Explore every episode of the podcast Give Her a Microphone

Anne Marie Fox is a gifted unit photographer specializing in film and television unit stills and editorial. Her beautiful work has been featured in some of the biggest film campaigns in the world. A few of the films include The Butler, Wild, Dallas Buyers Club , Precious, The Zoo Keeper's Wife and most recently Amazon's reboot of A League of Her Own. She has worked with critically acclaimed directors Robert Altman; Kenneth Branaugh; Agnes Varda; Lee Daniels; Niki Caro; Catherine Hardwicke; Anton Corbin and Jean-Marc Vallée among others.

#photography #femalephotographer #Hollywood #femalewriter #blogger #Film #TV #Womenleaders #womenthrive

Welcome to season two of Give Her A Microphone! We welcome Kirsten Schaffer, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Women In Film, one of the entertainment industry's leading organizations that advocates for women in the screen industries. The goal for Kirsten and Women In Film is to achieve parity and transform culture. Something that we are consistantly addressing here on the show! We are so happy Kirsten is here!

Kirsten has been instrumental in launching ReFrame, an industry-wide initiative to advance inclusivity and gender equity, as well as starting a variety of programs at Women In Film to increase the skill set and opportunity for film and TV makers. Kirsten Schaffer was also the Director of Programming and then Executive Director of Outfest prior to Women In Film. She is widely credited as having grown Outfest into the leading LGBTQIA+ media arts organization that it is today. Kirsten shares her extensive experience in advocacy for women in the entertainment industry and what is working and what is not. Join us as Kirsten shares her unique perspective and the lessons she's learned along the way. #WIF #Hollywood #femalefilmmakers #WomenInFilm #womendirectors #femaleCEO #filmherstory ##femalefilmmaker #womeninfilm #filmmaker #femaledirector #filmmaking #femalefilmmakers #femalefilmmakerfriday #film #indiefilm #director #indiefilmmaker #filmfestival #actress #shortfilm #producer #behindthescenes #production #womenfilmmakers #femaledirectors #setlife #cinematographer #filmmakers #actor #cinematography #femalewriter #indiefilmmaking #filmproduction #writer #onset 

Karen Somers is a documentary director, producer and DP.  Her Los Angeles based, namesake production company, "Karen Somers + Co" creates documentaries, branded content and commercials. Karen is also the co-host and co-producer of this podcast and sits down to chat with co-host, Shirley Jackson about her experiences coming up in the industry. 

#karensomersco, #womendirectors, #producersguild, #documentary, #femaleDP, #Hollywood, #Filmmaking

Melissa Silverstein is an agitator - she believes in good trouble as she advocates for women as the founder and publisher of Women and Hollywood. This extraordinary organization educates, advocates, and agitates for gender diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, and the global film industry.  Melissa is also the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of The Athena Film Festival at Barnard College which showcases films about extraordinary female leaders. With no shortage of energy and recognizing her role as a "creative doula", Melissa recently launched the Girls Club - a community for women creatives, culture-changers and storytellers to connect, create, network, advocate, support and redefine 21st century entertainment. Melissa recently published "In Her Voice: Women Directors Talk Directing," to glowing reviews on Amazon. Her work has been featured on CNN, BBC as well as in Newsweek, Salon, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, NY Times, and many other publications. This interview will set your hair on fire in the best possible way! #Hollywood #WomenAndHollywood #FemaleDirectors #Filmmakers #Screenwriters #FemaleProducers

Phaedra Harris has over twenty-five years experience in feature film and television casting in Hollywood. Over the years Phaedra has packaged talent for numerous HBO & SHOWTIME productions and over fifty feature films. Phaedra continues to evolve, adding writing, producing and directing to her portfolio of accomplishments.

In this episode Phaedra shares the wisdom she's gained casting top tier talent and what helps actors create success in their careers. She also shared her strategy for professional success and development as she pivots into producing, writing and directing roles for herself.

https://www.giveheramicrophone.com

http://www.phaedraharriscasting.la

#Phaedracast, #GiveHerAMicrophone, #Hollywood, #Filmmaking, #FemaleEntrepreneurs, #Casting, #WomenInFilm, #WomenandHollywood, #variety, #hollywoodreporter

Jennifer Hutchins has been producing hit TV shows, produced successful feature films and high-profile branded content for over a decade. She has produced, directed and wrote over 200 episodes of docu-series, studio and variety television for CBS, Amazon, A&E, Paramount Network, TLC, SYFY, Discovery, Fox Sports, NatGeo, YouTube Originals, Travel Channel. Jennifer is currently producing an CBS All Access series with directors Richard Linklater & Bill Guttentag. She is also the founder of All Entertainment Business networking group that boasts over 20,000 members strong.

Martine Melloul is the founder of Kali Pictures, a production company specializing in independent features, documentaries and TV series. Martine is a non-writing Creative and Business Producer. In her previous professional life,  Martine served as the Executive Vice President of BCBG MAX AZRIA, a global fashion house with a portfolio of more than 20 brands. She worked there for 17 years before deciding to dive into the world of film. Her story of reinvention is a must. Join us for an amazing show!

"Give Her A Microphone" is back from summer hiatus and we are joined by the amazing Nishelle Tramble Spellman. Nichelle is the showrunner and executive producer for Apple TV+'s Truth Be Told. Last year Nichelle received the NAACP Image Award for outstanding writing in a drama series prize for her work on the show. The series stars Octavia Spencer and Kate Hudson. Previously, Nishelle spent three seasons as producer on CBS' Emmy-winning The Good Wife, and on FX's Justified and Snowfall. Her additional writing credits include Mercy, Harper's Island and Women's Murder Club and is the author of several books. Nichelle and her husband, writer and producer Malcolm Spellman, also launched their company The 51 with a first-look production deal at HBO. The 51 is developing numerous projects focused on amplifying underrepresented voices. Nichelle joins us today and gives us the skinny on the reality of showrunning in Hollywood. 

Rachel Davies visits with us and shares her wisdom from the creative side of the non-profit world. She is the Vice President of Brand Management, responsible for the strategic development, creative direction, operations and execution of many unified, multi-media campaign initiatives to enhance and support the Susan G. Komen national brand. This means that her background as a busy creative director informs all of the story-telling around this world famous social impact organization. This includes documentaries, public service announcements, social media campaigns, commercials and print initiatives. - Rachel has her creative muscle in all of it. She is an uber early riser that has learned to seize the day before the rest of her world is awake.

Christine Lawton, attorney and Sr. Partner at Nolan Heiman in Los Angeles, chats with us about her unique perspective working studio side in legal affairs early on in her career. She shares her enthusiasm for taking that experience into the creative entrepreneurial endeavors of her clients as an Intellectual Property expert. She has over 15 years executive experience launching and monetizing businesses at the convergence of entertainment, technology and retail, helping Fox, Universal, DreamWorks and Disney innovate consumer experiences. Christine shares the challenges she had coming up and how she has overcome them to thrive in the entertainment business as an attorney and business advisor.

Jane Owen is an award winning publicist and founder of the international public relations and live event firm JOPR. Her company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with satellite offices in New York and London.

Jane and her staff represent a variety of clients including celebrities, TV personalities, influencers, musicians, venues, film companies, restaurants, fashion designers, brands, governments, new technology of all sorts and charities. Jane chats with Shirley and Karen about the publicity business in Hollywood, why she loves her job and what she's learned along the way.

By day, Shirley Jackson is an Executive In Charge of Production for a large television production company in Los Angeles, California. You all know her here as the co-host of this podcast! Shirley is in the hot seat this week, chatting with co-host, Karen Somers about her rise through the ranks in radio and television. Her persistence and passion to work her way up the Hollywood food chain, the 150 plus hours of content she has helped to create, has landed her a plum position in production leadership. Shirley is the queen of negotiation and strategic management. Tune in as she shares her signature wisdom, humor and inspiration.

Nasreen Alkhateeb is an award-winning cinematographer whose work amplifies under-represented voices. By illuminating racial injustice, marginalized youth, melting ice, women peacekeepers, and the construction of the largest telescope NASA has ever attempted, Nasreen thrives as a leader on diverse storytelling projects. Nasreen has a plethora of lenses she sees the world through. Her ability to motivate audiences is a direct result of being multi-heritage, BiPOC, 1st generation American, and making work through a disabled lens.

In 2020, Nasreen was chosen as the Lead Cinematographer for Kamala Harris' successful Vice Presidential campaign, and Oprah's series Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.

Pam Williams is an extraordinary film and television producer with films like "The Butler", live telecasts like the Oscars and most recently, Golden Globe winning and Academy nominated (best actress) The US vs Billy Holiday. Pam partners with some of the best in the business including the late, great Laura Ziskin, Director- Lee Daniels and all star talent like George Clooney, Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey. Pam seems to have an uncanny ability to recognize and dive into stories that shift social expectation and bias.  

This show is a pre-Covid interview we did with the amazing Adrienne "Ay-Ay" Ford-Wesley who is much sought after for her live audio mixing skills. It's bitter sweet listening to her story with concerts and live shows of all sorts going dark for the past year. Adrienne is a wealth of audio insider intel and wisdom and once you listen you'll be hooked. She can be reached through her company : https://www.audio-ayay.com

J.J. Caruth is the President of Domestic Marketing and Distribution  at Highland Film Group in Los Angeles. Her expertise has been crafted  during her 15+ years in entertainment launching over 360 campaigns. Her specialties include: domestic and international brand management, digital marketing, P&L management, product and brand launches, acquisitions and integrated marketing - all of which have allowed her films to shine and dominate the market place. We are so please to have J.J. join us and share her hard won intel. 

Mishawn Nolan - entertainment attorney, partner and owner of Los Angeles based practice, Nolan Heimann - has been putting her best entrepreneurial alchemist techniques into play not only for her own practice but primarily for her entertainment based clients that are having to do pivots during the pandemic. As the industry shuttered last March, Mishawn and her team kicked into high gear - what they learned along the way is testimony to the grit and creativity necessary to surviving and thriving. Join us for all the juicy details! 

Mishawn Nolan is bringing her extensive knowledge and insight to Give Her A Microphone as the founding partner and senior attorney in Nolan Heimann. She is passionate about helping innovators and entrepreneurs strategically leverage their assets. Having been a dancer and choreographer before becoming an attorney, she has a particular affinity for creatives. Even then her leadership and problem solving skills were evident and she was called upon to produce live events. Her ability to understand the needs and concerns of both the creative and business sides of the equation has led to effective deals being struck and projects moving forward. Mishawn believes that makers need the freedom to do what they do best and should have a strong, dynamic team to support their growth. She excels at leading that team. Mishawn has extensive experience working with the complex blending of corporate, entertainment, technology, and intellectual property challenges that exist where Hollywood, Madison Avenue and Silicon Valley converge.

Lisa O'Brien, one of Hollywood leading Kid's TV Executive and Creative Consultant, joins us for a mid-Covid follow up to her original pre-Covid interview. She speaks with Shirley and Karen about the challenges she has faced in the Pandemic Pause, the adjustments she has experienced in her career and the insights she has gained with the first time out she's had in almost twenty years of back to back production schedules and deliveries. 

Lisa O'Brien is a self described Creative Alchemist. She thought she was going to be a school teacher but her vision of teaching transformed into educational entertainment programming for kids. She began her career as a children's TV series producer in Canada. She brought that experience to Hollywood and built an impressive resume of creative development and production with the Disney Channel, The Jim Henson Company, Sprout/PBS (now NBC Universal) then on to NBC Kids and most recently, Cartoon Network. Lisa's infectious joy in her job has its roots in a profound desire to give back. 

Lisa Shamata is one of the leading unit publicists in Canada. She is the liaison between the outside world and a productive, working set. This is a job that takes, diplomacy, finesse and a creative, nimble mind to navigate all the stakeholders interests. When Lisa originally interviewed with us she was on location in eastern Canada. In her follow up interview, Lisa shares her experience riding out Covid in Toronto. We all have made unique choices during our respective stay-at-home time. Please join us as Lisa shares her story.

Lisa Shamata is one of the leading unit publicists in Canada. She is the liaison between the outside world and a productive, working set. She fields communication from press, location community organizations, film commissions etc. on behalf of the studio. She supervises set photography and EPK/BTS filmmaking for future marketing and publicity once the film or series goes into release. This is a job that takes, diplomacy, finesse and a creative, nimble mind to navigate all the stakeholders interests. Her most recent credits include: The Shape of Water (Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones)and Nightmare Alley with director GuiIlermo del Toro. 

Line Producer, Kimberly Scott joins us with her own Covid update. She chats with Shirley and karen about her experience keeping things afloat while the pandemic throws much of Hollywood into a holding pattern. 

Kimberly Scott revels in her role Line Producing on a variety of successful shows In Hollywood ranging from broadcast television and features through digital series and branded content. Kimberly's vast experience has given her a unique perspective as Hollywood continues to evolve from traditional to digital distribution models. Karen and Shirley chat with Kimberly about the highs and lows in her journey and what she's learned along the way.

Give Her A Microphone hosts, Karen Somers and Shirley Jackson follow up with one of Hollywood's leading acting coaches, Mary McCusker. Mary shares the ups and downs she experienced living in Los Angeles during Covid. She's put her time to good use, publishing a successful book about auditioning that has been in the works for a while. She has also adjusted her coaching techniques for a Zoom driven world. Her students are still auditioning digitally for shows and movies - what does that look like for actors in Hollywood? 

Give Her A Microphone hosts, Karen Somers and Shirley Jackson visit with one of Hollywood's leading acting coaches, Mary McCusker. Mary has coached some of the biggest stars in the business and shares lessons learned along the way in her new book, "Auditioning - What They Say When You Leave The Room". 

We first interviewed Diane pre-Covid. This is the follow up interview we did recently to check in and see how Diane, her family and Cirque du Soleil's community are faring.

The pandemic has taken a significant toll in the entertainment world - particularly live businesses. Cirque du Soleil's Chief Creative Officer, Diane Quinn, has witnessed the catastrophic results. We visit with the Diane has she shares the personal and professional costs Covid has extracted this year.

Diane Quinn is the Chief Creative Officer at Cirque du Soleil. Hosts, Karen Somers and Shirley Jackson, chat with Diane about her journey to the top job in one the world's most successful live entertainment giants. She shares her personal story, what a Chief Creative Officer actually does, the lessons she learned along the way and what she does now to rise and thrive in the cutthroat global world of live entertainment.