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Episode 187: Becky Morrison, Founder

January 14, 2020 by Julie Harris Oliver in entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, composers, Producer, Unscripted, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, Music Videos, NYU, Politics, PTSD

The production process when it comes to film, television, and advertising has lately been seen as outdated and needs to be simplified to be able to adhere to society’s needs for more diverse creators and stories. When Becky Morrison founded The Light, a production studio in Brooklyn, NY, she did it with a simple mission: change the culture of production, overhauling an outdated model in favor of one founded on values of equality, transparency and inclusion. She aims to create a system that prioritizes people, profit and the environment, responding to the ever-evolving economic landscape of the advertising industry. With that set model, Becky and The Light team have been able to secure work for brands like Lexus, JCPenney, and A&E. We spoke in her Brooklyn studio on a snowy day in NY.

January 14, 2020 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, indie film, short film, music, composer, commercials, branded entertainment, film production
entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, Independent Film, composers, Producer, Unscripted, acting, activism, Directors, Editorial, human rights, investment, Music Videos, NYU, Politics, PTSD
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Episode 186: Edith Mudge, Composer

January 11, 2020 by Julie Harris Oliver in entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, webseries, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, Independent Film, composers, film scores, Producer, songwriting, Sound Mixer, Unscripted

This episode is brought to you by:

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Edith is a composer and music producer. To date, her music has been placed in 790 episodes of 259 series.  Due to her rigorous 3-year training at Hans Zimmer's Remote Control Productions and Bleeding Fingers, and 2 years of full-time composing at Jingle Punks, Edith has acquired a comprehensive set of musical, technical, and collaborative skills.  Her composing credits include YouTube Premium series Step Up: High Water, Saturday Night Live, and Showtime's The Circus, as well as a plethora of reality TV series, including Queer Eye, Project Runway, and The Real Housewives franchise. She currently composes for TV, film, podcasts, live theater and more, with a specialty in electronic drama, synth pop, and choral music. She told me all about being one of few women in this space, and you will hear her music right here.

January 11, 2020 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, indie film, short film, music, composer
entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, business, Studios, webseries, Commercials, Digital content, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, Independent Film, composers, film scores, Producer, songwriting, Sound Mixer, Unscripted
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Episode 185: Kate Chamuris, Filmmaker

November 20, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, Producer, business, Studios, webseries, acting, Writers, Comedy, theatre, AFI, Commercials, Digital content, Directors, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, Independent Film

This episode is brought to you by:

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Kate Chamuris. Kate is a producer & director who recently won a Gold, Student Academy Award and a BAFTA student award for producing the American Film Institute short film MILLER & SON. She also produced the AFI thesis films, BALLOON and IF THIS IS WRONG. For the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, Kate produced UNSPEAKABLE and BLOCKS.  

Her directing work includes the comedic short A SARI FOR PALLAVI (winner, Best Comedy Short at Rhode Island International Film Festival).  

Prior to narrative filmmaking, Kate worked as an advertising account manager for ROLEX Global at J. Walter Thompson. While there she produced the branded feature documentary “Deepest Dive: The Story of the Trieste,” directed by Fisher Stevens that aired on National Geographic and BBC Worldwide. Kate resides in Los Angeles, CA and produces feature films for dir/writer Jeremy Merrifield and his production company, Dream Three Films.

You can watch her two Oscar Qualified Live Action Shorts at the links below:

BALLOON - http://bit.ly/Balloon_SOTW

MILLER & SON - http://bit.ly/MillerSon_SOTW

Social handle on Instagram & Twitter - @katechamuris 

November 20, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, social impact, indie film, short film
entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, Producer, business, Studios, webseries, acting, Writers, Comedy, theatre, AFI, Commercials, Digital content, Directors, Diversity, documentary, entrepreneur, Film & TV, film festivals, Independent Film
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Episode 184: Thérèse Plummer, Actor and Audiobook Narrator

November 12, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, Producer, business, Studios, webseries, acting, Writers, Comedy, Coaching, theatre, audiobooks

This episode is brought to you by:

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Today I spoke over the internet with Thérèse Plummer. Therese is an actor and award-winning audiobook narrator working in New York City. She has recorded over 400 audio books for various publishers. She won the 2019 Audie Award for her work on the multicast, Sadie by Courtney Summers for Macmillan Audio,  and was nominated for the Multicast, Any Man, by Amber Tamblyn for Harper Audio and her solo narration for The Rogue: Planets Shaken by Lee W. Brainard for Podium Publishing. 

The American Library Association (ALA) awarded her work on Sourdough by Robin Sloan as part of the 2018 Listen List: Outstanding Audiobook Narration for Adult Listeners. Thérèse has been nominated for 5 Audie Awards in 2018. She was named AudioFile’s Best Voices of the Year in 2015 for her work on Robyn Carr’s A New Hope.

Thérèse is the voice of Maya Hansen in the Marvel Graphic Motion Comic Ironman Extremis, Dr. Fennel in Pokemon and for various Yu-Gi-Oh characters. Television Guest Star Roles on The Good Wife, Law and Order SVU and Virgin River for Netflix.   

You can imagine how intimidating this was. She told me how she broke in – it was a series of preparation meeting miracles, and she spoke about what everyone wants to know – how do you voice those sex scenes?

November 12, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, social impact, voiceover, audiobooks
entertainment, women, gender equity, advancing women, hollywood, Producer, business, Studios, webseries, acting, Writers, Comedy, Coaching, theatre, audiobooks
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Episode 183: Mary Rachel Gardner, Filmmaker, Heartist

November 05, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, Directors, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, business, Studios, horror film, Digital content, Immigration, human rights, webseries, acting, entrepreneur, family films, Writers, Comedy

This episode is brought to you by:

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Today I sat down with Mary Rachel Gardner. She graduated from USC in 2013 with major studies in Acting, Business and Film Production; she also spent a semester abroad studying at a theatre conservatory in London.

Mary Rachel gained hands on experience and knowledge working at production companies, such as Steve Carell’s Carousel Productions and agencies such as William Morris Endeavor. She also worked as a PA on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she learned about the production and operation elements of running a live television show.

Since graduating from USC, Mary Rachel founded her own film company Kalliste Zoe Productions to explore, create and share original content through visual art and storytelling. Kalliste Zoe "Όμορφη Ζωή" means "A Beautiful Life" in Greek. She has developed many of her own independent projects including music videos, parodies, comedic sketches and short films. Mary Rachel has received honorary awards at film festivals, such as Audience Favorite and Best Screenplay, and successfully licensed some of her films overseas.

Under the Kalliste Zoe umbrella, she founded the Independent Cinema Showcase (ICS): to discover and share independent filmmakers’ visions from around the world as well as provide an opportunity for them to join a cinema family that connects and supports talented creators.

November 05, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, social impact, racial equity, racial justice
Diversity, entertainment, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, Directors, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, business, Studios, horror film, Digital content, Immigration, human rights, webseries, acting, entrepreneur, family films, Writers, Comedy
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Episode 182: Elizabeth and Isabella Blake Thomas - Mother & Daughter Entertainment

October 22, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, Directors, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, business, Studios, horror film, Digital content, Immigration, human rights, webseries, acting, entrepreneur, family films, Writers

This episode is brought to you by:

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For today’s episode, there was a happy miscommunication. I was meant to interview Elizabeth Blake- Thomas, a director, via the internet, as I assumed she was in England. Well, she also assumed I was in England. Once we were on the phone, we realized we were actually down the street from each other. So, I jumped in my car and ran down to the Hollywood film festival, where I got to interview both Elizabeth, and her daughter Isabella Blake-Thomas. A very lucky two-fer! Together, Elizabeth (Director) and Isabella (Actor, Singer) have the production company Mother & Daughter Entertainment, whose film Unseen I caught while I was at the festival. It was an unnerving film about child trafficking. We walked out of the screening, and into an outdoor bungalow for this interview. Forgive the background noise, but try to soak up the ambiance.

For more information:

http://www.elizabethblakethomas.com
http://www.motheranddaughterent.com/

IMDb link
Instagram:

@elizabeth_b_t

@isabella_b_t

Twitter: @Elizabeth_B_T

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethblakethomas/

October 22, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, social impact, racial equity, racial justice, mother daughter, human trafficking
Diversity, entertainment, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, Directors, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, business, Studios, horror film, Digital content, Immigration, human rights, webseries, acting, entrepreneur, family films, Writers
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Episode 181: Heidi Nel, Social Impact Executive

October 15, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, Directors, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, business, Studios, documentary, horror film, Consulting, Digital content, Immigration, human rights, LGBT, Politics, PTSD, webseries

This episode is brought to you by:

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Heidi Nel is the Executive Director of Good Films Impact. She previously served as the head of The Raben Group’s Impact Entertainment division where she provided pro‐social consultation to leaders in media, entertainment, and philanthropy. Clients included the American Film Institute, The Fledgling Fund, One Community, PBS, Sony Pictures TV, and YouTube, as well as independent filmmakers, artists, and change makers.

With nearly two decades working in entertainment, advocacy, strategic communications, and public engagement, Heidi is a leader in the social impact field, with unique insight and expertise in advancing cultural and policy change through stories and film. Her issue‐area expertise includes criminal justice reform, immigration, sexual assault, and gender and racial equity.

Prior to The Raben Group, Heidi was a Partner at Picture Motion where she led the Washington, D.C. office. She began her career at Ghost House Pictures where she co‐produced an original web and TV mini‐series for Comcast, and managed marketing at Lionsgate for Grindstone Entertainment films. In addition to her work on Just Mercy through the development of the Represent Justice campaign, she has led impact strategy and successful engagement campaigns tied to award‐winning films, such as Batkid Begins, The Best of Enemies, Food Chains, Happening, The Human Experiment, The Hunting Ground, The Invisible War, The Return, Racing Extinction, and The Rape of Recy Taylor.

Heidi has guest lectured at Boston University and the George Washington University, and was an adjunct instructor at Duke University in the Sanford School of Public Policy. She has been featured in Variety, Real Screen, Screen Daily, Washington Life Magazine, and HuffPost; has been recognized by the Case Foundation as a “Millennial Leader to Follow”; and received the Media Impact Award from the PVBLIC Foundation and the United Nations Office for Partnerships. Originally from South Africa, Heidi grew up in Colorado and attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she majored in modern dance. She is currently completing an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, and lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband and dog. 

October 15, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, social impact, racial equity, racial justice
Diversity, entertainment, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, Directors, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, business, Studios, documentary, horror film, Consulting, Digital content, Immigration, human rights, LGBT, Politics, PTSD, webseries
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Episode 180: Kathleen Courtney, UPM

October 08, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, Studios, DGA, family films, horror film, PGA, business

This episode is brought to you by:

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Kathleen has enjoyed working in the film and television industry for over 30 years. She has worked “on location” most of that time, shooting across this country as well as internationally. Over her career, she has served as Producer, Production Executive, Production Manager and Production Coordinator on feature films and most recently on TV. She is currently working on the Netflix hit 13 Reasons Why. Previous credits include Chance, Steve Jobs, San Andreas, The Boy Next Door, and Because of Winn-Dixie. At one point, she was the head of production at a company called The Film Department.

We talked all about her career, how she helped organize Production Coordinators, start the Frog & Frigate, and continue her career, even after moving out of Los Angeles. It takes effort, but it’s possible.

October 08, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, indie film, Netflix, 13 Reasons Why
Diversity, entertainment, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, Studios, DGA, family films, horror film, PGA, business
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Episode 179: Jessie Levandov and Nina Reyes, Co Founders & Directors of Mala Forever

September 24, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, business, Studios, documentary, Comedy, composers, music, Music Videos, Commercials, DGA, family films, horror film, PGA, WGA

This episode is brought to you by:

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Jessie Levandov and Nina Reyes are the Co-Founders & Directors of Mala Forever. Mala Forever is an award-winning, women-run film and digital studio based in LA and NYC.

They develop and produce films, new media, and commissioned work that centers unheard voices. They are redefining the future of filmmaking through equitable production practices, and their growing community-based platform is a cultural hub for the radical femme revolution. 

Jessie is an award-winning community-based filmmaker, creative director, and educator. Her queer documentary series Signified was presented by the Guggenheim Lab, and her short film The Greggs won the Spirit Award at Slamdance. Her work has been featured in publications such as Teen Vogue, Huffington Post and Them. Jessie is committed to storytelling as a tool for social justice, and served as the longtime program director of Youth Documentary Workshop at New York’s Educational Video Center.

Nina is a countercultural filmmaker and creative director whose work is grounded in her point of view as a mixed-race first-generation Mexican-American and Jewish woman. Her feature-length screenplay La Paz was a finalist for the 2017 Latino Screenwriting Project; her short films, Organism and Invisible Men, have won press and played at festivals around the world including Outfest, Frameline, and HBO: New York Latino Film Festival. They both are fellow NYU alums with BFA’s from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts – go violets.

You can follow them on the social media @_MalaForever_

September 24, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, female filmmaker, female director, indie film
Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, business, Studios, documentary, Comedy, composers, music, Music Videos, Commercials, DGA, family films, horror film, PGA, WGA
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Episode 178: Natalie Metzger, Writer, Director, Producer

September 17, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, business, Studios, documentary, Comedy, composers, music, Music Videos, Commercials, DGA, family films, horror film, PGA, WGA

This episode is brought to you by:

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For this episode, I spoke with Natalie Metzger, who is the VP of Development and Production for Vanishing Angle. Natalie is a Spirit Award nominated producer whose credits include Jim Cummings’ newest film THE WEREWOLF, GREENER GRASS (Sundance, SXSW), THUNDER ROAD (Grand Jury Award - SXSW), THE ROBBERY (Sundance), MATPAT’S GAME LAB (Streamy Award), Lil Dicky’s FREAKY FRIDAY (over 506 million views), HYDRANGEA (Vimeo Staff Pick), THE ARRIVAL (Jury Award - Napa Valley Film Festival), THE STOP (Vimeo Staff Pick), virtual reality miniseries GLOBAL GAMER, among numerous others. 

Her directing credits include AT&T original documentary ALONE IN THE GAME (AFI Docs, Frameline, Outfest); healthcare documentary SPECIAL BLOOD (Best Feature Documentary - CWFF); PSA “Topless Women Talk NFL” (featured in Washington Post, Huffington Post, Vice); and numerous award-winning commercials and short films. 

Also an accomplished writer, Metzger won the Gold Prize at the Page International Screenwriting Awards for her sci-fi script IMMORTAL.

Metzger holds a Master of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University

September 17, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, female filmmaker, female director, family films, indie film
Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, business, Studios, documentary, Comedy, composers, music, Music Videos, Commercials, DGA, family films, horror film, PGA, WGA
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Episode 177: Susie Singer Carter, Writer, Director, Producer, Actor

September 10, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, human rights, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, business, Studios, Coaching, documentary, Comedy, composers, healthcare, music, Music Videos, songwriting

This episode is brought to you by:

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Susie’s website bio says this: “If you asked five-year-old Susie what she wanted to be when she grew up, she’d have placed her hands defiantly on either side of her pink tutu and said, “Everything. Duh!” And that is what she has done. She’s a writer, producer, actor, musician. She sat down, we became immediate friends, and talked about everything – marriage, divorce, parenting, daughtering. She recently made an autobiographical short film about alzheimer’s called My Mom and the Girl, starring the great Valerie Harper, which she’ll tell us all about, and you can see her dancing hip hop on facebook all the time. She has the media company called Go Girl Media.

And here are all the links:

MY MOM AND THE GIRL

TRAILER - https://vimeo.com/183072790

AMAZON VIDEO - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NDQPGXL

ITUNES - https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/my-mom-and-the-girl/id137275414

GOOGLE PLAY - https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/My_Mom_and_the_Girl?id=P6LORPD00no

Women writer documentaries

Women Who Wrote The Way - https://vimeo.com/207360299/bbbf9385e6

Breaking Good - https://vimeo.com/266981218

Music Video

Bad Dreams in Hollywood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF00Et4vHxE

September 10, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, female filmmaker, female director, Alzheimers, family films
Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, human rights, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, business, Studios, Coaching, documentary, Comedy, composers, healthcare, music, Music Videos, songwriting
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Episode 176: Eline Mets, Writer, Producer, Motocross Racer

September 03, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, human rights, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, business, DGA, PGA, Studios, theatre, Coaching, documentary, WGA, Action films, Comedy, Immigration, Stunts, webseries

This episode is brought to you by:

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Eline Mets is creating a series about women in motocross. She got tired of waiting for someone else to do it, so like a real badass woman, she’s doing it herself. Originally from Estonia, Eline is a motocross champion and the first woman in Canada to jump her dirt bike onto an airbag. Passionate about motorcycles and filmmaking, Eline is dedicated to telling stories of badass women. With a background in creating non-fiction content for years, Diaries of Badass Chicks is her directorial scripted series debut. She started a crowd funding for a webseries, and then realized it’s much bigger than that when she received videos and encouragement from women all over the world.
www.badasschicks.tv

September 03, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, female filmmaker, female director, women in motocross
Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, human rights, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Producer, Writers, business, DGA, PGA, Studios, theatre, Coaching, documentary, WGA, Action films, Comedy, Immigration, Stunts, webseries
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Episode 175: Marquette Jones, Filmmaker, Professor, Podcaster

August 27, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, human rights, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Post Production, Producer, Writers, business, DGA, NYU, PGA, Politics, Studios, theatre, Coaching, Comedy, cooking, documentary, WGA

This episode is brought to you by:

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Marquette Jones began her filmmaking journey in her hometown, Youngstown, Ohio. Marquette is an alumna of New York University’s Film and Television Production graduate program. Before becoming a filmmaker, Marquette was a public interest attorney and social entrepreneur in Oakland, California.  

Her feature film screenplay, AFTER THE JUMP, http://www.afterthejumpmovie.com/, which is currently in development, was recently selected for the Athena Screenwriting Lab in Los Angeles and was a finalist in the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival, Broad Humor Film Festival as well as a semi-finalist in the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition. It was also selected to participate in the Women in Film/ Sundance Institute’s Film Financing and Strategy Intensive.

Her directing work includes FORGIVING CHRIS BROWN, ROUND ON BOTH SIDES, TUNK, HEROES WANTED and STREETS 2 SUITES (lensed by Bradford Young).  Her films have been featured on Amazon Video, PBS, Showtime, KweliTV, Aspire TV, BET, IFC, StreamPlix and other broadcast & digital outlets. She has also directed several commercial spots, which led to both a Telly Award and Aurora Award for excellence in storytelling.

As a producer, Marquette’s credits include Andrea Williams’ SPOONFUL OF SUGAR, Alrick Brown’s ADVENTURES OF SUPERN*GGER, and Tamika Guishard’s JACKIE. Her past filmmaking-related awards include: New York University’s Warner Bros. Production Award, Panasonic‘s “P2 for a Cause” Grand Prize Winner, Fotokem Film Processing Grant, Woods Hole Film Festival, Best Short Screenplay Winner for “Free’s Rain”, ProMotion Pictures / Heineken Branded Entertainment Shorts Competition Winner, Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival Best Short Narrative, and First Run Festival’s Producing Award.

When she is not busy writing, producing or directing, Marquette hosts the Directing Magic podcast,http://www.directingmagic.com/, and teaches creative media at The University of Alabama.

August 27, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, Studios, female filmmaker, podcasting, female director
Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, human rights, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Post Production, Producer, Writers, business, DGA, NYU, PGA, Politics, Studios, theatre, Coaching, Comedy, cooking, documentary, WGA
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Episode 174: Leslie Belzberg, Producer

August 20, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, human rights, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Post Production, Producer, Writers, Action films, AFI, business, Comedy, DGA, Immigration, LGBT, Music Videos, NYU, PGA, Politics, Studios, theatre

This episode is brought to you by:

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Leslie is a producer, most notably working with John Landis, on all of your favorite things, such as Three Amigos, Beverly Hills Cop III, Coming to America, Trading Places, Thriller, Sliders, Dream On, Blues Brothers 2000, Honey I Shrunk the Kids series, Crazy Heart and the list goes on and on and on, before she transitioned to being a production executive in house.

At the time of this recording, she was at Gaumont, but has since transitioned to the Head of Production for Imagine Entertainment.

Leslie has always worked toward diversity, even and especially when she was the only woman in the room. She has incredible perspective and experience and it was such an honor to get to have this conversation.

August 20, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
culture, gender equality, gender advocacy, women in film, charles manson, John Landis, Studios
Diversity, entertainment, entrepreneur, women, activism, human rights, gender equity, advancing women, acting, Directors, Editorial, Film & TV, film festivals, hollywood, Independent Film, Post Production, Producer, Writers, Action films, AFI, business, Comedy, DGA, Immigration, LGBT, Music Videos, NYU, PGA, Politics, Studios, theatre
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Episode 167: Farhoud Meybodi, Wayfarer Entertainment

July 02, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, acting, theatre, WGA, Editorial, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries, business, Commercials, immigration, Directors, capital, DGA, Digital content, documentary, entrepreneur, Post Production, PTSD, Reality, superhero, Unscripted, women, youtube influencer

This episode is brought to you by:

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As EVP of Creative at Wayfarer Entertainment, Farhoud Meybodi sets and executes Wayfarer’s overall creative vision across feature film, documentary, series, and commercial content, further strengthening the company’s mission to create entertainment that compels social change.

At his core, Farhoud is passionate about storytelling that entertains, educates, and inspires. He also believes in the transformational power of empathy and shared human experience to heal the political-social divide of the present day.

Mostly recently, Farhoud directed and executive produced several episodes of Wayfarer’s flagship series, My Last Days. He received a Television Academy Honors Award, Muse and Clio for his work on the series. Farhoud also executive produced and wrote Man Enough, for which he received a Telly and Adweek Arc award, and created Project Upgrade, an unscripted series featuring YouTube stars, The Merrell Twins, as they set out to design and build a new consumer product with the help of successful female mentors.

Farhoud serves as a board member of the Wayfarer Foundation, The Muslim Public Affairs Council, as well as Loyola Marymount University’s Business School A-LIST Marketing Pathway, where he teaches a course on Branded Content for Social Impact.

We talked about many things, but one of them was how to invite men into the conversation about equality that promotes healing and forward movement.

See more of Farhoud’s work here:

My Last Days: Meet Anthony: https://www.facebook.com/mylastdayssoulpancake/videos/391034138419712/

Man Enough: #metoo: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreManEnough/videos/2129001024007697/


July 02, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
writer, culture, politics, indie film, commercials, healing masculinity, gender equality, social change
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, acting, theatre, WGA, Editorial, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries, business, Commercials, immigration, Directors, capital, DGA, Digital content, documentary, entrepreneur, Post Production, PTSD, Reality, superhero, Unscripted, women, youtube influencer
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Episode 166: Maria Mealla, Filmmaker

June 25, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, Comedy, acting, theatre, WGA, Editorial, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries, business, Commercials, immigration, Directors

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Maria was born in Bolivia and raised by storytellers that encouraged her to pursue filmmaking, a path which eventually led her San Francisco. She ventured into movie-making in 2010 and learned the craft through work trade by collaborating with other talented filmmakers on their projects. She has since written, produced and directed the feature film Women and Cigarettes, a collection of romantic short films titled Business Affairs, and a handful of shorts on lower-middle class millennials. She is the chapter leader of the SF Cinefemme Director’s Collective as well as an active member of Film Fatales. Her most recent film Bring me an Avocado, premiered in March and took home the audience award at Cinequest. When she’s not working on narrative films, she freelances as a video producer throughout the Bay Area.

We talked about her path to filmmaking, the state of inclusion within commercial advertising, and her film Bring me an Avocado.

June 25, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
writer, women writers, culture, politics, acting, indie film, commercials, female filmmaker
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, Comedy, acting, theatre, WGA, Editorial, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries, business, Commercials, immigration, Directors
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Episode 165: Lisa Hammer, Filmmaker, Writer, Musician

June 18, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, Comedy, acting, Politics, theatre, WGA, animation, Digital content, Editorial, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries

This episode is brought to you by:

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Lisa Hammer is a film director, writer and musician. She is best recognized as the voice of Triana Orpheus on the Adult Swim cartoon The Venture Bros. She has written/directed independent dark comedy feature and short films such as Pox and Pus$bucket, and the CMJ Film Festival winner The Invisible Life of Thomas Lynch which she co-wrote and co-directed with James Merendino (SLC Punk). Lisa's films have won awards from dozens of festivals including: the CMJ Film Festival, Telly Awards, Hugo Awards, It Came From Kuchar Film Festival, the Chicago Underground Film Festival, Canada International Screenplay Festival, Ontario Film Festival, Antimatter, Indieworks and two from New York Press. She has had one-woman shows at the Olympia Film Festival, Perth International Film Festival, and the Duolun Art Museum in Shanghai, China. Her surrealist silent film Empire of Ache was recently acquired by The Getty Museum’s feminist film collection, curated by Miranda July. Her storytelling abilities support not only writing, but her editing, gaining her the reputation for saving shelved films as “The Edit Doctor”.

Hammer’s most recent film The Sisters Plotz, starring Eve Plumb (The Brady Bunch) was recently acquired by Amazon Prime, the Roku Channel and FandangoNow. Hammer co-created and co-writes the original series Maybe Sunshine now on the Seeka TV channel on Roku. Her new "Environmental-Comedy-Sci Fi- Horror" screenplay Ghostapus is winning and placing in dozens of festivals and screenplay contests and is in development. 

We talked about her career and the gritty days in New York where you could have rent control and live as an artist.

June 18, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
writer, women writers, culture, politics, acting, Ann Dowd, indie film, punk
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, Comedy, acting, Politics, theatre, WGA, animation, Digital content, Editorial, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries
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Episode 164: Sigrid Gilmer, Writer

June 11, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, Comedy, acting, Politics, theatre, WGA

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Today I talked with Sigrid Gilmer. Sigrid makes black comedies that are historically bent, totally perverse, joyfully irreverent and concerned with issues of identity, pop culture and contemporary American society. Sigrid burst onto the national theater scene with her play Harry and the Thief, an action film/historical/time travel play about a thief who is blackmailed into traveling back in time to deliver a cache of arms to Harriet Tubman. It has since been produced across the country, including runs at the Pavement Group (Chicago), the Know Theatre (Cincinnati), and the Skylight Theatre (LA).

Additional select works include Slavey (Clubbed Thumb), Seed: A Weird Act of Faith, It’s All Bueno (Cornerstone Theater Company), Frilly, and White 3: Manifestdestinyland. Her television work includes: A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix) and Claws (TNT).

Sigrid’s play Mama Metal is playing right now at IAMA Theatre Company at the Atwater Village Theatre through June 23rd. You can get tickets here iamatheatre.com.

June 11, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
writer, WGA, women writers, culture, politics, acting, Ann Dowd
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, Comedy, acting, Politics, theatre, WGA
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Episode 163: Angela Cohen, Actress, Writer, Filmmaker

June 04, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, music, Digital content, Directors, documentary, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries, business, Coaching, Comedy, Commercials, entrepreneur, family films, healthcare, investment, theatre, VFX, acting

This episode is brought to you by:

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I spoke with Angela Cohen for episode 163. Angela is a writer and an actress with a degree from Emory University in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. In 2012, Angela founded Charley Bear Productions Inc, with a vision to affect change through art, showcasing the female perspective in front of and behind the camera. Charley Bear produced the dramatic short film, Without Grace, starring Angela alongside award winning actress Ann Dowd. It is wonderful and you should watch it.

In fact, you should watch it today, as it is in the All Voices Film Festival on Amazon through June 17th. Finalists are based upon the numbers of views in the time period. Angela would love to recoup her angel investor’s generous contribution in making this film and stir your heart with emotion in the process. It's 18 minutes- you have 18 minutes!  

Here's the link to watch Without Grace. Tell your friends! 

Angela is fascinated with the brain and the overlap of art and science. The synergy of this will be actualized in her work in Virtual Reality, which she will tell us all about.


June 04, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
writer, WGA, women writers, culture, politics, producing, filmmaker, independent film, acting, acting technique, Ann Dowd
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Studios, music, Digital content, Directors, documentary, film festivals, Independent Film, Producer, webseries, business, Coaching, Comedy, Commercials, entrepreneur, family films, healthcare, investment, theatre, VFX, acting
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Episode 162: Stavroula Toska and Eleni Yiovas of SWITCH

May 28, 2019 by Julie Harris Oliver in Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Politics, Immigration, Studios, music, Digital content, Directors, documentary, film festivals, Independent Film, intimacy coordinator, Producer, webseries

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I spoke with Stavroula Toska and Eleni Yiovas about their award-winning series SWITCH. Switch is the story based on Stavroula’s experiences of going undercover and working as a dominatrix in New York City. Now before you pre-judge this, as I did, let me tell you, you have never heard anyone describe the BDSM world before in this way. Stavroula is the creator, writer, actor – coming from a long career as a filmmaker, and Eleni is an Executive Producer and actor.

The series features no less than Olympia Dukakis, John Lindstrom, and Cady McClain, and episodes were directed by Cady McClain, Laurie Weltz, Katie Maguire and Stavroula.

Stavroula and Eleni sat down with me and spoke of this work with such empathy, compassion, and respect for humanity, vulnerability, and the ways in which we heal the world. Seriously, we brought up Brene Brown.

More about the series:

www.switchtheseries.com

Based on the true life story of creator Stavroula Toska, SWITCH follows Stella, an immigrant woman with a dark past who begins training as a professional dominatrix in New York City's most exclusive BDSM Establishment while battling PTSD and trying to build a better life for herself. 

SWITCH takes viewers on a journey to the riveting world of BDSM from a deeply benevolent, unorthodox and cerebral POV by following Stella and the main characters as they navigate leading a double life, the struggle for power, identity, ambition, love and family.  We explore the many aspects of human nature and conditioning that most people never discuss openly; the fantasies we have and why, the childhood trauma buried inside each one of us, the various masks we wear in order to survive in this world, the struggle to lead a decent life, the unspoken pain that is desperately looking for an outlet, the duality in us all, and the lengths we go to in order to connect with one another. 

The title refers to the switch we make when we explore our other side, when we go through the darkness in order to find our light, when we start listening to the parts of our self that were shamed to silence, when we hit rock bottom and start rising again.  Switch is also a popular term used in BDSM practice representing the power exchange between two consenting adults of the opposite sex. 

HuffPo story about Stavroula here

The Awards so far…

SWITCH was recently honored with the 2019 BEST STORY AWARD at the prestigious Santa Fe Film Festival, it has received the BEST SUSPENSE/ BEST ACTION AWARD at the New York Women in Film and Television & Go Indie TV / Roku TV competition, and Stavroula Toska received the OUTSTANDING ACTRESS AWARD category in the same competition. The series has also received the BEST PILOT / BEST NEW SERIES AWARD at the 2019 Calcutta International Film Festival and at the 2019 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, the BEST PILOT AWARD at the 2019 Best Shorts Film Festival, the BEST WEB SERIES AWARD at the Global Shorts Film Festival. 

Cast: 

SWITCH features a most inclusive and stellar cast and crew (over 70% female), including Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck, The Infiltrator, Bored to Death, Steel Magnolias, Tales of the City, Look who’s Talking), two-time Emmy winner Cady McClain (All My Children, As the World Turns, Seeing is Believing: Women Direct, Law & Order), Emmy-nominee Jon Lindstrom (True Detective, BOSCH, NCIS: Los Angeles, General Hospital) Mark Borkowski (House of Cards, Boardwalk Empire, Blue Bloods), India Ennenga (The Irishman, The Orchard, About Scout, Treme), Bobby Daniel Rodriguez (Narcos, Central Park Five, Bel Canto, Orange in the New Black), Katie Maguire (Billions, Search Party, LI Divas, Blue Bloods), Catherine Chadwick (White Collar, Z: The Beginning of Everything, The Normal Heart).

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May 28, 2019 /Julie Harris Oliver
writer, WGA, women writers, race, culture, politics, producing, filmmaker, independent film, BDSM, Dominatrix
Diversity, entertainment, Film & TV, hollywood, women, Writers, activism, human rights, Politics, Immigration, Studios, music, Digital content, Directors, documentary, film festivals, Independent Film, intimacy coordinator, Producer, webseries
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