In our interviews, we’re able to share the success stories and celebrate the work of established female and GNC filmmakers. These filmmakers are sharing their knowledge with the TLL community to expand educational equity in Hollywood and also provide insight into the steps they’ve taken in their lives.
Ilana Peña, is a TV show creator, executive producer, showrunner, and writer building her tv legacy with hard work and authentic storytelling at the helm of it all. Peña is the creator behind the Disney+’s coming of age comedy, “Diary of a Future President” and started in Hollywood as an assistant and worked her way into the acclaimed writer’s room of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”. She dives deep into conversation with TLL about the reality of gaining and maintaining success in Hollywood.
Read MoreIsabel Sandoval is a trans Filipina filmmaker and the director behind critically acclaimed Lingua Franca. She spoke to the Light Leaks about her start in film, where her career has taken her so far with recognition by GLAAD, Film Independent Spirit Awards, ARRAY, and the Criterion Channel to name a few. Read how she’s manifested her success through visualization and hard work.
Read MoreDylan Mars Greenberg is a queer, trans filmmaker, video artist, musician, and performer from New York City. Greenberg has directed six feature films, going on seven. Her work has been featured in Vice, PAPER, New York Times, and more.
Read MoreRiver Gallo is a multifaceted creative whose made waves in Hollywood as a filmmaker but also as an actor and model. In 2019, River premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival ‘Ponyboi’: a dreamy yet haunting short film about an intersex runaway turned sex worker that encounters the man of their dreams in real life-- or so it seems. Ponyboi is the first narrative ever to star an intersex actor playing an intersex character with River playing the title character. River has been recognized by GLAAD as a Media Rising Star (2019) and selected for the Ryan Murphy HALF Initiative for Television Directing (2020) as well as the Berlinale Talent Fellowship (2021).
Read MoreXenia Leblanc is an actress, comedian and filmmaker best known for her role as young red in Netflix’s supersmash hit, “Orange is the New Black”. From working in front of the screen to behind the camera as a script supervisor, writer, editor, and producer of independent films and sketches, her passion for creating via different roles on set runs deep. Xenia’s latest creation is “Gritty & Pretty” is a 5 episode female-driven comedy centered around boxing gym owner which tackles female empowerment and friendships with a punch.
Read MorePatrice Bowman is a New York City-based director, writer, editor, and colorist. She’s fascinated by the way that film and the arts can impact society. She graduated with a B.A. in Film Studies - Production from Yale University in 2015. Her first short, the award-winning "Lean on Him," played in film festivals across the USA. She’s the founder of Bowman Pictures, LLC, a production and post-production company.
Read MoreIz Harris is a DC based youtuber, travel filmmaker, and digital producer. Through her youtube, Iz documents her life as a full-time creative, avid traveler, and mom. From her start as a wedding videographer duo almost a decade ago with her husband, Johnny Harris, Iz has grown in her storytelling, medium, and journey sharing online. Her youtube spans videos covering her mental health and visual poems, to easy recipes and most notably- her travel videos. Iz is also the host and producer of Eater’s “Travel Eat Repeat” and the co-founder of Bright Trip, a site with online courses for travelers.
Read MoreGiselle Ariel Bleuz is a filmmaker, actress, media educator and writer who utilizes her talents to move the needle on representation for LGBTQ+ and GNC communities. Her creative vision has been recognized with accolades such as GLAAD Rising Stars award presented by Netflix (2019), Buzzfeed and Huffpost’s trans filmmakers to recognize lists, and the Soros Justice Fellowship (2018) and more.
Read MoreSo Yun Um is an LA based Korean filmmaker, critic, and programmer focused on showcasing the stories of marginalized groups through her work. Her upcoming documentary feature film called LIQUOR STORE DREAMS, focuses on second-generation Korean American children of Liquor Store owners in the LA area.
Read MoreTaylor Ortega is a powerhouse producer in the making. If her recent win at the College Television Awards, aka the Emmy’s for College students, tells us anything Taylor is going to be huge. From musical comedies (one of her favorite genres) to her interest in romantic comedies, Taylor can see the truth of life in any work.
Read MoreDunya Djordjevic is an LA based filmmaker whose passion for storytelling spans post film and theatre. Throughout her life she’s worked on what it means to advocate for your stories as a female filmmaker and uplift the voices of others as well. She’s directed multiple features and is also the lead for Camp Reel Stories- LA chapter.
Read MoreCasey Gates is a director and writer with a fierce passion for bringing women’s stories to the forefront of media. From her award winning directing work to #LadyBrain her female focused film initiative to working as a Social Media Producer at NBC, she’s the embodiment of hustle.
Read MoreCrystal Correa is the brain behind the critically acclaimed series “Crystal the Web Series” as well as founder of C+ Media Productions. Her creativity spans painting, hair dressing, and computer science- her desire for creativity is insatiable. With recognition from HollyShorts, LAL FemFest, and acceptance into HBO’s NYLFF, Crystal Correa has found a way to be a filmmaker on HER terms.
Read MoreSavannah Magruder is a Brooklyn based filmmaker originally hailing from Maine. Her past work in film includes directing and production design credits where encapsulates themes of queerness and feminism. Her work has landed her press from Vice, Stereogum, and Brooklyn Vegan and also recognition from the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, the New Hampshire Film Festival, and the NewFilmmakers New York program at Anthology Film Archives. Currently in pre-production for her next short “Debbie Does Dilators”, we spoke to Savannah about sex in film, the male gaze, and her process as a filmmaker.
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