if you feel suffering, think – in a week this will be behind me.

You can find her film on Amazon.

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

September 12, 2017 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, Independent Film, women

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.