EP 236: Sasheen Artis →

Today I got to speak with two-time Emmy winning producer Sasheen Artis, who is the Founder/CEO of Plenty of Pie, a talent incubator and production accelerator offering leadership development, practical producers skills training, and mentorship to emerging and mid-career creatives of color.

Sasheen has worked with such newsmakers as President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and director Jonathan Demme. Sasheen’s latest film, Birthing Justice,addressing Black maternal health outcomes, screened for 200 countries at the United Nations and is part of a continuing education course for the American Medical Association. It currently airs on PBS.

For four years, Sasheen chaired the Producers Guild of America flagship diversity initiative, Power of Diversity Master Workshop, and was invited by HRH Princess Rym Ali and the Royal Film Commission to create and lead a week-long seminar for creatives in Amman, Jordan.

Sasheen got her start at Paramount Home Entertainment, working on blockbuster marketing campaigns for Titanic, Mission: Impossible, Braveheart and TV series like Star Trek: The Next Generation and Nickelodeon’s Rugrats.

She is a member of the Television Academy, the Producers Guild, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Sasheen is originally from Harlem, New York and earned her BA in Psychology from Stanford University.

We talked about all the things she’s working on and shared our unpopular opinions about The Color Purple.

You can find links to everything I’m up to at https://linktr.ee/julieharrisoliver and at Julieharrisoliver.com 

EP 235: GenXX initiative →

EP 235: GenXX Initiative with Maria Burton, Monique Sorgen, Nandi Bowe and Susan Dynner

Today I got to speak with the group of accomplished female directors behind the initiative called GenXX: Maria Burton, Susan Dynner, Monique Sorgen, Nandi Bowe. 

Maria and Monique have been on this podcast before, episodes 14 and 131, respectively, which you can still find on the website, here: Ep 14 Maria Burton and here: EP 131 Monique Sorgen.

All of these women have banded together to create GenXX, an initiative to raise awareness and create directing opportunities for the generation of experienced, talented and vetted women who were overlooked - lost between sexism and ageism.

GenXX info

HollywoodtoBollywood.net

https://aberrationfilms.com/

https://www.mariaburtondirector.com/

www.moniquesorgen.com

0:00:09 Introduction to the GenXX Initiative and the Directors Behind It
0:00:49 The Birth of GenXX Initiative
0:03:19 Strike Allows for Discussion on GenXX Initiative
0:11:07 Experience and Awards Prove Talent
0:14:44 Creating a Database and Telling Diverse Stories
0:20:41 Creating Projects and Telling Untold Stories
0:23:44 The Importance of Creating Your Own Work
0:24:58 Creating Own Work and Proving Expertise
0:34:49 Creating Opportunities for Women in the Film Industry
0:37:31 Continuing Education and Growth in the Filmmaking Community
0:45:22 From Hollywood to Bollywood: A Life-Changing Move
0:46:34 Advice for Women in the Business

 https://linktr.ee/julieharrisoliver

EP 234: Emily Best →

I caught up with Emily Best, the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark and also Film Forward, which is an experiential learning platform designed to activate the full potential of today's dynamic and diverse workforce by replacing boring corporate training videos with a cinematic learning experience built around award-winning short films from around the world. I've seen this program, it is so cool, and she's going to tell us about it.

One of the things I love about this business, and I guess about life, is getting to see how people's careers develop and how they grow and evolve. I interviewed Emily a few years ago about Seed&Spark and her origin story and all things crowdfunding on Catch a Break Season 2, Episode 203: https://www.catchabreakpodcast.com/season-two/ep203crowdfunding

But today, I initially reached out to Emily to talk about her newer venture, Film Forward, and the important work she's doing there.

Our conversation expanded to include her thoughts about managing a company with a dispersed and remote workforce and how COVID changed everything, about intentionally creating culture in a company in those circumstances, how humbling it is to do this work authentically, and trying to shift the American culture to prioritize human dignity above individual achievement.

Emily continues to be an incredibly thoughtful visionary, and I was inspired by this conversation.

https://linktr.ee/julieharrisoliver

EP 233: Blake Mitchell →

Today on this podcast we have the good fortune to speak with Blake Mitchell. Blake Mitchell (they/them) began their career in film production in Los Angeles, working for the VP of Production at Participant Media. After leaving LA, they worked at Google over 8 years where they managed teams in diversity & inclusion, learning & development and recruiting. A Georgia native, Blake moved back to the South in fall 2022 to work as an Operations Manager on Stacey Abrams' campaign for Governor. They recently launched their own consulting business focused on workplace diversity & inclusion and organization culture. Blake holds bachelors degrees in International Business, Finance and Entertainment & Media Studies from the University of Georgia.

Also, Blake has been performing in drag as Mary Lou Pearl (she/her) and sees drag as a powerful tool to entertain, educate, raise money and spread positivity. MLP got her start in the drag bars and clubs of San Francisco in 2017 where she became known as a kind queen who loves giving back and spreading positivity. She's spent the last 2 summers working and teaching drag at Brave Trails LGBTQ+ summer camp where she's returned this summer as Head Counselor. 

Now I’m going to tell you right now, drag, along with gay, queer, and trans is under attack in this country, and hardly any of the talking heads screaming about indoctrination of children have any idea what they’re talking about. So we are going to take some time today and really unpack it. What is drag, actually?

Here, have a listen.

www.theotherfiftypercent.com/blog

How to reach Blake:

website: www.blakemitchellconsulting.com

instagram: @missmaryloupearl 

email: blake@blakemitchellconsulting.com

EP 232: Kiah Amara →

You can find me and my consulting work at Julieharrisoliver.com and you can find links to everything I’m doing at linktr.ee/julieharrisoliver. The newest thing I have for you is that I’ve added a link for the books that people keep bringing up on the show. That way, you don’t have to remember as you’re listening and your purchase can help support the show, and we’re supporting independent bookstores. It’s a win win win.

Today on this podcast we are diving into disability and accessibility and how to invite and manage people and their needs on set.

This feels like one of the less often discussed pillars in the work of diversity , equity, inclusion and accessibility, and I’m really happy we have Kiah Amara on the show today to help us start thinking about it and planning for it.

Kiah is a Disabled, Queer, and nonbinary producer, activist, and production accessibility coordinator. Originally from the rural Midwest, they now work globally expanding ideas of Accessibility, Disability, and all things deviant from normal through their company IndieVISIBLE Entertainment. Kiah is the PAC (production accessibility coordinator) on Best Foot Forward on AppleTV+ which was featured in The New York Times and awarded a 2022 Ruderman Seal of Authenticity. Other work includes the Netflix x RespectAbility Children's Content Lab, The Greatest ad, Rosie's Rules , CBS and WarnerBros. Discovery Talent Initiatives, and Accessibility Lead for the Far Out product launch at the Steve Jobs Theatre.

https://www.indievisibleentertainment.com/services

Inevitable Foundation: https://www.inevitable.foundation/

RespectAbility: https://www.respectability.org/

FWD-doc: https://www.fwd-doc.org/

Ride the Omnibus: https://www.omnibusride.com/

Access Horror: https://www.accesshorror.com/

*Access Horror Conference Virtual July 8-9 and in-person Film Screening July 9

(registration goes live 5/29)

EP 231: Dr. Apollo Emeka →

You can find me and my consulting work at Julieharrisoliver.com and you can find links to everything I’m doing at linktr.ee/julieharrisoliver. The newest thing I have for you is that I’ve added a link for the books that people keep bringing up on the show. That way, you don’t have to remember as you’re listening and your purchase can help support the show, and we’re supporting independent bookstores. It’s a win win win.

Today on this podcast I sat with Dr. Apollo Emeka. Apollo is the Founder and CEO of Apollo Strategy Group Inc., an innovative leadership and strategy consultancy for business leaders, companies, and the Next Wave of ventures launched by diverse and impactful founders.

Since its inception, Apollo Strategy Group has created over $500m in value for 100+ high-performance leaders and businesses in industries such as technology, real estate, professional services, and entertainment by developing bespoke strategies and providing hands-on implementation. Prior to founding Apollo Strategy Group, Apollo launched and sold a business he scaled from one to seven locations within four years while serving as an FBI Intelligence Analyst. In 2022, he retired from a decorated 20-year military career as a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and a U.S. Military Intelligence Analyst.

Apollo has a Doctorate of Policy, Planning and Development from the University of Southern California and lives with his wife and two children in Pasadena, CA.

Apollo Strategy Group Inc. is Small Business Certified, Disabled Veteran Business Certified, and Minority Business Enterprise Certified.

We talked about his journey going from being unschooled to his PhD at USC, how he thinks about leadership and achievement and how he works with clients to embed equity all along the way.

EP 230: Becky Morrison →

Today on the podcast I sat with Becky Morrison. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because she was originally on episode 187 of this show. So, go back to that episode to revisit her origin story, because today we’re going to jump right in to the meat of the work.

Becky Morrison is an award-winning film and TV producer and an advocate for production innovation. She kicked-off her career on the Hollywood blockbuster I AM LEGEND, dabbled in the world of animation on Disney’s THE WILD, then entered the world of rock n’ roll producing the visual content for U2’s world tour.

In 2015, Becky founded The Light, the premier production company for those looking to create systemic change in the film industry. She has spent years studying the history of Hollywood production and uses her research to inform a new framework for production that is grounded in inclusion, equity and sustainability.

We’re going to talk about that framework and her approach for revolutionizing the production process now.

EP 229: Karen Horne →

Today we are doing a deep dive into pipeline programs with Karen Horne.

Karen Horne is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience within the entertainment industry. She has been recognized as a Diversity and Inclusion pioneer and pipeline builder. Karen is Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, North America at Warner Bros. Discovery. In this role she oversees the DEI efforts for creative talent development pipeline programs, workforce, content and production while working closely with the Global Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer to create a global strategy for the company.

Prior to joining WarnerMedia, Karen spent over a decade at NBCUniversal,where she was Senior Vice President, Programming Talent Development and Inclusion. In this role, Karen was responsible for overseeing in-front-of and behind-the-camera primetime diversity efforts. The programs and initiatives she created and/or developed became the industry’s gold standard and a blueprint for many other companies

Horne designed, implemented and oversaw Nickelodeon’s Writer Fellowship Program. She was the Director of Writer Development & Special Projects for Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Network Television. Previously, she served as Director, West Coast, for the Black Filmmaker Foundation.

Horne was also a Co-producer for the HBO Emmy Award-winning animated series “Spawn.”

Her early career includes stints at ABC as the Executive Assistant to the President, ABC Entertainment, as well as positions at ABC Television Network Group and ABC Sports.

Ms. Horne has spoken both nationally and internationally on diversity and inclusion best practices and has been honored with several awards and recognitions for her diversity and inclusion work and her service to underrepresented communities. She serves on the boards of RespectAbility; Montclair State University’s School of Communication and Media; USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, The Alliance of Women Directors, the Bay Area’s Urban League and is a member of several entertainment industry organizations.

We talked about the different kinds of pipeline programs, how they work, and why we still need them.

EP 222: Women's Production Society Part 2 Cristen Carr Strubbe and Jeanette Volturno

This is part two in a series of interviews with  the leadership of the Women’s Production Society. The WPS is an organization of physical production executives across the industry. It started as a small cocktail party and has since grown to more than 100 members and is a powerful force of change within the industry with the purpose to fulfill their mission statement: To promote the hiring of women in leadership roles in Film, Television and New Media. 

In the last episode, I talked with the group’s founding members Dana Belcastro and Debra Bergman. And today I am talking with Jeanette Volturno, producer and entrepreneur,  and Cristen Carr Strubbe, producer turned physical production executive, who are the current leadership of the group. You can hear Jeanette’s origin story in episode 111 of this podcast  and Cristen is on episode 15.

In this episode we talk about where the WPS is now, how they weathered the covid of it all the last couple of years, and what the plan to do going forward.

EP 221: Women's Production Society Part 1 Dana Belcastro and Debra Bergman

I have a couple of really special interviews to share with you. Both are with the leadership of the Women’s Production Society. The WPS is an organization of physical production executives across the industry. It started as a small cocktail party and has since grown to more than 100 members and is a powerful force of change within the industry with the purpose to fulfill their mission statement: To promote the hiring of women in leadership roles in Film, Television and New Media. And this time we are in, where women are literally losing power over our very bodies, it is more urgent and important than ever that women take on leadership roles of influence and take deliberate action toward impacting our world.

This first interview is with the founding members Dana Belcastro and Debra Bergman. Both came up as producers and now both are executives. To get their full stories, I will refer you back to episodes 108 and 109 of this very podcast where we do a deep dive into both of their herstories. In today’s episode they walk us through the origin of the Women’s Production Society and what they are looking to do next as they hand the reins over to the next leadership of the group.

Episode 220: Donna: Stronger than Pretty

This episode is very special and very bittersweet. You may remember when I spoke with Jaret Martino and Pat Branch when they made the short called Stronger than Pretty. Well, they are back because the feature film version, Donna: Stronger than Pretty is about to have its worldwide release on February 23rd, after a great festival run. I also had the honor to talk to Donna Martino herself, Jaret’s mom, whose story the film tells. We recorded this last February on the weekend of its festival premiere, where it won basically all the awards. It was impossible to know at the time that Donna would be diagnosed with cancer very shortly afterward, and she passed away on September 3rd of 2020. As you will hear, Donna was a remarkable woman and mother and Jaret’s tribute to her in the form of this film will inspire you, as it has inspired me.

Pat and Jaret co-wrote the script, and Jaret directed it. I start out talking with Jaret and Donna, and Pat joins later on, fresh from an awards ceremony where she was collecting all the trophies. I’m so happy for them for the success of this film and what a beautiful tribute it is to Donna and her story of strength and perseverance.

Episode 219: Sista Brunch hosts Fanshen Cox and Anya Adams

For this episode, I got to meet the brilliant hosts of the Sista Brunch podcast. Sista Brunch is a podcast about black women+ thriving in entertainment & media careers. My two guests are Fanshen Cox and Anya Adams.

Fanshen is an Award-winning playwright, actor, producer & educator She just wrapped up seven years of touring her one-woman show: One Drop of Love and she is also a Producer and Development Executive at Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Pearl Street Films. She serves on the board of The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and on the Kennedy Center’s Turnaround Arts Equity Advisory Committee. And Fanshen is also a co-author of the Inclusion Rider which was announced at the 2018 Oscar awards by Frances McDormand.

Anya Adams is an award-winning director, most recently taking home the NAACP Image Award for Best Director in Comedy for 2020. Anya’s career skyrocketed after directing an episode of Blackish in 2017. Since then she has gone on to direct the Netflix pilot Ginny and Georgia, episodes of The Good Place, Single Parents, G.L.O.W., Charmed, Fresh off the Boat, Speechless and many more.

This is juicy, and it is real talk. The f-bombs fly. You’ve been warned. And go subscribe to Sista Brunch. Although I don’t even need to tell you that. You are about to fall in love.

Episode 218: Sienna Beckman, Co-founder & Creative Director of Emergence Films

Today I got to speak with Sienna Beckman from all the way across the pond. Sienna is the Co-founder & Creative Director of Emergence Films (based in London & LA).  Living and working in Los Angeles for 10 years, Sienna has produced for NBC Universal, Scott Free Productions, Verizon go90, Fullscreen Media, Esquire TV, Refinery29, Prettybird Entertainment, and Disney’s Maker Studios, among others.

Emergence Films is a film and television development and production company dedicated to championing female filmmakers and committed to creating more opportunities for underrepresented voices in storytelling around the world. In addition to producing, Sienna is an active member of Women in Film & TV UK and Times Up UK, and she hosts a speed-networking event series with WFTV to promote the hiring of more female crew members, creatives, and technicians.

We talked all about her finding her place in London and growing her company.

Episode 217: Sujata Day, Actor, Writer, Director

Today, I got to catch up with previous guest, Sujata Day. With her infectious personality and unique sense of humor, Pittsburgh native Sujata Day has firmly established herself in Hollywood as a performer, creator, writer, and director. She regularly performs in Upright Citizen Brigade's hit Asian AF show.

Sujata is known for her starring role as CeCe in Issa Rae’s The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. She's recurred for three seasons on HBO's Insecure.

Sujata is a Sundance Lab fellow, Sundance Film Festival influencer, and Sundance Collab advisor. Her short film, Cowboy and Indian, sold to a major studio for series development with Sujata writing, producing and starring. She served as HBO Visionaries Ambassador in 2019. She directs This Is My Story, a series in which beloved storyteller LeVar Burton narrates real life personal experiences of everyday racism.

Sujata's debut feature film, Definition Please, is currently screening on the virtual film festival circuit, starting with its World Premiere at Bentonville Film Festival in August 2020.

Episode 216: Cecilia Escobar, Founder, Accountant, Payroll Expert

For this episode, I sat with Cecilia Escobar, Founder and President of Smart Accounting Solutions. With more than 30 years of Entertainment Payroll and Accounting Expertise Cecilia has held executive and senior management roles for multiple entertainment payroll companies like Media Services and Axium, and most recently, she was the Vice President of Payroll Operations at Entertainment Partners. 

In between these positions, she freelanced as a payroll and production accountant on major motion pictures and studios for over 18 years.

Cecilia is a Multi-Cultural Client Business Partner, leading efforts for Multi-Cultural Diversity in the Industry. She has hosted many Diversity Client events as well as sponsorships to Diversity Production Summits and Trade Shows. One of her latest pet-projects is bridging Latin American Film Productions with their US counterparts. 

Cecilia is currently a member of multiple entertainment industry associations including N.A.L.I.P., Women In Film, and Hispanic Professionals.

She has just started a non-profit called Sandbar Sanctuary – a Horse Rescue and Equine Therapy for Abused Women. With her love of horses, she hopes to help women bond and find a way to heal through therapeutic equine experiences. 

To reach Cecilia: Info@sasolutionsinc.com

Episode 214: Jennifer Aurianne DaRe, CEO, Founder, Manager, Producer

Jennifer Aurianne DaRe is the founder and CEO of ATN Entertainment, a premiere talent management company in Los Angeles that specializes in the representation of artists in entertainment from film, television, music, literature and more. Since founding ATN in 2015, she has grown the roster to over 100 clients under her leadership, including a strong presence of women and the LGBTQ community.

Now in her fifth year of running the company, DaRe’s tenure has resulted in tremendous success with previously unknown clients achieving acclaim. Her accomplishments led to the launch of the production and development division of the company, ATN Productions. The debut project for the banner will be a TV adaptation of the YouTube comedy series “PANIC,” which is slated for release in Q2 of 2021.

Prior to the founding of ATN Entertainment, DaRe was an executive vice president at a then reputable management company that she transitioned to from her time as an independent music manager for bands, record producers and solo artists. Her music connections developed as the singer and manager of the successful folk-rock band, The Extinct. For 12 years, The Extinct shared stages with artists such as Stone Temple Pilots, No Doubt, Incubus, Maroon 5 (Kara’s Flowers), Alien Ant Farm as well as many other successful acts of the 90’s.

Jennifer was also sole producer and curator of The ATN Showcase from 2005 - 2013 that featured musical artists from all over the globe at the SXSW music festival. It was the largest and longest-running independent showcase in SXSW history at the time.

Jennifer’s experience, expertise and work ethic make her one of the most respected and sought after talent managers in the business, and after hearing this, you will know why.

Episode 213: Finnerty Steeves, Actor, Writer, Producer

For this episode I got to sit with Finnerty Steeves. Now, you know Finnerty as an actor from the shows, Orange is the New Black, Half Life, Louie, House of Cards, Smash, Sopranos – basically everything, including a lot of Broadway credits. What you may not yet know is that she just wrote, produced and starred in her own feature film called Before/During/After. This sharp-witted dramedy studies a middle-aged NYC theatre actress suddenly forced to figure out the kind of person she wants to portray in real life when her marriage comes to an end after she catches her husband cheating.

It is a gorgeous film and for this particular middle-aged woman who got divorced, it really resonated. We had a delicious talk about acting, the craft, the journey of making a movie and of going through one of those life experiences that really makes you who you are.

Episode 212: Chloë Thomas, Director

For this episode, I spoke with BAFTA and RTS nominated Chloë Thomas who is in the UK and most recently directed all episodes of the psychological thriller The Deceived, created by Lisa McGee of Derry Girls fame and Tobias Beer.

Just before that Chloë directed episodes of Harlots and Victoria and she is attached to direct the feature film Making Babies - a rom-fertility-com by Deborah Frances-White, with Redwave Films. 

Previously, Chloë was known for comedy directing; Sharon Horgan’s early sitcom Angelo's, followed by being BAFTA nominated for directing the first ever series of Horrible Histories.

Chloë also develops her own pilots through her company One Glove Films.  We had a good chat about directing, both as a woman and an introvert, and exploring new models of power.

Episode 211: Austin School of Film, Faiza Kracheni and Carrie Cates

For this episode, I got to meet Faiza Kracheni and Carrie Cates of Austin School of Film, which for nearly two decades has provided alternative education programs and workshops for all ages interested in the arts & film. Faiza Kracheni is the Programs & Education Director, and Carrie Cates is the Artist & Community Director. These women have taken their passion for filmmaking and created a completely accessible space for a growing community of creators, breaking down barriers inherent in our society.  

They launched their newest program Play At Home as a direct response to the ongoing pandemic. Play At Home is an online/offline interactive experience featuring live workshops, events, screenings, and talks by artists and filmmakers from around the globe. Since the launch of Play At Home in April 2020, it has hosted 40 workshops and events with over 900 participants in 14+ countries. 

Episode 210: Kelli Miller, Co-Founder And/Or Studio

Kelli is the co-founder of creative studio And/Or, and has worked in motion design and branding for 15 years with brands like MTV, Netflix, and Amazon. She is a graduate of Cranbrook Academy of Art and has taught and lectured at the College for Creative Studies, Pratt, NYU, SVA, Yale, and RISD.

Kelli has directed show titles for FX, HBO and Paramount’s Lip Sync Battle, as well as designing title sequences for a number of films and documentaries including The Assistant, Certain Women and critically acclaimed drama Never Rarely Sometimes Always.

https://and-or.co/