Author: The Reel Women

@makingchaos_sekiya: What is your biggest concern with the future? As a filmmaker making non fiction films that turn the lens on communities that are often marginalized, my biggest concern is that we keep telling important and real stories. With everyone wanting a minute laugh here or there, are we going to loose that long format storytelling. But on the flip side, what I’m really excited about are the digital platforms like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu that are taking big risks and creating more platforms for storytelling. Netflix documentaries are my life blood. I really like Chelsea Does and Amazon’s Mad Dogs which give me a little faith that trashy TV won’t completely take over. #thereelwomen #outfest #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang

Reel Women: Don’t forget @makingchaos_sekiya movie premieres this week: “Women and the Word: The Revival Movie” 3/2 @6pm-9pm University of Maryland, 3/5 @ 2:30pm LA Premiere Egyptian Theatre, 3/6 @ 12pm Arena Cinema, 3/30 @ 5:30pm Sarah Lawrence College. Follow her for more info. http://ow.ly/i/h6tDU

@makingchaos_sekiya: What’s a defining moment in your life? There are so many moments. I am an immigrant. I was born in the Bahamas and only moved here for college. When I was growing up I watched one television station and one movie theater. It was called ZNS until we finally got a cable infrastructure so films were my life. The first movie I remember seeing in a theater was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I am sure we went because of my brother. So, coming to United Stated was probably the most defining moment because I walked into so many opportunities..endless. They weren’t easy to get but they were there for the taking. #thereelwomen #outfest #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang

Reel Women: Don’t forget @makingchaos_sekiya movie premieres this week: “Women and the Word: The Revival Movie” 3/2 @6pm-9pm University of Maryland, 3/5 @ 2:30pm LA Premiere Egyptian Theatre, 3/6 @ 12pm Arena Cinema, 3/30 @ 5:30pm Sarah Lawrence College. Follow her for more info. http://ow.ly/i/h6tvm

@makingchaos_sekiya: Why did you decide to work in this industry? As a creative individual, I wanted to be in an industry that allowed me to use all my talents. When I left film school, it was tough to break into film but I ended up in television which allowed me to use my skills production and then finally of storytelling and editing crafting marketing campaigns. I paid a lot of dues. I started off as a Graphics Coordinator at SYFY and it wasn’t until almost 6 years later, after working late nights to prove myself that I was finally promoted. I worked to convince people that I had the talent it took to put my work on TV and it worked. I can truly say going above and beyond works. #thereelwomen #outfest #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang

Reel Women: Don’t forget @makingchaos_sekiya movie premieres this week: “Women and the Word: The Revival Movie” 3/2 @6pm-9pm University of Maryland, 3/5 @ 2:30pm LA Premiere Egyptian Theatre, 3/6 @ 12pm Arena Cinema, 3/30 @ 5:30pm Sarah Lawrence College. Follow her for more info. http://ow.ly/i/h6tmh

Reel Women! We are changing up this week’s format thanks to our filmmaker this week. She is premiering her film “Women and the Word: The Revival Movie” so you are going to want to follow her starting today. Times and locations include: 3/2 @6pm-9pm University of Maryland, 3/5 @ 2:30pm LA Premiere Egyptian Theatre, 3/6 @ 12pm Arena Cinema, 3/30 @ 5:30pm Sarah Lawrence College. Follow below for more info:

@makingchaos_sekiya: Where can people find out more about you on social media? My “rockumentary” film about queer women of color artists, The Revival Women and the Word (@therevivalmovie) premieres at OutFest Fusion in LA this March and I have a workshop coming up as well. So check out @outfest! Add me on Instagram – @makingchaos_sekiya & Twitter – @making_chaos. Check out my work on sekiyadorsett.com! The film is also screening at University of Maryland and Sarah Lawrence so be sure to follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/therevivalmovie). It’s a busy year so far. I’m excited! #thereelwomen #outfest #instagood #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang http://ow.ly/i/h6tbn

@bethalina13: If people want to find out more about you, where can they find you on social media? My Instagram and Facebook are private, and I don’t accept random friend requests because I have too much personal information out there. I love online sharing, just with people I’ve actually met before in real life. I like to connect with people professionally through LinkedIn. If you’d like to follow me on Twitter, it’s public (@Beth_Eks), but I’ve literally only tweeted a handful of times not in a company-driven capacity. #thereelwomen #instagood #instamood #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang

@bethalina13: What, if anything, do you collect? I went on a mission trip to Jamaica when I was a senior in high school and bought a hand-painted canvas at a farmers market made by a local artist. This was my first trip out of the US, and I loved that painting so much that the next time I went out of the country, I decided to buy another painting. The trend continued, and now my bedroom is decorated with painted pictures from local artists from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Italy, Cambodia (pictured above) and Vancouver. Sometimes, I’ll also get smaller paintings just from beautiful places to honor the trip or occasion. I have a painting of the Grand Canyon from a road trip I took with my dad, and one from my 2nd wedding anniversary spent on Catalina Island.

In addition to paintings, my mom collects magnets from anywhere and everywhere. People will buy her magnets of all the places they visit. I’ve taken up this task and buy magnets for my mom wherever I go (including many of the places mentioned above). Lately, I’ve ended up purchasing a magnet for myself as well. I hope that one day I’ll inherit all of my mother’s magnets from the different places, considering I’ve bought a good chunk of them 😉 #thereelwomen #instagood #instamood #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang

@bethalina13: What advice do you have for other women in the industry? Always stand up for yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you no, or make you feel less, simply because of your sex/gender. Sometimes women have to be louder and fight harder to be heard, and people think we come across as bitches. But, in the immortal words of Tina Fey, “Bitches get stuff done!” #thereelwomen #instagood #TinaFey #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang http://ow.ly/i/gQWC4

@bethalina13: What is a successful moment in your career so far? Professionally, I’m really proud of the project I’m currently in the midst of working on, a pro-LGBT rights teen comedy called “RainBRO”. It’s a great story with a wonderful message and was my first solo project to produce and make happen on my own outside of a school setting.

Personally, I’m really proud of the work I do with interns at Thinkfactory Media. Something that has long been important to me is mentoring and being a good role model for the “younger” generation (even though I swear I’m not that old). I have had quite a few interns that I’ve really developed special relationships with that I truly consider friends. The sheer fact that someone looks up to me and feels comfortable enough to ask me questions about work, life, etc. and truly rely on me for guidance and advice is a sign that I must be doing something right. It makes me feel like what I’m doing has a real purpose and it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something in a greater sense. It’s like the wonderful little Dr. Seuss saying, “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you are the world.”

Maybe that’s giving myself too much credit or patting myself on the back, but I do feel like I’m making a small difference to these kids, and to me that makes me feel like a successful person – more than a million credits or dollars ever could. Although, a million dollars wouldn’t hurt either! #thereelwomen #instagood #instamood #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang http://ow.ly/i/gQWuJ

@bethalina13: What is your biggest concern with the future? My biggest concern for the future is a work-life balance. I’m about to bring a baby boy into this world and I know that my priorities are going to shift drastically. The entertainment industry has long, grueling hours that aren’t overly conducive to work-life balance. A lot of people sacrifice families for careers. I’m determined to make both work, but it’s something I definitely worry about – more so now than ever before in my life. #thereelwomen #mom #career #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang http://ow.ly/i/gQWoZ

@bethalina13: What’s a defining moment in your life? I’m very proud of my undergraduate Alma Mater – The University of Oklahoma. The most defining moment, of at least the last decade, was my choice to go to school there. I chose to leave my home of 18 years, and go to school 8 hours away where I knew no one, all because I wanted a fresh start. I still remember my parents’ shock (and hesitation) when I decided in late spring of my senior year that I was going to school at OU. They weren’t sure about the decision, but I never had more conviction about anything. As with most things in life, there was a ripple effect by choosing to go to school at OU. However, I truly feel that decision to start new at OU and get away from some negative high school influences catapulted me into adulthood. I made some of my best friends, I met my husband – and soon to be father of my child – and I developed so much into the person I am because of my experiences in Oklahoma. I’m sure anyone could say that about whatever college they attended, but I have such pride in my school that I continue to run the LA alumni club, and help with recruitment efforts. It’s a little piece of home throughout the year, sharing in experiences and love for the same place, whether it’s a football watch-party or an alumni wine-tasting. I’m a walking-talking success story for the University. The school set my foundation for adulthood (if that’s really such a thing) and for that, I’m forever grateful. #thereelwomen #universityofoklahoma #OU #picoftheday #photooftheday #women #female #love #film #television #TV #media #art #FilmEquality #womeninfilm #femalefilmmakers #empoweringwomen #womenempower #betterhollywood #womendirect #girl #movies #movielover #create #me #happy #instadaily #ladyboss #bosslady #girlgang http://ow.ly/i/gQWhn