Episode 151: Judy Jean Kwon, Creative

This episode generously sponsored by:

Judy calls herself a Creative. She’s an actress, a comic, a writer, producer, podcaster, creator…she does all the things. Her webseries, MILFriend will be screened on March 22nd at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres at the Golden State Festival. She tells us all about it on the show, along with her very interesting personal story, and being perfectly poised to have great success during the United Colors of Benetton advertising era.

And this: it’s not enough to just have representation. She wants to hear narratives of the other point of view. She calls it “the other point of views.”

You can find more about Judy here.

Episode 150: Amanda Blumenthal, Intimacy Coordinator

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Today we have something new - new for the podcast and new for the industry. I sat down with Amanda Blumenthal who is one of a handful of people working in the new position called “Intimacy Coordinator.” She is currently working on the HBO show called Euphoria. She breaks down for us what that job really entails, how her unique background, education and work history prepared her perfectly for it, and the real need for this position on a set. It makes total sense and it’s one of those things that makes you hit your forehead with your palm and ask why haven’t we always had this!? You can reach Amanda via her website here: intimacycoordinator.com.

Episode 149: Jenny Buccos, Director, Producer, Explorer

This episode generously sponsored by:

Jenny is a multi-award winning director and producer of the long running program called Project Explorer, and the founder of Project Explorer.org. which is a free multimedia website designed to educate kids about global cultures and histories. She has explored six continents, in over 500 episodes, and has met incredible people and seen amazing places.

She is currently working on a television show to bring this programming to an even wider audience. Jenny is incredibly purpose driven, an explorer, an entrepreneur, and is living her mission every day. I am very inspired by her and I’m sure you will be too.

Episode 147: Matt Birch, Agent

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I took a detour into male ally-ship and spoke with Matt Birch. Matt is a partner at the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) and is a co-head of the physical production department. He came up through production, reluctantly became an agent in 2009, and makes sure to bring a little something different to the art of agent-ing.  I met Matt while recording for the soon to launch podcast called Catch A Break – which is the insider’s guide to breaking into and navigating Hollywood (which you’re going to want to know about, click here to subscribe so you will be notified when it launches.)

During that interview, Matt mentioned he was on the men’s committee of #TimesUp, which as you can imagine made my ears perk up and I immediately booked him for this show to dig a little deeper. This corresponds with the feeling I have been having that it is time to start bringing men into the conversation and engaging them in the process toward equality. And Matt is one of the men who are actively evolving and trying to be part of the solution. We talked about #MeToo/TimesUp and harassment, hiring practices, the wage gap, how men are talking to each other, and a little bit about how men can hold each other accountable in ways that will be effective.

Episode 146: Allie Boettger, Sound Mixer

I was lucky enough to pin down Allie Boettger. Allie is a sound mixer. And I don’t mean the kind of sound mixer who works on a stage, although she can do that too. Allie is the kind of sound mixer that goes around the world on the Amazing Race, goes to Alaska in winter to shoot Alaskan Bush People, hikes to the top of a mountain and then rappels down it. She is super badass. And she is quite the storyteller, so this episode was really fun.

As a bonus, she taught me how to wrap my own audio cable, which I had been doing wrong for three years, but am happy to report I now take the time to do it correctly every time.

Episode 136: Megan Woeppel, Showrunner, Producer, Director, Writer

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Megan started out as a cinematographer and then transitioned to being a producer and a writer. She is currently the Showrunner on Gears Pro Circuit All Access, and is gearing up to shoot her feature film called Nightmare Mansion which is set and will be filmed in Kansas city.

She shares some amazing tales from the trenches, including barreling down a road in the Republic of Georgia at 100 miles an hour while being forbidden to wear a seatbelt. Honestly, it’s a miracle she’s alive.

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

This episode is brought to you by:

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 129: Sue Obeidi, Director of MPAC's Hollywood Bureau

This episode is brought to you by:

Sue is the Director of the Hollywood Bureau of the Muslim Public Affairs Council or MPAC. Since MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau was launched in 2011, Sue has blended the love of her faith with her love of film, television, and digital series to change and expand the narrative of Islam and Muslims in the entertainment industry.

Behind the scenes, Sue engages decision makers and creatives to improve the quality and number of authentic, nuanced, and inclusive presentations of Islam and Muslims so that audiences can see Muslims as vital contributors to creating social and cultural change in America and around the world. She also enriches the pool of Muslim talent in Hollywood by nurturing and connecting them to those who can assist with their careers, both on the creative and business sides of the industry.

In 2017, Sue was chosen for Variety's Inclusion Impact Report as one of 60 changemakers making the entertainment industry more inclusive.

We had a great and timely conversation.

Click here to get tickets for the convention for Advancing America Toward Justice on November 10th.

Episode 125: JoAnne Harris, Composer

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JoAnne is a composer, conductor and orchestrator. Among many other credits, Joanne was the composer on the web series Baked Goodes which was also featured on this podcast on Episode 42. She tells me her story from being a choral music education major, to becoming a composer, conductor and orchestrator for film and tv.

Like many of us, she has her sexual harassment story, but it also comes with the powerful man in the room who stood up for her and shut it down. More of that please.

We talked about her journey, her mentor, and her life as an artist.

And look how cool this is:

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 118: Mir Harris, Time's Up, Activist

This episode generously brought to you by:

Mir is the Manager of Operations and Community Engagement at Time's Up. I was first introduced to Mir through a piece she wrote that knocked me out. I asked her to read it on the show. Mir is an activist, a thoughtful and conscious leader, and possesses a personal power that is expressed through service. Prepare yourself, you are about to be inspired. I mean no pressure, I don’t mean to oversell it. You tell me. (You’ll be inspired.)

Episode 117: Marie Cantin, Producer and Educator

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Marie Cantin is a Producer and Educator, having worked in independent and studio film and television productions. She was an Associate Dean at the AFI Conservatory, and in 2017 was the recipient of the Frank Capra Achievement Award from the DGA – a very big deal.  Some of her many credits include, Torch Song Trilogy, Save the Last Dance, Dante’s Peak, and Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead.

We talked about her long and circuitous journey into the business.  At one point she was rumored to be a nun. There’s a story.

She says it is important to figure out who you are and how you want to be in the world. This will inform your path. I think she’s right.

Episode 115: Monica Levinson, Producer, Production Executive

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Monica is the President of Production for ShivHans Pictures and comes from a long line of working women in her family. In fact, her grandmother owned a liquor store and her mother started the First Women’s Bank of Maryland.

Monica produced Bruno, Borat and Zoolander (to name a few), and she was the production supervisor on Private Parts. Check out her IMDB, you will be impressed.

We got real about the business and how to balance self-preservation with ambition in this male-dominated industry.  When do you speak up vs when do you send your message through other channels? Do you want to be right or do you want to be effective?

EP 110: Heidi Basch-Harod, Executive Director Women's Voices Now

Heidi Basch-Harod is the Executive Director of Women’s Voices Now, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which uses the medium of film to advocate for global women’s rights. They carry out their mission with an annual online film festival, a free streaming archive of international women’s rights based films, educational programs, screening events, and multimedia workshops.

She has spent her career as a human rights activist and also is a producer of the award-winning feature documentary Honor Diaries, and the highly-acclaimed short film, In Search of America, Inshallah.

Among other quotables, she said this, “no matter who you are or where you’re from women have incredible capabilities for survival.” Isn’t that the truth?

Episode 107: Deborah Wolff, Producer, Author

Deborah is a television producer – think The Mole, The Amazing Race, and Fear Factor. And then she wrote a book about it called One Year of Reality and How It Nearly Killed Me: My Life Behind the Scenes. And I believe her. She showed up in a sling. She has stories. She told a couple of them to me on the show and to get the rest, buy the book.

And you can find Deborah in all of these places:

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

LinkedIn:   www.linkedin.com/in/digitaldebwolff

Twitter:  @pkrmama

Wordpress:  prodmaven.wordpress.com

Episode 106: Carrie Maurer and Nina Gianelli, Heart Headed Entertainment

Carrie and Nina are Producers and Founders of the production company called Heart Headed Entertainment. They came up through talk shows and unscripted and then took their careers into their own hands to both have more meaning in their work and to create a more manageable work and life model.

We talked about working in “talk” – you have no idea how much teeth come into it - and how complimentary medicine and healthy living has influenced both their company and their desire for a sustainable life inside of this business. This hour flies by…

You can find Carrie and Nina in all of these places:

https://www.facebook.com/heartheadedent/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/heartheadedentertainment/

https://www.instagram.com/heartheadedentertainment/

Episode 104: Prarthana Joshi - Filmmaker

Prarthana (PJ) is a Production Designer, Producer, Editor – Artist. She moved to California from India several years ago to attend film school and then work in the film industry. She has been working here ever since, until recently, when her green card was denied, and she has to leave the country this very week. This is a story of immigration, the pursuit of art, and the agency of people to live and work where they desire.

Also, PJ is a producer on this project. Please follow and join the cause: https://www.seedandspark.com/fund/the-apple-tree#story

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