Episode 134: Julia Lynn Huffman, Storyteller, Filmmaker, Coach

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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/

Episode 132: Sasheen R. Artis, Writer/Producer

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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.

Episode 119: Lisa Singer Haese, Producer, Filmmaker

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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.

Episode 80: Alexia Anastasio, Filmmaker

Alexia is a filmmaker, and a serious go-getter. She has made 10 films, including Adventures in Plymptoons!, Ginger Girls: The Secret Lives of Redheads, and Little Fishes. She is currently working on her new film called Fantastic Santa Monaco.

She started an art and film festival while she was still in college. She taught me a lot about social media. She is incredibly generous.

And she has the coolest car in the world.

You can find her and her projects here.

Episode 77: Women in Entertainment Summit 2017

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 74: I Clown You, Sasha Kapustina and Inbal-Rotem Sagiv

Sasha and Inbal are filmmakers who have made a documentary called I Clown You. It’s a film about clowns that work in hospitals in Israel. Clowning is a beautiful art that is taken quite seriously and is respected as a legitimate occupation in the medical system.

Sasha had a long and winding road from law school in Russia to filmmaking in the United States. Inbal also had a long journey from production in Israel to living in Hollywood. We talk about their lives and careers, immigration and diverse families, and the art of clowning.

This is more than a film, it’s a mission - to explore and to bring awareness to healing and liberating powers of professional medical clowning and to spread the clown spirit of kindness and mischief.

To that end, they are celebrating I CLOWN YOU WEEK in Los Angeles – November 6-14, 2017. Two Israeli professional medical clowns, David Barashi and Rotem Goldenberg, are coming to Los Angeles for a series of events, lectures, hospital visits, workshops, and seminars. The program aims to grow awareness around the profession of medical clowning and its value both in the hospital and in the day to day life.

You can find out more here:  http://www.iclownyoudoc.com/

You can see video of this interview here.

Episode 62: Sophia Kruz, Documentary Filmmaker

Sophia is an Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker. We spoke about her current project, which is a gorgeous film called Little Stones. The film follows four women whose lives are dedicated to empowering survivors of gender based violence and eradicating the atrocities of domestic violence, human trafficking, extreme poverty and female genital mutilation. These women are therapists, activists, missionaries, and entrepreneurs. Their tools – art.

Sophia started realizing success while still in college, and quickly became an effective professional. Hers is a story of courage, initiative, and purpose.

As for the title….

"I always feel the movement is a sort of mosaic. Each of us puts in one little stone.” —Alice Paul, Women’s Rights Activist

You can find out more about the project here:  littlestones.org.  There will also be an academic program around this project.  I am introducing it to my kids’ school.  Go ahead and be a copycat.

And here is her Ted talk.  Watch that too.

Episode 43: Taj Paxton, Filmmaker, Executive

Taj is the VP of Documentary Films at Logo. She is an award-winning producer, writer and filmmaker. As one of few Black and openly LGBT film executives, Taj proudly stands on the front lines of diversity and representation.

She started on Wall Street and became a filmmaker and executive.  Along the way she produced films, ran Forrest Whittaker’s company, wrote and sold a pilot, traveled, worked as a production executive, served on the Board for Outfest, and became a yoga teacher. As you do.

And from her bio, which I cannot state better: Taj interests lie at the intersections of art and social change. Her journey is filled with life lessons that cannot be confined to the boxes of gender, race and sexual orientation. She hopes her work will continue to shape the conversation around the kinds of stories we tell and that those stories become a tool for greater cultural understanding and cohesion.

We talked about loaves and fishes, redefining masculinity, and your gut perception of a woman as competent. And can we replace "minority" with "underrepresented?"

Episode 37: Erin Dooley, Writer/Producer "A Way to Forgiveness"

Erin is a screenwriter and producer. Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, she is now living and working in Los Angeles. She has written, directed, and produced two feature films, a number of shorts, and two web series as well as a feature documentary called "A Way to Forgiveness". 

We talked about her journey walking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago as a way to heal and find forgiveness as she dealt with the end of her 12-year marriage. She discusses forgiveness, the impact the film is having on people, and being an indie producer.

And as it turns out, forgiveness is not a one-time thing.  It’s a daily practice.

After listening to this, you will want to know more about Erin, buy her film and/or introduce her to Roma Downey.  You can reach her here:

"A Way to Forgiveness" website: http://awaytoforgiveness.weebly.com/

D.A.S.H. Entertainment website: www.dashentertainmentllc.com