Making It: Women in Film - podcast cover

Making It: Women in Film

Bonnie and Braw & LS Filmswomeninfilm.co.uk
In this podcast, host Malin Evita sits down with women working across the film and TV industry to have honest conversations about their craft, career journey, and the importance of diversity - in front and behind the camera.

Episodes

#70 | Our Lives Shaped by Film with Creative Producer Briana Pegado

Welcome to the last episode of the season! Briana Pegado is a creative producer with more accomplishments on her resume than can be fitted into this box. In this conversation, Briana shares her life story - from getting her first guitar to becoming student president, creating and directing Edinburgh Student Arts Festival, signing a book deal, and so much more. And what better way to do that, than by pinpointing the movies that were with her throughout it all, and what they have meant to her? Sti...

Feb 01, 20232 hr 35 min

#69 | From Naval Officer to High End Producer with Louise V Say (Shetland, Les Miserables)

Louise V Say started early in the navy. But she always knew she had a creative streak; that she was a storyteller. And with the leadership and resilience she had learnt in service, what better route to go than by implementing those skills as a producer? From there, she entered the theatre, then got her foot into documentary production, and has now produced several high-end drama series, including Shetland, Les Miserables, and Dracula. This is her fascinating story, and the stories she aims to te...

Jan 25, 20231 hr 28 min

#68 | How Filmmaking, Environmentalism, and Equality Intersect with Screen Sustainability Manager Maire Claire Bowser

Mairi Claire Bowser has worked in set decoration for the past 10 years, with titles such as Killing Eve, Paddington 2, Maleficent, Mission Impossible: Fallout , and many, many more. Through this, she saw first-hand how much waste this industry produces. So she began to go in a different direction, and for the past year, she has worked as the Screen Sustainability Manager for the Scottish Screen Industry. Listen now to learn how filmmaking, environmentalism, and equality intersect. And what to be...

Jan 18, 20232 hr 34 min

#67 | Healing Through Filmmaking with Director Nisha Platzer ("back home")

Nisha Platzer is a filmmaker and artist who strives to explore the depths of visual expression. Her feature debut, "back home" follows her journey of connecting with her brother who took his own life 20 years ago. "back home" has been selected for the Cannes Docs and had its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Nisha shares how this film came to be, and talks about how experimental filmmaking can allow for a unique expression of grief and love, and ultimately lead to heal...

Jan 11, 20231 hr 9 min

#66 | In Conversation with BAFTA-winner and MD / Exec. Producer Sarah Drummond

Today, Sarah Drummond is a BAFTA-winner and the Managing Director and Executive Producer of LS Productions, the leading production service company in the UK. But when she was 15, she dropped out of high school and went to work at a shoe shop. In this episode, Sarah gives an in-depth look into her working-class background and talks about the power and utmost importance of community-based film outreach that develops accessibility and inclusivity (and what that actually, proactively, means). Stay t...

Jan 04, 20232 hr

#65 | Comedy Made for and by Women w/ Playwright Rachel O'Regan ("The Beatles Were a Boyband")

Rachel O'Regan is a playwright who writes for women. She writes feminist comedies, battling and balancing issues like we do when we talk with our girl friends. She is part of F-Bomb, a women-led theatre company, and was also part of the BBC Writers Room programme. Today, Rachel talks to Evita about the power of theatre, admiration of TV, and how to open up to feedback - from coworkers and critics alike. Links: F-Bomb Theatre Rachel's Website Our Website A production by Bonnie and Braw and LS Fil...

Dec 28, 202255 min

#63 | Lessons in Leadership with Indie Filmmaker Dania Denise

She answered a casting call and went down the model to commercial to drama actor path. Then, she held a camera, and met like minded people. A fire was sparked which couldn't be tamed, and Dania Denise set out to become a filmmaker. A producer. The head of her own independent production company, Runaway Mill Productions. This is her story. Stay tuned until the end of the episode for our roundtable where we get into the portrayal of masculinity on screen. Segments include Teen Wolf, The Banshees o...

Dec 14, 20222 hr 32 min

#62 | Making History with Creative Producer Carmen Thompson

From the Kenyan sensation "Rafiki" (2018, dir. Kahiu) to "The Gravedigger's Wife" (2021, dir. Ahmed) the first Somali feature film, Carmen is dedicated to bringing movies from the African Diaspora to UK audiences. But this is not an easy job, when the film market so heavily caters to one type of movie, to one type of person. This commitment to bringing communities together, to bringing people together through cinema, carries on through her work as a programmer and curator too. This is her story,...

Dec 10, 20222 hr 37 min

Rountable: Let's Talk About Diversity in Love on Screen

Love is good. In this roundtable, host Malin Evita Ditlefsen and researcher and media assistant Lauren San Miguel expand on their last conversation (listen to that at the end of episode #61) on representation, and this time delve into the representation of love on screen. Love between mixed couples, love between queer couples, love between cultures, and family, and friends. Enjoy. Follow us on Instagram @MakingItWomenInFilm and connect with us on LinkedIn! Don't forget to follow/subscribe to the...

Dec 08, 202232 min

#61 | Beyond Subtitles with Producer Corinna Vistan

She was the director of creative and digital content at Marvel for nine years, where she won a Golden Clio and two Silver Tellies. Now she is the Head of Originals at VIU Philippines - the leading streaming service in Asia. This is her story, and the stories she aims to tell. Stay tuned at the end for our first roundtable between host Evita and research/media assistant, Lauren San Miguel. Tangents include: The Mummy (1999), Latina and bisexual representation in media, and trans visibility in fil...

Nov 30, 20221 hr 11 min

#60 | Sculpting Anatomy and Aliens with Special Effects Make-Up Artist Suzi Battersby

Known for her work on movies such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Alien: Covenant, Morbius, and series including Doctor Who and Holby City, Suzi Battersby is an incredible special effects make-up artist, designer, and founder of the women-led company Red Girl FX. This episode includes, amongst other topics: The making of silicone alien babies, BB8, blood spurting, tumours, autopsies, and emotional moments watching actors on set and lessons learned from starting and running a game-changing compa...

Mar 22, 20221 hr 6 min

#59 | Lost in Character with Actress and Producer Gillie Jones

Gillie Jones is an actress and producer, known for her work on The Curse of La Patasola. This episode includes… the psychology and physicality behind getting into character, filming in a horrifying, giant spider-infested forest, her advice for producing an ultra-low-budget feature film, and a discussion on gender roles and relationships within the realm of horror! Join our community of women in film on Instagram @MakingItWomenInFilm and check out our website, womeninfilm.co.uk ! Episode notes: G...

Mar 15, 202253 minSeason 2Ep. 9

#58 | The Sound of Cinema with Sound Designers Zoë Irvine and Heather Andrews

Get 20% off your feministtrash.com order with code WIF20. Thank you to Feminist Trash for sponsoring this episode. Happy International Women's Day! In this episode, the accomplished Scottish sound designers Zoë Irvine and Heather Andrews talk all about the world of sound design - from their personal connections to the element, the true state of the industry, the barriers for underrepresented artists, and how movies utilise - and forget - sound as part of narration and worldbuilding. Join our com...

Mar 08, 20221 hr 17 min

#57 | Baptism of Fire: Soaps, Celebrities, and Stalkers with Nicola Quilter

From acting in the long-running soap opera Home and Away, becoming a filmmaker, and writing her own TV show Combustione, English-Australian creative Nicola Quilter speaks to Evita about everything from having a stalker, the concept of celebrity, finding your creative truth, and your perfect dream space! Join our community of women in film on Instagram @MakingItWomenInFilm and check out our website, womeninfilm.co.uk ! Episode notes: Elizabeth Gilbert TED Talk Nicola's Production Company: Rocket ...

Mar 01, 202253 min

#56 | Power, Artistry, and Equality with VFX Supervisor Tehmina Beg

Tehmina Beg is a VFX Supervisor known for her work on shows such as Marvel's The Defenders , Iron Fist , DC's Legends of Tomorrow , Miracle Workers , Modern Love , and most recently: The Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That... In this episode she walks us through her career journey, the down and upsides to the booming usage of VFX, her most trying projects (including making an entire forest) and her proudest creations, everything you never knew was VFX, and the incredible exclusion of wome...

Feb 22, 202256 min

#55 | What They Don't Tell You About Screenwriting with BAFTA-winner Anna Maloney

Anna Maloney is a BAFTA-winning screenwriter and the mind behind BBC shows such as Unprecedented, which was one of the first pandemic organised shoots entirely over Zoom. In this episode she shares her odd and unexpected journey into the film industry, what it's like to get commissioned, BAFTAs, feedback, and all those other misconceptions you have about actually getting your script produced! Episode notes: Film & TV Charity Helpline Watch Unprecedented Credits: Making It: Women in Film is p...

Feb 15, 20221 hr 3 min

#54 | Filmmaking Beyond Borders with Yixi Sun

Yixi Sun is a Chinese filmmaker and the founder of the Filming East festival in the UK, celebrating Asian filmmakers and cinema history. In this episode she sat down to talk all about becoming a filmmaker: From refining your skills, getting funding, learning on the job, and casting sea lions (and that's not a metaphor.) Follow us on Instagram @ MakingItWomenInFilm and tag us on your stories to get a shout out in the next episode! Visit womeninfilm.co.uk for more. Episode notes: Follow Yixi on Tw...

Feb 08, 202244 minSeason 2Ep. 4

#53 | An Honest Talk About the Film Industry with Screenwriter Lorna King

Lorna King is a Ghanaian-Scottish screenwriter and filmmaker. In this episode, she opens up about her journey into the film industry, and the good and bad that's come alongside it. She specifically talks about her process of studying for a Masters in Screenwriting, how she has navigated the industry as a Black neurodivergent woman, balancing work/life when work is life, and how the industry really treats the mental wellbeing of its workers. Follow us on Instagram @MakingItWomenInFilm and tag us ...

Feb 01, 20221 hr 4 minSeason 2Ep. 3

#52 | Creating Character Iconography & Authenticity Through Hairstyling with Nani Casillas ('Station Eleven')

Nani Casillas is a Hairstylist, known for her work as Department Head on HBO's newest apocalyptic drama Station Eleven , as well as Get Shorty . She has also worked on the hair for projects including Big Little Lies* , The Hunger Games: Catching Fire** , and Lost*** . In this episode, Nani walks us through her journey from working with drag queens in Hawai'i, to moving to L.A. at 25 with three kids, and working her way up the ladder. She also reveals the nitty-gritty details of working on Statio...

Jan 25, 20221 hrSeason 2Ep. 2

#51 | In Conversation with BAFTA-winning Producer Rebecca O'Brien ("I, Daniel Blake")

Rebecca O'Brien is one of Europe's leading producers within independent filmmaking. Some of her credits include the Cannes Palm d'Or winners The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006) and I, Daniel Blake (2016), as well as Land and Freedom (1995) and You Were Never Really Here (2019). In this interview, Rebecca tells host Evita about her career journey, her long term collaboration with writer Paul Laverty and Ken Loach, and how making political movies have changed her views on the world. Follow us o...

Jan 18, 202253 minSeason 2Ep. 1

#50 | In Celebration of Women in Film 2021

It's an episode fifty special! For this final 2021 episode, Evita talks about highlights from the season, covers industry news from Patty Jenkins to Angela Basset, some significant shifts that are happening in a certain studio (is Marvel the leading studio in bringing in new female creatives?), and rounds up her favourite movies directed by women of the year so far! The show will be back in January 2022, and the monthly Chick Flix Film Club will continue to be released the first Monday of every ...

Sep 03, 202144 min

#49 | Cinematic Worldbuilding with Production Designer Eve McCarney

Eve McCarney is an American production designer who has worked on loads of projects - from A24's The Ballad of Lefty Brown , to the horror anthology shows Into the Dark and Ryan Murphy's new American Horror Stories . In this episode, Eve takes us through her journey as a newspaper graphic artist to an immensely talented PD. She also talks about her design and research projects, favourite rooms she's put together and gives us some easter eggs to search for in AHS! Follow us on Instagram @ MakingI...

Aug 29, 20211 hr

#48 | Documentaries and Women Who Box with "BAM BAM" Director Alex Shipman

Alexandra Shipman is the documentarian behind "BAM BAM - Female, Fifty, Fighting" which tells the story of Sandra Shipman, her boxing mum. In this episode the director came on to speak about the filmmaking journey behind, lessons learned, and the unique experience of documenting the life of a person so close to you. Join our online community of women in film on Instagram @MakingItWomenInFilm, and check out womeninfilm.co.uk! Follow @BAMBAMFilm and @AlexShipmanFilms on Instagram for more Follow E...

Aug 21, 202156 minSeason 1Ep. 48

#47 | An Honest Conversation About Creativity, Productivity, and Mental Health with Filmmaker Natalie Rodriguez

Natalie Rodriguez is the director behind the two indie movies The Extraordinary Ordinary (rent on demand) and Howard Original (available with an Amazon Prime membership). She is currently working on an animated web series called Young Dario - which you can support through their GoFundMe here ! In this episode, Evita and Natalie have a very open conversation about how their perception of creativity and "hustling" has changed as they've been able to take a step back during the pandemic and reevalu...

Aug 13, 20211 hr 26 min

#46 | Storytelling Through Clothing with "Ready or Not" Costume Designer Avery Plewes

Avery Plewes is a costume designer most known for her work on the dark comedy "Ready or Not" (2019, dir. Bettinelli-Olpin & Gillett) starring Samara Weaving in the role of Grace, a bride who suddenly finds herself trapped in a violent initiation game with her wealthy in-laws that pushes her to run for her life. In this episode, Avery joined in to talk about her career journey and the intricate and thoughtful design process behind the 27 wedding dresses that were designed for this movie - and why...

Aug 06, 20211 hr 1 min

#45 | Explore Cinematography with Shiva Baby DoP Maria Rusche

Maria Rusche is a Cuban-American, NYC based cinematographer behind the recent indie hit "Shiva Baby," (2021, dir. Emma Seligman.) In this episode, she sat down with Evita to talk about her journey as a DOP, her creative and managerial process and tells us all about the making of Shiva Baby. Join our online community of women in film on Instagram @ MakingItWomenInFilm and womeninfilm.co.uk ! Follow Maria on Instagram @ MariaRuscheDP , mariamrusche.com Follow Evita on Instagram @ MalinEvita , mali...

Jul 30, 202156 min

Destigmatising Mental Health with Jaimi McPeek & Ellie Davies | Community Highlights Vol. 2

Welcome to the second edition of our Community Highlights! Do you want to be part of our next volume? Send an email to makingitwomeninfilm@gmail.com and introduce yourself! This is open for all women with a passion for film, no credentials needed. Follow us on Instagram @MakingItWomenInFilm and check out our website womeninfilm.co.uk Timestamps: 02.15: Jaimi McPeek | GoFundMe | FoaC Support Group | Follow her on Instagram: @JaimiXOXOXO & @FlipOfACoinFilm 26.10: Ellie Davies | Watch Aftermath...

Jul 23, 202141 min

#44 | From Intern to Hollywood Director with Rachel Winter

Rachel Winter is an Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker and producer who made her feature directorial debut this spring with "The Space Between" for Paramount Pictures. She received an Oscar nomination for producing the award-winning drama "Dallas Buyers Club," and in this episode she sat down to take us through her inspiring career journey - from an intern at a porn production to a Hollywood director. She also speaks all about her new movie, which can be rented on VOD in the U.S. now! Don't forg...

Jul 16, 202155 min

#43 | Character Roots Through Production Design with Amy Williams ('Master of None')

Amy Williams is an Emmy-winning production designer with years of experience, having worked on projects like Master of None , The Wilds , Little America , A Crime to Remember , and We Need To Do Something. In this interview, Amy goes in-depth as to how her design process works and what production design means for a movie. She also tells all about working with Aziz Ansari, Alan Yang, Lena Waithe, and Naomi Ackie and how they together created the deeply rich and authentic world of Master of None -...

Jul 09, 20211 hr 2 min