Author: The Reel Women

Jewelry ranging from rings and neckpieces from @theherdsa. I love looking elegant and amplifying my uniqueness and I also ensure that I support other black female entrepreneurs.

Only listen to your voice, even when the odds are stacked against you and even when the ones you love do not understand your dreams. Eventually you will make it through anything and your work will speak for you. Trust yourself.

Filming my short film ‘Gang 888’ in 2020 made me believe in my voice and helped me build my creative confidence back after years of battling trauma. I am still overjoyed about my film receiving 5 international nominations, it still feels unreal to me. 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bnvUe76CTo

My other successful moment was in August 2020, I conceptualized a talk and named it ‘The Diverse Femininities’ Dialogue and I interviewed various shades of women: Trans, musicians, filmmakers and students, I wanted to give the underrepresented women a platform to share their stories and to also share mine as I facilitated the talk, 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbapYbf4zWs

I don’t worry – I used to, also mainly because of people around me e.g: My grandmother. I have always seen opportunities in the world, even as a child and most folks never understood where my light-hearted attitude came from but I am glad I have it, it gives me peace of mind. I have no concerns about my future; only faith that my plans will reveal themselves and as a person who has always been optimistic and has had so many great things happen in her life, I believe that my destiny is written in the stars and as airy-fairy as that sounds I choose to focus on the good things in life.

Dropping out of studying I.T affirmed to me that I do not need to pursue dreams that are not mine and as much as this was a difficult choice and I got disowned for years. This made me see my dreams for what they are and the pushback I received from family made me stand firm in myself and believe that film/storytelling is my purpose. I believe that pain is fear leaving one’s body and through years of enduring and overcoming – I have managed to make nothing out of something in my career and I am extremely proud of myself for that.

I am from a big family and growing up, we used to watch TV shows together every evening and critique them and I saw that film shaped my life in so many ways as a child: I learned languages, how to be social and I learned about some skills I could use in the world and after dropping out from my I.T diploma in 2010 I decided to pursue a Film Diploma instead to share the stories I had in my heart.

I am currently writing a TV show with my very close friend and collaborator Nicola Quinn. I am also Line Producing projects for HBOMax, Sundance, History and Discovery. 

http://www.kathleensimmonds.com OR https://www.facebook.com/kathleensimmondsactor/

IG: @kathleensimmo

Twitter: @kathleensimmo

Photo: Jessica Osber

Four leaf clovers (I press them) and Theatre Programs / Playbills. Oh and I keep all of my birthday cards!!

Photo: Marco Vacchi

@kathleensimmo: What advice do you have for other women in the industry? Learn to listen to AND THEN FOLLOW your gut. It is rarely wrong. Women’s intuition is real. I admit that in this business one of the most difficult things to do is say “No”. We are often scared that we won’t get another opportunity, or ruin our reputation, or be seen as demanding. But on reflection, there hasn’t been a time where I have said “No” and regretted it. There have, however, been PLENTY of times I have said “Yes” and regretted not following my initial instinct to say “No”.

Photo: Birdy Peacock

It was pretty special to have a documentary I Line Produced nominated for two Emmy’s! Reversing Roe is still on Netflix if you haven’t seen it yet. I have also been Lucky enough to attend the Oscars twice! In 2018, it was with a short I helped produce on the #MeToo and #OscarsSoWhite movements.

Photo: At the 90th Oscars in 2018