Best in Fest

Meet the unsung hero of the Hollywood hustle: Xaque Gruber, the assistant who went from scheduling star-studded brunches to writing the screenplay everyone is buzzing about. In this episode, we spill the tea (and probably a few too many cappuccinos) on how navigating the land of demanding divas, impossible deadlines, and snack-fetching missions led to a script, a wild tale of scripts, stars, and the sweet revenge of a screenplay gone right!

Lina Suh grew up in Seoul, Korea, the American Midwest, and New York. She received an MFA from the University of Southern California in film production, and previously a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in Dramatic Writing. Lina produced award-winning fiction shorts in New York and Los Angeles, and directed a short humanitarian documentary FLOW ON THROUGH in Cambodia that was in a World Bank-issued “Water and Sanitation” guide distributed to NGOs in developing countries. Lina has taught screenwriting at ESRA (Ecole Superieure de Realisation Audiovisuelle) a French film school satellite in NYC. She directed short films SO F*CKING HAPPY FOR YOU and GOOD FACE (now in development as a one-hour drama series) as well as music videos for Los Angeles artists. Lina is in development to write and direct film and TV projects with an eye toward co-productions with Korea. Lina is also passionate about empowerment through education, and has volunteer tutored regularly. She was the story editor on DR. BRAIN, Apple TV+'s first Korean language series. Lina recently completed her first feature film MEETING YOU, MEETING ME as a writer/director.

Join us as we celebrate the standout winners of the 2024 LaFemme Film Festival! In this episode, we’ll dive into the inspiring stories and creative journeys behind the winning films that took center stage at this year’s festival. From groundbreaking narratives and innovative directing to powerful performances and meaningful themes, discover what made these films shine. We’ll also hear from some of the filmmakers themselves, sharing insights into their processes, challenges, and triumphs. Whether you’re a film enthusiast, an aspiring filmmaker, or simply love a great story, this episode is your front-row seat to the best of LaFemme 2024!

Danielle Beverly's latest documentary is Qatar Stars. It is touring the festival circuit, including a screening at the 2024 LA Femme International Film Festival.

Beverly began her career at Chicago’s PBS affiliate and has directed and produced content for PBS and cable since 1999. Beverly was field producer for the longitudinal documentary REBIRTH over its ten-year production (Sundance World Premiere 2011; Showtime broadcast; George Foster Peabody Award; screened at The White House, US Department of State film tour; permanent exhibition at National September 11 Memorial & Museum).

Beverly’s first documentary feature Learning to Swallow (2005) followed a charismatic artist with bipolar disorder as she struggles to rebuild her life after a suicide attempt destroys her digestive system. The film premiered in competition at Silverdocs, screened internationally, and traveled to rural communities on Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. In March 2015 it was broadcast on America ReFramed, with an encore national broadcast in July 2017.

Beverly’s filmmaking, photography, and digital media work have received funding from The Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media, New York State Council for the Arts (NYSCA), The Puffin Foundation, The Chicago Cultural and Tourism Fund, The Center for Peacemaking, and The Diederich College Initiative on Communication Ethics, Values and Social Justice. Beverly has received a Flaherty Fellowship, a Mary L. Nohl Artists Fellowship for Established Artists, and a BAVC National MediaMaker Fellowship.

Jane is a storyteller. Through her company, FilmMcQueen, she has brought numerous shorts and 3 feature films to life, winning 18 awards and another 8 nominations by envisioning strong characters in visceral environments. She has worked in film with actors such as Lukas Haas, David Arquette, Candis Cayne, Wilson Cruz, Theo Rossi and Necar Zadigan, as well as Emmy-winning sound wizard, Andy D'Addario ("Mozart in the Jungle"), Emmy award-winning DP Per Larsson ("The Amazing Race") and musician Curt Smith (co-founder of Tears for Fears). Jane focuses on character exploration and tells stories that move audiences to laughter and tears by revealing shades of gray beneath a surface of black or white. In 2017 she ventured into VR with a narrative horror short based on her feature "Don't Come Over", co-written with Guinevere Turner ("American Psycho" and the upcoming "Manson Girls") and onto the small screen with a web-series incarnation of her "Crazy Bitches" franchise.

7 years ago, Jason co-founded Spectrum Laboratory (aka Spec Labs), along with Garth Herberg, and what an amazing wild ride it’s been! Spectrum Laboratory was founded in 2015 with the idea of creating original works of film, music, and animation with autistic and neurodivergent artists looking to gain experience and an education of what it would be like to work in the entertainment industry. Jason and Garth started Spec Labs with the idea of creating professional content with their autistic and neurodivergent artists that they could use as a calling card to get them work in the industry. Since Spec Labs launched in 2015, we’ve had many of our talent/ students go on to working and having success in the entertainment industry. Such as landing recurring roles on tv shows, starring in commercials and films, and auditioning for many types of roles, and not only “autistic” roles! We also launched Spec Lab Records and have over 100 songs released online, and numerous albums. Our Music department also has composed music for Sesame Street, Autism Live, The Special Olympics, and more! We are expanding and growing, recently launching a new Voice Over Acting department head by the incredible, Cathy McAuley, a voice acting legend in the business. She’s educating our VO artists on how to record in the studio, as well as create their own demo reels and record at home. We’ve landed our Voice Over talent numerous paying jobs for our VO talent! 

Cathy’s career as a professional actor span over 3 decades. Her strong comedic ability paired with one of the quickest wits has kept her gainfully employed in the entertainment industry. McAuley considers herself a journeyman actor as she has been able to successfully weave theater, television, film, and voiceover into her ever evolving body of work. McAuley also holds an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Hawaii. Cathy is blessed with the nicest guy on the planet she calls her husband Kenny and their only Angel of a daughter Remington.

Cathy has appeared in over 150 television commercials. She earned a Clio Award for the Phil Donahue vs Oprah Campaign, as well as starring in Chuck Blore's Emmy Award Washington Weather Commercial. She has worked with some of the biggest directors in the business (who yes, also do direct commercials). McAuley's voice has been featured on radio and television in the following spots for: FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC Television Promos, Nick Jr, E.! Honda, Chevy along with every fast-food restaurant, insurances, and phone carriers, just to name a few.

As President of the Orange County Asperger's Support Group, Judy is driving programming to help individuals and families dealing with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's improve their quality of life. In this role, Judy has uniquely developed the use of Toastmasters to help those with ASD improve communication and enhance social interaction. am a co-chair on the Thompson Policy Institute OC Transition Initiative where I am part of the business outreach group. I am currently focused on expanding employment opportunities for neurodiverse individuals.

Judy is a retired high-tech marketing executive, with a “get it done” leadership style that inspires teams, collaborates across cross-functional organizations and motivates a sales force. Develops product and marketing strategies, establish corporate positioning, programs and campaigns integrating impactful collateral to drive market share growth. Computer Science and business education from leading universities complemented by nearly thirty years with both successful start-ups and industry leading corporations. 

Three years ago, Cynthia discovered her deep passion for storytelling in the form of screenwriting, and ever since, her stories have focused on empowering and celebrating the human experience and spirit. Cynthia weaves magic into her stories and characters by using her rich, familial heritage, ancestral faith, and generational resilience.

In 2021, Cynthia made her directorial debut with the award-winning film, "Dukkha," a film based on her journey to sobriety that she created as a mentee in the Women of Color Filmmakers Director's Lab. Six months later, Cynthia wrote and directed another award-winning film, "Bilongo," an Afro-Cuban folk story that pays homage to her ancestral roots. Throughout 2022, Cynthia worked on over a dozen sets. She also wrote and directed, "The Bible Thumper and The Bruja," a comedy that ignites the imagination and revels in the power and the vulnerabilities of humankind. Her latest film, "Legend of El Cucuy," was developed as part of the LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship. Cynthia was also chosen as a mentee with both Unlock Her Potential and #Startwith8 . She is in preproduction to co-direct her first feature film, a comedy, "We're Not Married," set to begin filming in October.

The industry has undergone a major shift in Hollywood and the job of Executive Producer and Showrunner is not what it once was.  Fortunately, Leslie digs deep with Christian Jean to discuss the state of the industry.