Female Filmmakers Lab #WIF Podcast Series - Directors Edition

STORRY discusses how tired she became.

STORRY's music media video "UP" was screened at the Female Filmmakers Festival Berlin. She has faced personal challenges, which range from what she describes as recovering from an abusive ex, and working as a stripper. STORRY is on a mission to challenge stereotypes of the sex industry, and squash any notions that sex workers’ lives aren’t as nuanced as everyone else.

Born in Toronto as Dina Koutsouflakis, Storry spent her formative years in the Mississauga, Ontario before moving to Montreal where she studied vocal jazz at Vanier College. She returned to Toronto to take opera at a local university before deciding she found greater passion in writing original songs.

Guest: STORRY

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Female Filmmakers Festival, Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures) and Sandy Sukrisno (Sparkie Brown Productions)

Music: Song: You Don't Know Me (Nah Nah)

Artist/Performer: STORRY

Written and produced by STORRY & Yotam Baum

Adele Thomas, Kennedy Knopf and Jewell Sparks talk about the making of the film "SHE".  They discuss Adele's career and her realization that after working as a producer in the film industry for 10 years, she only worked with 3 women.. 

With ten years working as a freelance producer in film and photography production, Adele has gathered invaluable industry knowledge and juggles a healthy balance of creating and producing. Her passion for capturing fine art dance stills evolved to writing & directing her first motion storytelling piece called 'She'

Growing up on the rugged south west coast of the UK, Adele lived and breathed the Atlantic ocean. It sparked a love of landscape, light, and adventure. From a young age, she was drawn to documenting her surroundings and those within it.

Guests: Adele Thomas and Kennedy Knopf

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Female Filmmakers Lab Berlin, Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures)

Music: Song: You Don't Know Me (Nah Nah)

Artist/Performer: STORRY

Written and produced by STORRY & Yotam Baum

Adele discusses with Jewell who has been a big influence on her and her career.

With ten years working as a freelance producer in film and photography production, Adele has gathered invaluable industry knowledge and juggles a healthy balance of creating and producing. Her passion for capturing fine art dance stills evolved to writing & directing her first motion storytelling piece called 'She'

Growing up on the rugged south west coast of the UK, Adele lived and breathed the Atlantic ocean. It sparked a love of landscape, light, and adventure. From a young age, she was drawn to documenting her surroundings and those within it.

Guests: Adele Thomas and Kennedy Knopf

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Female Filmmakers Festival, Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures)

Adele discusses how she acted as a shadow artist for years.  She realizes she was crushing her own creative talents.

With ten years working as a freelance producer in film and photography production, Adele has gathered invaluable industry knowledge and juggles a healthy balance of creating and producing. Her passion for capturing fine art dance stills evolved to writing & directing her first motion storytelling piece called 'She'

Growing up on the rugged south west coast of the UK, Adele lived and breathed the Atlantic ocean. It sparked a love of landscape, light, and adventure. From a young age, she was drawn to documenting her surroundings and those within it.

Guests: Adele Thomas and Kennedy Knopf

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Female Filmmakers Festival, Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures)

Adele discusses with Jewell the basis of her film SHE.

With ten years working as a freelance producer in film and photography production, Adele has gathered invaluable industry knowledge and juggles a healthy balance of creating and producing. Her passion for capturing fine art dance stills evolved to writing & directing her first motion storytelling piece called 'She'

Growing up on the rugged south west coast of the UK, Adele lived and breathed the Atlantic ocean. It sparked a love of landscape, light, and adventure. From a young age, she was drawn to documenting her surroundings and those within it.

Guests: Adele Thomas and Kennedy Knopf

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Female Filmmakers Festival, Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures)

Jewell and Sema discuss the director's work, what inspires her and life moments that inspire her to create films. Her film "Unknown Ravens," is about Willie Heider, a 17-year-old German machine gunner, is drafted into the army in 1942. During his two years as a soldier, he never shoots a man. His rejection of armed conflict, and subsequent capture by Allied forces, leads him on a journey that would change the course of his life.

Sema’s filmmaking has always been driven by stories of personal testimony and social justice. The power of film to move hearts and give voice to hidden stories, both past and present, has inspired her recent practice within oral history documentary – unearthing and preserving local stories before they are forgotten.Sema is currently based in West Yorkshire. She holds an MA in Film & Television from Falmouth University, and a BA in Fine Art. When she’s not making films, she can often be found riding her bike around the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

Guest: Sema Basharan

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures)

Music: "White Boy" Written and Produced by Jewell Sparks, Produced by: Sandy Sukrisno (Sparkie Brown Productions)

Sema discusses what drives her. Making films telling stories about ordinary people. 

Her film "Unknown Ravens," is about Willie Heider, a 17-year-old German machine gunner, is drafted into the army in 1942. During his two years as a soldier, he never shoots a man. His rejection of armed conflict, and subsequent capture by Allied forces, leads him on a journey that would change the course of his life.

Sema’s filmmaking has always been driven by stories of personal testimony and social justice. The power of film to move hearts and give voice to hidden stories, both past and present, has inspired her recent practice within oral history documentary – unearthing and preserving local stories before they are forgotten.Sema is currently based in West Yorkshire. She holds an MA in Film & Television from Falmouth University, and a BA in Fine Art. When she’s not making films, she can often be found riding her bike around the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

Guest: Sema Basharan

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Female Filmmakers Festival, Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures)

Music: "White Boy" Written and Produced by Jewell Sparks, Produced by: Sandy Sukrisno (Sparkie Brown Productions)

Sema talks thinks it is best to just do things your own way. Why go against the grain?

Her film "Unknown Ravens," is about Willie Heider, a 17-year-old German machine gunner, is drafted into the army in 1942. During his two years as a soldier, he never shoots a man. His rejection of armed conflict, and subsequent capture by Allied forces, leads him on a journey that would change the course of his life.

Sema’s filmmaking has always been driven by stories of personal testimony and social justice. The power of film to move hearts and give voice to hidden stories, both past and present, has inspired her recent practice within oral history documentary – unearthing and preserving local stories before they are forgotten.Sema is currently based in West Yorkshire. She holds an MA in Film & Television from Falmouth University, and a BA in Fine Art. When she’s not making films, she can often be found riding her bike around the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

Guest: Sema Basharan

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Female Filmmakers Festival, Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures)

Music: "White Boy" Written and Produced by Jewell Sparks, Produced by: Sandy Sukrisno (Sparkie Brown Productions)

Sema discusses the pandemic and how it impacted her creativity. 

Her film "Unknown Ravens," is about Willie Heider, a 17-year-old German machine gunner, is drafted into the army in 1942. During his two years as a soldier, he never shoots a man. His rejection of armed conflict, and subsequent capture by Allied forces, leads him on a journey that would change the course of his life.

Sema’s filmmaking has always been driven by stories of personal testimony and social justice. The power of film to move hearts and give voice to hidden stories, both past and present, has inspired her recent practice within oral history documentary – unearthing and preserving local stories before they are forgotten.Sema is currently based in West Yorkshire. She holds an MA in Film & Television from Falmouth University, and a BA in Fine Art. When she’s not making films, she can often be found riding her bike around the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

Guest: Sema Basharan

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Female Filmmakers Festival, Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures)

Music: "White Boy" Written and Produced by Jewell Sparks, Produced by: Sandy Sukrisno (Sparkie Brown Productions)

Sema talks about being part of the Female Filmmakers Festival Berlin. 

Her film "Unknown Ravens," is about Willie Heider, a 17-year-old German machine gunner, is drafted into the army in 1942. During his two years as a soldier, he never shoots a man. His rejection of armed conflict, and subsequent capture by Allied forces, leads him on a journey that would change the course of his life.

Sema’s filmmaking has always been driven by stories of personal testimony and social justice. The power of film to move hearts and give voice to hidden stories, both past and present, has inspired her recent practice within oral history documentary – unearthing and preserving local stories before they are forgotten.Sema is currently based in West Yorkshire. She holds an MA in Film & Television from Falmouth University, and a BA in Fine Art. When she’s not making films, she can often be found riding her bike around the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

Guest: Sema Basharan

Created & Produced by: Jewell Sparks (Female Filmmakers Festival, Startup42 Media, BITHOUSE GROUP / UNITED17 Ventures)

Music:  "White Boy"  Written and Produced by Jewell Sparks,  Produced by: Sandy Sukrisno (Sparkie Brown Productions)