Hollywood Women in Film & TV: Learn. Network. Be Seen.

The Reel Women exists for one reason:

To make sure women in Film & TV aren’t just working in the industry: they’re visible in it.

Talent isn’t rare. Visibility is strategic.

The Genesis

The Reel Women was founded in 2015 by Ashley Pacini in response to the Sony hack revelations, which exposed the pay disparities for women in Film & TV. From the beginning, our mission has been clear: to showcase the incredible talent of women in the industry and prove that qualified women are already here, ready to lead. We started by profiling women professionals on social media, giving them the visibility they deserve.

As the community grew, so did the mission. Visibility opens doors. Networking builds careers.

What We Do

The Reel Women supports women in Film & Television who want to:

💡 Learn the business

Understand how Film & TV really works: from development to awards season.

🤝 Grow your network

Because most opportunities in entertainment come from relationships.

📱 Increase your visibility

Through featured profiles, community spotlights, and curated networking opportunities.

About – Ashley Pacini, Founder, The Reel Women

Member of the Producers Guild of America

Ashley’s love for storytelling began in high school when she moved with her family to Rome, Italy. Immersing herself in a new culture and language, she and her identical twin sister, Brittany, found comfort in weekend trips to Blockbuster, bridging the gap between their American roots and expanding their cinematic knowledge.

Her passion for film led her to earn a B.A. in Media Arts from Brigham Young University, followed by a Master’s in Cinema Studies from NYU, where she initially planned to pursue a Ph.D. and teach. However, missing the hands-on experience of production, she pivoted and earned an MFA in Film & Television Producing from Chapman University. During her time at Chapman, she met her husband, Michael, and together they moved to Los Angeles to build their careers.

Ashley gained experience working at ThinkFactory Media and Kinetic Content before joining Netflix (all jobs she got through networking with other women!), where she now works at the intersection of entertainment and technology. She focuses on helping teams on developing internal tools and apps that support Business & Legal Affairs, content scheduling, production management and Netflix’s content teams.

Beyond her professional life, Ashley loves spending time with her husband, their 4-year-old daughter, and their three Chihuahua mixes—Charlie, Buster, and Suzi. She enjoys watching films and TV, playing video games, and prioritizing her health and wellness.