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 91: Christina Kallas, Director, Writer, Professor

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Christina is a Writer, Director, and a Professor. Her latest film The Rainbow Experiment recently debuted at Slamdance to much acclaim. Her first film, 42 Seconds of Happiness won numerous awards, including Best Feature Film at WTxFF in Texas, Best Ensemble Cast at Harlem IFF, Indie Spirit Award and Best Ensemble Cast at Princeton IFF, just to scratch the surface.

She has been teaching at Columbia University’s and Barnard College’s Film Programs since 2011, and is the author of six books, including Creative Screenwriting: Understanding Emotional Structure and Inside the Writers’ Room (Palgrave/Macmillan, 2010 & 2014).

She has a unique perspective on the writing process, actors, and multi-protagonist filmmaking. She has the voice of an artist.

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 64: Taylor Tracy Walsh, Editor/Post Supervisor

Taylor is an Editor and Post Supervisor for music videos and commercials. Here’s a new one - she was editing videos in her basement in Omaha until she reached out to a Director she admired and changed her life. She now has a successful career in Los Angeles, doing what she loves. 

She is working with big artists and learning how to navigate the boy’s club.  How often do you think about whether or not you should pop your hip?

Taylor is fearless, motivated, and talented. Go ahead and reach out to your idols.  What is the worst that can happen?