The Reel Women

Tag: Director

  • Catherine Black

    Catherine Black

    “Stop waiting for permission or to feel good enough. The encouragement you seek will not arrive, so build it within yourself. Find other women and communities that lift each other up.”

    Director, Actor, Writer, Producer & Intimacy Coordinator — @dubhcat

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

    I always loved films and would watch a movie over and over again as a child, a habit that I continued throughout my life. I wrote out entire screenplays (of the movies I was watching) in school when we were supposed to write in our journal. I filmed and photographed people constantly as I grew up. Humanity, their stories and the way in which a point of view can tell those stories through film has always captured my attention. I didn’t know that I could be a director and so I became an actor. The first four directors I worked with were women with a strong vision. I worked with Mary Harron on American Psycho who was calm, brilliant, inspired by everything I did, and laser focused on what she was doing. She also had a newborn baby on her hip at the age of 49. I was performing opposite huge stars, but they didn’t intimidate me. It was Mary Harron who I most admired that day. I wanted Mary Harron’s job one day. I just had a day player role, but when I was leaving after my 14 hour day, Mary Harron ran after me to thank me. What a class act. I shadowed a female director I had worked with as an actor at the National Film Board of Canada after that, but it would still take me another twelve years before I directed anything.

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

    I think a big misconception is that if a woman is calm and confident, but not loud and overbearingly confident, then she can’t do the job of a director. But if she’s too confident then she’s “bizarre” or “who does she think she is?!” It’s a fine balance to evoke the right flavor of confidence when a man doesn’t even have to have a body of work, like a woman does, and is still taken seriously. I’m not entirely sure what they think, but I can see that people respect my work and women like me, but I can also see that that doesn’t matter if no one is going to support it. The industry can determine that a woman is a talented filmmaker, yet that still doesn’t translate to actual public support, distribution or getting hired again. I think the industry thinks it’s supporting women because we talk about it now, but talk isn’t enough. A female director still faces the same systemic barriers as twenty years ago, but now the industry acts like they don’t while it pats itself on the back for noticing.

    What does success mean to you?

    Success to me is being able to keep making art with other great artists and working in the arts for a living.

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

    I’m most proud of myself for continuing to pursue my dreams despite adversity. I left home when I was 15 and didn’t have any emotional or financial support or guidance. I was truly alone and had injuries, surgeries and health challenges throughout my twenties, but still moved to the USA by myself to pursue my dreams. It was really difficult and I often felt like forces were working against me. Despite everything, I have managed to make the films that I wanted to make and I have continued to work in the arts with great artists, which makes me feel lucky and incredibly proud of myself for all that I’ve accomplished.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    There are a few answers to this. First, I wouldn’t know what else to do. I’m in too deep and I can’t turn back now. I also believe in my bones that when I’m directing I know what I’m doing. I feel in my power when I’m on set and I’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge from all of my experience, and that allows me to say with confidence that I know what I’m doing. I don’t feel that way in other areas of my life.

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

    Stop waiting for permission or to feel good enough. The encouragement you seek will not arrive, so build it within yourself. Find other women and communities that lift each other up.

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    You can find me at catherineblack.com and my films at directedbycatherineblack.com.

    I am a director-actor-intimacy coordinator and acting teacher in Los Angeles. I began working as an intimacy coordinator in 2024 after years of training, which I love and which combines all of my accumulated knowledge and interests. I love collaborating – it’s what I love most about working in film. I love working with all the HOD’s and how we all come together to create dynamic storytelling, bringing something special to life. I’m currently writing a feature film to direct and act in and always looking for intimacy coordinating opportunities and acting work (my first love).

  • 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.

  • Michelle Mary Schaefer

    Michelle Mary Schaefer

    “I will cry, and say ‘Annabelle, we did it’ and it will be proof that rejection does not have to be the end of the story.”

    Producer, Director, Writer & Actor, Founder of Annabelle Louise Productions — @annabellelouiseproductions

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

    Ever since I was a kid, I have always been passionate about storytelling. I grew up loving films, acting, and creating stories, but as I got older, I realized how rarely authentic stories and accurate representation are shown onscreen and stage especially as a Deaf person. Often times our stories are told inaccurate in a harmful ways or even hearing Actors playing a Deaf character which robs our opportunities, our story, and our voice. Instead of waiting for ableist system to finally come around to give me opportunities or for someone to decide whether I was “worthy” of playing a role simply because I am Deaf, I decided to create my own opportunities. My stories matters. My life experience matters. My voice matters. That is why I created and founded Annabelle Louise Productions.

    I have been in the industry for over 35 years and have written three tv series, and four feature films and am still working hard to get them all greenlit. My goal is not only to tell compelling, authentic stories, but also to create opportunities for people who have historically been underrepresented both in front of and behind the camera. There is so much talent, creativity, passion, and capability within underrepresented communities. The problem is not a lack of talent. The problem is a system that too often refuses to see it, invest in it, or provide equal opportunities.

    As a Deaf artist, I know firsthand what it means to navigate audism — the oppression, discrimination and rejection that Deaf people experience because they are Deaf. I have spend years navigating those barriers, but refuse to let them define what I can create. I’m not waiting for someone else to open the door. I’m building my own door and hoping it open for others. Authentic representation matters. Inclusion matters. Accessibility matters. And our stories deserve to be told by the people who have lived them. I create because I believe we are capable. We are talented, We all have stories to tell.

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

    You don’t know me until you meet me. I strongly believe that both the entertainment industry and society have often perceived me as “dumb,” “incapable,” or “less worthy” simply because I am Deaf — and because I am a woman. Where do these perception come from? They can begin with what the society is taught to believe about people who are different. They can come from medical professionals, parents, teachers, families, friends, employers, and institutions that unknowingly or knowingly reinforce assumptions about what a Deaf person can or cannot do.

    But let me be clear I’m Deaf not Dumb. I’m Deaf not Lazy. I’m Deaf not incapable. My accomplishments speak for themselves. I hold an AA Degree in Theatre, a BS in Corporate Communication, a MS in Education, as well we certification and professional training in Films/TV, the Business of Entertainment, Intimacy Coordination/Direction and Mental Health Coordination. I am an actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, director, producer, creative professional. And have produced 4 shorts, and three of them are award-winning films, and still continue to working hard to greenlit my features and shorts.

    And yet, despite my education, experience, skills, and decades of dedication to the entertainment industry, I still struggle to even get an interview for employment. Sometimes the barrier isn’t my qualification. The barrier is whether someone ever takes the time to see me beyond a label. Human resources system, Studios, Producers can filter people before they have the opportunity to speak for themselves. Automated hiring systems, email screening and AI-driven screening can reinforce barriers when resumes doesn’t fit a predetermined formula. And when assumptions about Deafness are already present, the door can close before I even have a chance to walk through it. That is incredibly frustrating.

    Because time and time again, I have discovered something: People are often wrong about me until they meet me. Once we actually sit down, communicate, exchange ideas and have a conversation, suddenly they discover that I am capable, educated, creative, passionated, talented, experienced, determined and full of ideas. So instead of judging me from a resume, checkbox, assumption, or an algorithm, I invite you to meet me. Let’s grab a coffee and chat. Let’s talk about storytelling, representation, accessibility, business, creating and opportunities. You might discover that the person you thought you knew from a label is nothing like the person sitting across from you.

    I’m not asking for sympathy. I’m asking for opportunity. I’m asking you to look beyond the assumptions. Because when you give people the opportunity to be seen, heard and valued for what they can actually contribute, everyone wins. So If you believe in authentic representation, inclusion, accessibility, and creating meaningful change — and yes, let’s grab the coffee and chat!

    What does success mean to you?

    What success mean to me, as success can mean so many different things in life. For me, a true success is much bigger than money, awards, credits or recognition. True success is when all human beings, including the Deaf and Disabled people are seen and treated equally. It is a world where accessibility exists everywhere without us constantly having to advocate, educate, explain, fight, or battle system that were never designed with us in mind. It is a world where Deaf and Disabled people have genuine opportunities in life and in their careers not because someone feels sorry for us but because our talent, skills, creativity, and humanity are recognized. It is a world where inclusion is real. Where accessibility is expected. Where safety matters. Where we don’t have to fight just to belong. That would be a huge success.

    Honestly, sometimes I wonder if I will ever see that world in my lifetime. Deaf and Disabled people have been fighting against discrimination and oppression for generation which the fight feels endless. But I still have hope. I hope through my authentic story telling, I can reach people. I hope my stories can make someone think differently. I hope they can be reminded people that behind label is a human being with dreams, feelings, talent, experience, and a story worth hearing. Maybe I cannot change the entire world. But if I can change one person’s perspective, open one door, create one opportunity, then my work matters.

    And right now, my personal definition of success is very specific. I want to see Bell’s Darkness greenlit. I’m actively seeking funding, partnership, and in-kind support to bring this powerful, authentic feature film to life. But this film means far more to me than simply making a movie. It is connected to a promise I made to my beloved Annabelle Louise Schaefer, the CEO of Annabelle Louise Productions, who has passed away. I am keeping that promise. I have carried this dream through years of oppression, rejection, discrimination, audism, and countless moments when society and the industry made me question whether there was a place or someone like me. I’m still here, still moving forward and the day will come when Bell’s Darkness has its red-carpet premiere. And when I stand there looking at the screen, surrounded by the people who helped make it possible, I know exactly what I will say. I will cry, and say “Annabelle, we did it” and it will be a proof that rejection does not have to be the end of the story. Sometimes, you have to become the person who creates the opportunity you were never given.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    A promise, a love, a legacy. It is my promise to my beloved late Annabelle Louise Schaefer, carried forward with the love we shared. Annabelle believed in me, in my dreams, and in the stories I wanted to tell. Her love became part of the foundation upon which I continue to create. She may no longer be here on this earthly presence but her love remains with me — in my heart, in my work, and in every step I take.

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

    I don’t have any advice that I wish I had heard, but am navigating this alone with the love that Annabelle has given me.

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    I’m always looking for dedicated passionate collaborators to come together to bring stories to life as well as roles to portray, as I’m a human just like you all as I do not want to be limited due to the assumptions of me. Anything is possible once we all open our mind, eyes and heart. Contact me, and let’s get creative as well as to make a difference together!

    Find out more at annabellelouiseproductions.com and michellemaryschaefer.com.

  • Monique Efta

    Monique Efta

    “You don’t need permission to begin, and you don’t have to have it all figured out to take the first step.”

    Producer, Director, Writer — @monique.efta

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

    Some of my earliest memories are of being completely fascinated by awards shows. The Oscars, the Emmys, the Grammys, I loved all of it. I honestly couldn’t tell you why. I just remember being excited by that world from a really young age.

    Being from such a small town in Minnesota, I never thought film or television was something I could actually be a part of. At the time, I thought acting was basically the only way into that world, and acting didn’t feel like a possibility for me. I didn’t even understand how many other people it took to tell those stories, so filmmaking wasn’t something I considered.

    That changed much later in my life.

    I grew up extremely religious and at some point realized I was questioning my sexuality. I found I was looking for myself in the world around me. I was looking at music, film and television, at other people’s stories, trying to find something that reflected back to me that the life I was beginning to imagine for myself was possible. That’s when I really began to understand why visibility matters.

    Later, after leaving an abusive relationship, I found myself at another crossroads, asking what I actually wanted my life to be. And one of the things that became very clear was that I wanted to be part of creating that visibility for someone else.

    I wanted to tell the kinds of stories that might help someone recognize themselves, feel less alone, or see a possibility for their life that they couldn’t see before.

    Looking back, it’s interesting that I was drawn to this world long before I knew there was a place for me in it. I just had to find my way there.

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

    I think the industry still has a very narrow idea of when a woman’s story is interesting and what an interesting woman is supposed to look like.

    I didn’t even start thinking about being a filmmaker until I was 36. I came out as a lesbian later in life. I’ve changed careers, questioned everything I once believed, started over more than once, left an abusive relationship, fallen in love again, and continued figuring out who I am along the way. My life didn’t become less interesting as I got older, it became more interesting.

    I think we still see so much emphasis on youth, especially when it comes to women, when there are incredibly rich stories happening in the middle of people’s lives. Women are starting over. They’re coming out. They’re leaving marriages or religions or careers. They’re discovering parts of themselves they didn’t have access to when they were younger.

    And I don’t think those stories are only valuable to the women living them. They’re human stories.

    I also think we underestimate how powerful it is to see someone on screen who doesn’t have everything figured out by 25. Sometimes the most meaningful representation isn’t seeing someone who already knows exactly who they are. It’s seeing someone realize they still have permission to become someone new.

    What does success mean to you?

    Success to me isn’t based on income, how many films I’ve made, or whether people know my name. It’s when someone tells me they identified with something in one of my films or something they’ve heard me talk about. If something I’ve created makes someone feel seen, less alone, or even a little more hopeful about their own life, that feels like success to me.

    We live in a capitalist society that tends to assign value to art, and to people, based on how much money they make or how much recognition they receive. I don’t believe those things are the same as worth. A film not making a lot of money doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. Maybe the filmmaker didn’t have the money or connections to get it in front of a larger audience. So much of what we traditionally call success can also be influenced by access and privilege, who you know, where you grew up, and what opportunities you were exposed to.

    I struggled for a long time to even call myself a filmmaker because I wasn’t making a lot of money doing it. I’ve done a tremendous amount of work for free, to learn, build my skills, meet people, and create opportunities for myself. Starting later in life makes that even more challenging, especially as a woman. I entered this industry at 36 knowing absolutely nothing about how it worked and without an established network. In an industry where so much can depend on relationships, and where those relationships can sometimes feel transactional, building from the ground up is incredibly difficult. I didn’t grow up around this world or have a built-in path into it. I’ve had to learn it, build those relationships, and find my place as I went.

    Eventually I realized: I’m a filmmaker because I make films. And anyone who has managed to make even one knows how damn hard that is.

    So for me, success is continuing to create, continuing to grow, and hopefully making something that reaches another human being. That’s worth more to me than whether or not everyone knows my name.

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

    I’m probably most proud of how many times I’ve been willing to start over.

    There are parts of my life people see now, the films, festivals, projects, the person I’ve become, but they don’t necessarily see how much rebuilding it took to get here.

    I’ve had to question things I believed for most of my life, figure out who I was outside of what I had been taught I was supposed to be, come out later in life, leave an abusive relationship, and rebuild again. At the same time, I was trying to find my place in an industry I knew absolutely nothing about when I entered it.

    There were a lot of moments when it would have been easier to choose what was familiar, even when familiar wasn’t making me happy.

    I’m proud that I kept choosing myself anyway.

    I’m proud that at an age when we’re sometimes made to feel like we’re supposed to have everything figured out, I was willing to admit that I didn’t, and start creating a life that actually felt like mine.

    People may see the things I’m creating now, but I think what I’m most proud of is the person I had to become in order to create them.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    Honestly, sometimes I don’t know. There have been plenty of moments when I’ve wanted to quit (every other week at first, now maybe like once a quarter lol). This industry can be exhausting. There’s rejection, comparison, financial pressure, and so much uncertainty. You can pour everything you have into something and have no idea if anyone will ever see it.

    But then something happens that reminds me why I started. Someone connects with something I’ve made, or tells me they saw themselves in a story I told, and suddenly all of it feels worth it again. I know what it feels like to spend years trying to become who you think you’re supposed to be instead of who you actually are. Storytelling gave me a way to find my own voice, and now I want to use that voice to help other people find theirs.

    If something I create can make someone feel seen, help them understand themselves a little better, or give them the strength and courage to live more authentically, that’s enough to keep me going. I want the stories I tell, and even my own story, to speak into people’s lives and remind them that it’s never too late to become yourself.

    Anything else you’d like to share?

    I’m always looking to connect and collaborate with other creatives. I really believe that some of the best ideas are born when different creative worlds collide, which is actually why my creative partner, Lea Roman, and I recently started Creative Exchange (C/X) through our production company, Hippie and a Nun Productions.

    C/X brings together filmmakers, musicians, writers, comedians, photographers, painters, and artists of every kind to meet, inspire one another, and hopefully spark collaborations that might never have happened otherwise. One of the things I’ve learned throughout my own journey is how important community is, especially in an industry that can sometimes feel incredibly transactional. We want to help create spaces where artists can genuinely connect, support each other, and make things together.

    Through Hippie and a Nun Productions, Lea and I are also continuing to develop and create projects that reflect the kinds of stories and voices we want to see more of in the world. We’re always open to meeting filmmakers, writers, actors, musicians, artists, and other creatives who are passionate about what they do and interested in building something together.

    You can find more about our work at hippieandanunproductions.com and follow Hippie and a Nun Productions on Instagram @hippieandanunproductions.

    You can also follow me personally on Instagram @monique.efta and TikTok @moniqueefta, where I share more of my own journey, the filmmaking process, what it’s like building a creative career later in life, and pieces of my story around identity, deconstruction, starting over, and becoming more fully yourself.

    A lot of my story has been about realizing that there isn’t an expiration date on becoming who you are or pursuing the life you want. If sharing that journey makes someone else feel a little more seen or a little less afraid to start, then that’s something I want to keep doing.

  • 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.

  • 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.