The Reel Women

Category: Interview

  • Alexandria Morgan

    Alexandria Morgan

    “Not everything is going to go your way. It’s simple, but sometimes you do lose sight when you’re zoned in on a particular goal.”

    Director, Writer, Production Design — @a.kmorgan

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I loved watching movies and TV as a kid; so much so that whenever I got in trouble, I’d usually get my TV privileges revoked. I always enjoyed escaping into another world and watching characters that you get to grow up with or aspire to grow up to be was always inspirational to me growing up. I knew that I had to be a part of it.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    I’m an introvert, so I think that whenever people look at me, it means that I’m a pushover, or I’ll agree to anything. What they don’t know is that I’m stubborn, so if I set my mind to something, or gather an opinion, it’s getting done.

    What does success mean to you?

    To me, success means achieving what you set out to do; even if it takes a long time to do it.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    It’s such a cliché, but my resilience. It’s so easy to give up, and I’ve had moments where I’ve questioned if I’m meant for this, but I know that I am, and that’s enough to keep me going.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    Knowing that there are so many Black stories waiting to be told; and knowing that I’ll be one of many Black filmmakers to tell them.

  • Lada Egorova

    Lada Egorova

    “Go make your own projects. Never wait for someone to approve of your project. Just because someone rejects your project doesn’t mean you should give up. You just haven’t found the right team yet.”

    Producer, Director, Writer — @lada.egorova_

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    The day I went to a movie theater as a kid and felt totally immersed into the story of the film that was playing on the screen. The power of stories to immerse you, inspire you and make you forget about the world for a moment and care about someone else’s story.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    That we are not as tough as men in terms of being able to work in the film industry. Which is totally false, women creatives are always the most organized and efficient on set. We are often given lower budget projects because men refused to take them and we are expected to “make it work” which we do always. We always pull it off, come with incredible ideas to bring a project to life, we never complain. We are as tough and skilled as men.

    What does success mean to you?

    Being able to financially be stable in my career, having the power to bring stories that I want to be seen on screen and support other filmmakers by helping them get their projects be made and seen.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    My streaming app Pocket Cinema that I have cofounded. It launches mid August 2026. It was created by me and my cofounder, two young creatives who are coming from the indie film world. Two Gen-Z who got tired of waiting to be greenlit and who wanted to make series too. So we created this platform where we aim to release elevated genre series in vertical formats as well as horizontal. Stories that push the filmmaking techniques, series made by a diverse cast and crew, series made by other indie filmmakers who are as passionate as we are about bringing stories to the screen.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    My love for movies and stories. A great movie will always inspire me again and make me want to get back into writing and creating.

  • Alison Wesley

    Alison Wesley

    “Get a partner who can say the hard things you can’t. Sometimes it would’ve been nice to have a lioness alongside me to help strengthen my soft words.”

    Producer, Writer, Actor — @the.mural.film

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I have always loved stories that people can see themselves in. My background was in writing music and books, but two years ago, a script fell out of me. Literally. I was driving when an idea came to me. I had to pull the car over, cancel my plans and voice record all of it at once. I was inspired to write it after a vandalism to my husband’s restaurant because when something happens that I wish I could’ve handled differently, a story emerges. This film is basically my wish for how it could’ve gone.

    I put it up as a staged reading and afterward, our Director approached, wanting to direct if it ever became a film. The same day an investor appeared as if by magic.

    So, why am I in film? Magic.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    In my opinion themes that speak to women can often be obvious or dramatized when it’s the little things, the subtle things that we might not even notice in our lives that make it difficult to truly feel seen or heard. In my film, this is a big theme: the feeling the need to apologize for oneself, even subtly. Getting out of the way, smiling at strangers, etc. I love films that highlight these daily life aspects that might seem small but add up so quickly.

    I have personally found that the industry favors the big things and they also might not take me seriously because I am new, full of hope and optimism and that somehow reads as weak or in need of lots of help. It’s been nice to produce my first feature (along with writing, acting and a million other things) to prove to some of them that, I’ve got this. Me, and an amazing team of course.

    What does success mean to you?

    Action. To me, the outcome doesn’t matter but holding an idea that never sees the light of day is failure. Acting on it, in any way possible, is success.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    The most proud moment I’ve had on this production was at the wrap party when a few very experienced crew members told me, this was the most organized set with the best food options ever. Out of all the things, making sure we had good food (our story is set in a café after all!) was priority!

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    Trust. The way everything has happened in my life, film or otherwise, has had a flow. The minute I feel that I’m pushing the river I know I need to pivot. I have to trust wherever ideas come from, the people who believe in them enough to back them and me, and the process.

  • Lizzie Worsdell

    Lizzie Worsdell

    “You don’t have to know everything.”

    Actor & Producer, Founder of Eldub Films — eldubfilms.com

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I wanted to act ever since my mum took me to see a production of Scrooge at the Oxford Apollo when I was about 4 years old. I then was an actor until about 2018/2019 when I decided I wanted to pivot towards producing. I saw a gap in the industry for women both behind and in front of the camera and I wanted to tell female focused stories and show a side of society that isn’t normally explored onscreen. I wanted to tell the stories I wanted to see and wanted to have a bit more control over what was created and what I worked on. Alongside acting I had worked as a celebrity assistant and so I had a lot of transferable skills. Producing lets me bring together talented creatives and help turn ideas into something that can genuinely connect with an audience. During the pandemic I did a Masters at Raindance in producing, set up my own production company Eldub Films and the rest is history.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    That life is over at 30 and that there are no interesting stories to be told about women later in life. There is more to us than falling in love and menopause.

    What does success mean to you?

    Success to me would be making the projects that I have chosen to make and am proud of. Being recognised for this and being a respected voice in the industry. Being able to help other women in the industry move forward.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    That despite everything I’ve been through in my life, I’ve never given up. I have looked after myself for a very long time even when it’s felt impossible.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    My belief that my turn is coming. People want to hear the stories I’m telling and I will get my chance eventually. It has to be someone, why shouldn’t it be me. Plus the incredible other women I meet in the industry and the incredible stories they have and their support.

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    You can find out more about her work at eldubfilms.com or lizzieworsdell.com. She’s always looking for female voices and collaborators with a story to tell.

  • @Kristinaburke16

    @Kristinaburke16

    “You are always one idea, one person, one job away from your career changing.”

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo and my grandparents would record TV shows and films on VHS and mail them to us. I just loved the window into a different world that TV and film gave me.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    Women don’t need more mentorship programs, we need more investors to invest in women’s films. Just because a woman is a mother doesn’t make her any less invested in her career. A mother will not waste her time, so if she is working on a script, acting career, or producing a film it’s because she is determined to succeed.

    What does success mean to you?

    I want to show my children that with determination, dreams can come true. If I can inspire my kids and others to chase big dreams and live life with hope, then I consider that the greatest success.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    I am most proud of how I pivoted into writing when my kids were little and I couldn’t be on set all the time acting. It’s important to remember we can adapt as our life changes.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    You are always one idea, one person, one job away from your career changing. It’s important to remember that getting to have a career that allows you to play make believe and tell stories for a living is just such a blessing.

  • Debra Markowitz

    Debra Markowitz

    “You are the only writer and filmmaker who can create with your heart.”

    Screenwriter & Director — @debramarkowitzfilms

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I was a novelist first, and then I helped others create their stories through indie film while I acted as producer and casting director. When I tried my hand as screenwriter and director, I never looked back.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    Do not confuse my/our quiet demeanor, age, sex, potential differing abilities or stature for submissiveness. When we set a goal, we figure out how to do it. Our unique and empathetic way of creation can be boundless.

    What does success mean to you?

    Success to me is being able to tell the stories I want to tell using whichever medium works best and getting those stories and films to the people who need to see them while being able to pay my bills.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    My creativity is pretty boundless. It doesn’t take me long to build a world around a single thought, look, person or event.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    I’ve set myself up with income streams so that when things are tough financially, I can still make movies, albeit smaller movies. If things are really tight, I can write novels, stories and scripts. It’s all about the art of creation, and there are different ways to achieve that.

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    My latest feature, Wait List: A Love-ish Story became a Spotlight Film on Prime Video, is now screening on Tubi and GooglePlay and is headed to the Youtube channel next. You can find out more about Wait List: A Love-ish Story, my features which are currently in post production; Couple of Guys and From the Embers, where my short films are screening as well as upcoming projects at www.IntentionFilmsandMedia.com under Explore Our Films.  Some of my older shorts are our youtube channel @debramarkowitz On Instagram, I post news about the projects as well as casting and crew notices and many, many pictures of my dog at @debramarkowitzfilms

    As far as collaborators, the most important thing we need are producers who are able to raise funds, or those who understand how to promote the projects, find locations or other services for little or no money – the bane of every independent filmmaker’s existence. 

  • @lizkhawiesta

    @lizkhawiesta

    “Sometimes the people who like to give brutal honesty are just looking to be brutal to someone, not to be honest.”

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I wanted to emulate the safety I found in the escapism of movies for other kids like me one day.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    That what we have to say isn’t valuable or marketable.

    What does success mean to you?

    My definition of success is getting the chance to make art in its most collaborative form with other artists I admire and respect. Getting to make films with the homies is the dream!

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    I wrote a stage play in 2018 that I’ve adapted many times into what is now a feature length film script.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    The community of other artists who I now have the privilege to call my friends.

  • @SheenaLambertWrites

    @SheenaLambertWrites

    “This is a job, not a hobby.”

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I was researching what I thought was going to be a novel based on Cosima Wagner’s incredible life and I kept seeing the scenes playing out dramatically. So I wrote it as a screenplay instead and it was almost immediately optioned.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    That we (as writers) are a hindrance to the film making, post script. I think many writers are excellent team players and can only benefit the production process, including minimising the budget, with their continued input.

    What does success mean to you?

    Financial success is very important. This is a job, not a hobby.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    That my very first feature film script was nominated for an IFTA (the equivalent of a BAFTA award).

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    The absolute need to write new stories. It’s like an addiction.

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    I think it is necessary to have multiple projects ongoing concurrently in this business. As a writer, you have to throw a lot of spaghetti at the wall. I currently have two comedy features being packaged in the States and I’m developing my own workplace comedy based on my first career as an engineer in the waste management business. It’s a goal of mine to get into an LA-based writersroom. I’ll get there!

  • @gitgofilms

    @gitgofilms

    “I’ve accomplished a lot with very little.”

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I wanted to be a screenwriter so I went to film school and fell in love with the process of making films.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    I think there’s a belief that because I chose independent production, somehow I’ve failed.

    What does success mean to you?

    Success is complicated because it is defined by the larger culture in rigid and specific terms so I’ve struggled to see myself as successful even though I’ve accomplished a lot with very little.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    Committing to and then finishing projects is such a crap shoot so when I put a film (or book) into the world, I’m proud that I did what I set out to do even if it’s imperfect.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    I have a stubborn streak and I operate outside the industry. I guess I always hope I’ll find my audience so even when something I’ve made only gets 50 views on YouTube, it tells me somebody out there found it and that’s enough.

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    One last thing to note. I wouldn’t have a body of work without all the people who helped me (with or without any pay) over the years, but especially my life and work partner, my long-time collaborator, Betsy Carson, an accomplished filmmaker in her own right.

    Come visit me at my website katekaminski.com if you want to know more about my work 🙂

     

  • @filmsbyemilymanthei

    @filmsbyemilymanthei

    “Collaboration is a self-charging battery for your soul, and competition with others is the fastest way to drain that creative and internal battery.”

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I made my first mystery movie at the age of 12, and have been writing and directing ever since. At first I think I just liked telling other people what to do because I’m naturally bossy, but as I’ve progressively become a better director, I’ve learned that the best parts of any project are the ideas of people I’m collaborating with! The super-power of filmmaking is choosing a team of actors and creative collaborators whose ideas will super-charge your own. And that makes me feel so alive! My favorite place to be is on set, co-creating something thought-provoking and collaborative and generous.

    What continues to draw me to filmmaking is the power of art to educate, inspire, and transform. Stories are a place where we encounter others and it becomes a part of us.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    I don’t have a clue, because honestly I don’t think “the industry” is thinking about me, or women like me.

    Often, I feel the pressure to perform self-aggrandisement, and I just can’t do it. I can’t pretend that I’m more important than I am, or more unique, or more worthy than others. I don’t feel like my desire or “talent” to create is worth more than my integrity and I don’t think power or “success” or fame is worth selling out to people whose values I don’t respect. A lot of people have told me “no” over the years, but I’ve said a lot of “no”s myself too. So maybe if the industry thought anything about me, it would think I’m a difficult woman? I don’t know. All I know is that my values are not performative, and I can’t perform importance either. All I can do is let my work speak for itself just like my life does.

    What does success mean to you?

    I think successes come in shades, and some colors are more important to me than others.

    Collaborative success is when people you’ve worked with want to work with you again (and when they also become your friends, that’s the cherry on top!); creative success is when someone in the audience feels seen because of what you’ve made; and when both of those things are in dynamic connection and they actually pull in enough money to make that creative and collaborative success financially sustainable, then that is what I would call “worldly success.”

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    I’ve made a feature documentary that is probably more personal than anything I’ve ever made before (which is why most people don’t know about it). It’s about struggling to find belonging in a foreign country, and how learning the power of collaborating instead of competing finally gave me that sense of belonging. Stay tuned for when I actually get brave enough to show it to the world.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    To be honest, it’s the power of collaboration. How when you have an idea, and other people add to it, and commit to it, and make it more than it was before, and you’re all creating something that reflects the philosophy and thoughts and dreams and fears and life lessons of a lot of different people all at once… there is nothing to me that’s more magical. It’s actually the experience of doing it that keeps me going.