The Reel Women

Tag: Career: Mid-career

  • Jane Alizor

    Jane Alizor

    “I had the advice. I just didn’t listen. Don’t go into acting.”

    Actor — @sleekjane

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

    The interest to tell stories.

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

    They feel we are superficial, unintelligent etc.

    What does success mean to you?

    I think my definition of success has changed as I’ve gotten older. When I was younger, I thought success meant reaching the peak of my career being widely known, having a thriving business, and getting to that point where I could say, “Yes, I’ve made it.”

    But as I’ve grown, I’ve realized there really isn’t a final destination called success. There will always be another goal, another level you want to reach, or another thing you want to learn and accomplish.

    So today, I see success more as growth and fulfillment. It’s being able to look at where I am and know that I’m moving forward, building a life and career that I’m proud of, while still having the freedom to set new goals and evolve. For me, success is not necessarily arriving at a particular point; it’s knowing that I’m becoming the person I want to be and that the things I’m building have meaning to me.

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

    I think what I’m most proud of is my ability to keep going, even when things haven’t happened as quickly as I imagined they would.

    There have been so many points where I could have decided that maybe it’s time to give up on certain dreams, especially when you’re putting in the work and you don’t immediately see the results. But I’ve continued to reinvent myself, learn, try again and find different ways to move forward.

    I don’t think people always see that side of me. They see the things I post, the business, the acting, the books and everything else, but they don’t necessarily see all the uncertainty and the moments behind the scenes where I’ve had to encourage myself to keep going.

    So, honestly, I’m proud that I’ve never completely abandoned the person I want to become.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    To be very honest is the love of the craft. Cause omg!

    What is one piece of advice you wish you had heard earlier?

    I had the advice but I didn’t listen. Don’t go into acting.

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    You can find Jane on Instagram at @sleekjane and on YouTube at Janeslife, where she has some movies, including DIS-GRUNTLEMENT, Part Time Uncle, and Don’t Let Girls Go Alone. She also has a sitcom coming out soon, so watch out for that one. She’s open to telling more stories, so reach out to her.

  • Nicola Rose

    Nicola Rose

    “Do not ignore even the slightest red flag.”

    Producer, Director, Writer & Editor — @nicolarosedirects

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

    Why, a fuzzy pink puppet, of course, just like everybody! In another chapter of my life, I worked as a puppeteer. My first foray into film was making a web series (intended for adults) about a puppet. It had a budget of approximately zero dollars and was one of the most positive filmmaking experiences I ever had. Thank goodness I had a bunch of talented and capable crew friends who were willing to work for practically pennies to help me bring it to fruition. Without them, I’d have learned nothing.

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

    About women in general, that their voices, ideas and work are somehow lesser-than — a culture of toxicity that breeds not only poor treatment from men but poor treatment from women towards each other. All of our work is different and there is space for all of us.

    About women “like me” — well, that would be (for one thing) women who favor stories about teenagers and children growing up. 9 times out of 10 it’s assumed that we must love “kiddie content.” In fact — and I don’t know who else I’m speaking for here, but they’re out there — when we make films about kids and teens in this way, we’re telling stories about people at a time of raw, confusing, deeply uncomfortable transition that’s both joyful and often intensely sad. There’s nothing kiddie about it.

    What does success mean to you?

    Sticking the landing. I watch videos of gymnasts vaulting and figure skaters landing their jumps before I direct stuff. That’s the kind of mental fortitude I want to bring to what I do. If I can manage that, I’ve succeeded.

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

    Film-wise, my answer would be the little short films I never show anybody these days. Without those technically unsound beginnings, I would have never made anything better. They laid the foundation for everything afterwards.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    Coffee and rage.

    What is one piece of advice you wish you had heard earlier?

    Do not ignore even the slightest red flag.

    What do you hope to accomplish in your creative work this year?

    Turn a corner in my storytelling and help other filmmakers to tell theirs.

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    My two features Magnetosphere and Goodbye, Petrushka are streaming on several platforms including Tubi and Amazon Prime. Magnetosphere is about a 13-year-old girl who has synesthesia, a neurological condition where the senses are mixed (such that people might hear colors, see sound, etc).

    Goodbye, Petrushka is about an American college student’s misadventures in France, and although it wasn’t my intention to portray neurodivergence in that one, a number of neurodivergent and autistic viewers have written to say they see themselves in the character. So maybe both films are about neurodiversity. To me, they’re just about growing up.

  • Flóra Fecske

    Flóra Fecske

    “I am so much more than my work, and I have so much more within me to offer.”

    Cinematographer — @flora_fecske_hca

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

    I was drawn to nature photography from a very early age. My dad gave me my first analog camera, a Fuji Mju II, which I still use today. Looking back, I think that was my first way of observing the world.

    As a teenager, I fell in love with arthouse cinema, which led me to study Film Studies during my BA. A course on the French New Wave became a turning point for me. Watching those films, I realized that I wanted to become a filmmaker.

    Later, during a practical filmmaking course, I discovered that what excited me most was being behind the camera. That’s when I knew I wanted to become a cinematographer.

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

    I think people still underestimate women in leadership roles behind the camera. Too often, I feel I have to prove that I know what I’m doing before I’m trusted with the same authority that’s more readily given to others. It’s not about capability, it’s about trust. Trust in my knowledge, my instincts, and my ability to lead a crew and shoot a film.

    What does success mean to you?

    Success means finding my people, collaborators who share the same values and love for cinema. It means having the opportunity to make films that carry meaning and resonate with others. And, of course, it means that my work and my talent are recognised by the industry.

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

    I am most proud of the work no one has seen, the inner work. The battles I’ve had with myself, my ego, and my constant need to prove that I’m capable. Over the years, I’ve had to let go of the urge to seek validation and prove my worth through my work. Through this journey, I am deeply proud that I learned how to lead from my femininity rather than from my masculinity. That psychological growth has been the hardest and, at the same time, the most meaningful journey I’ve been on.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    When the industry makes it hard, I choose to view every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow, which helps me move on from difficult situations. To be honest, I have been close to giving up many times. However, I never had a Plan B. Whenever I find myself on the edge, something always happens that gives me the momentum to roll over and keep pushing forward. Something always comes along that keeps me moving forward, and that’s how I know I’m on the right track. I’ve learned to trust that what’s meant for us will come to us.

  • 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.