Give Her a Microphone

Jane Owen is an award winning publicist and founder of the international public relations and live event firm JOPR. Her company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with satellite offices in New York and London.

Jane and her staff represent a variety of clients including celebrities, TV personalities, influencers, musicians, venues, film companies, restaurants, fashion designers, brands, governments, new technology of all sorts and charities. Jane chats with Shirley and Karen about the publicity business in Hollywood, why she loves her job and what she's learned along the way.

By day, Shirley Jackson is an Executive In Charge of Production for a large television production company in Los Angeles, California. You all know her here as the co-host of this podcast! Shirley is in the hot seat this week, chatting with co-host, Karen Somers about her rise through the ranks in radio and television. Her persistence and passion to work her way up the Hollywood food chain, the 150 plus hours of content she has helped to create, has landed her a plum position in production leadership. Shirley is the queen of negotiation and strategic management. Tune in as she shares her signature wisdom, humor and inspiration.

Nasreen Alkhateeb is an award-winning cinematographer whose work amplifies under-represented voices. By illuminating racial injustice, marginalized youth, melting ice, women peacekeepers, and the construction of the largest telescope NASA has ever attempted, Nasreen thrives as a leader on diverse storytelling projects. Nasreen has a plethora of lenses she sees the world through. Her ability to motivate audiences is a direct result of being multi-heritage, BiPOC, 1st generation American, and making work through a disabled lens.

In 2020, Nasreen was chosen as the Lead Cinematographer for Kamala Harris' successful Vice Presidential campaign, and Oprah's series Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.

Pam Williams is an extraordinary film and television producer with films like "The Butler", live telecasts like the Oscars and most recently, Golden Globe winning and Academy nominated (best actress) The US vs Billy Holiday. Pam partners with some of the best in the business including the late, great Laura Ziskin, Director- Lee Daniels and all star talent like George Clooney, Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey. Pam seems to have an uncanny ability to recognize and dive into stories that shift social expectation and bias.

This show is a pre-Covid interview we did with the amazing Adrienne "Ay-Ay" Ford-Wesley who is much sought after for her live audio mixing skills. It's bitter sweet listening to her story with concerts and live shows of all sorts going dark for the past year. Adrienne is a wealth of audio insider intel and wisdom and once you listen you'll be hooked. She can be reached through her company : https://www.audio-ayay.com

Jill Bogdanowicz is one of the most sought after colorists in Hollywood. Jill works with directors and DP's to define the look and feel of a film through carefully designed color palettes. Her credits go for pages on IMDb so here's a few: her work has been featured on iconic, award winning films like "Joker" , "John Wick" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel". Series work includes "The Umbrella Academy", "The Haunting Of Hill House" and "Bloodline". Jill's background as a painter, her focused creativity paired with her calm, honest and quietly assertive approach has led to long collaborative partnerships with some of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood.

J.J. Caruth is the President of Domestic Marketing and Distribution at Highland Film Group in Los Angeles. Her expertise has been crafted during her 15+ years in entertainment launching over 360 campaigns. Her specialties include: domestic and international brand management, digital marketing, P&L management, product and brand launches, acquisitions and integrated marketing - all of which have allowed her films to shine and dominate the market place. We are so please to have J.J. join us and share her hard won intel.

Mishawn Nolan - entertainment attorney, partner and owner of Los Angeles based practice, Nolan Heimann - has been putting her best entrepreneurial alchemist techniques into play not only for her own practice but primarily for her entertainment based clients that are having to do pivots during the pandemic. As the industry shuttered last March, Mishawn and her team kicked into high gear - what they learned along the way is testimony to the grit and creativity necessary to surviving and thriving. Join us for all the juicy details!

Mishawn Nolan is bringing her extensive knowledge and insight to Give Her A Microphone as the founding partner and senior attorney in Nolan Heimann. She is passionate about helping innovators and entrepreneurs strategically leverage their assets. Having been a dancer and choreographer before becoming an attorney, she has a particular affinity for creatives. Even then her leadership and problem solving skills were evident and she was called upon to produce live events. Her ability to understand the needs and concerns of both the creative and business sides of the equation has led to effective deals being struck and projects moving forward. Mishawn believes that makers need the freedom to do what they do best and should have a strong, dynamic team to support their growth. She excels at leading that team. Mishawn has extensive experience working with the complex blending of corporate, entertainment, technology, and intellectual property challenges that exist where Hollywood, Madison Avenue and Silicon Valley converge.

Lisa O'Brien, one of Hollywood leading Kid's TV Executive and Creative Consultant, joins us for a mid-Covid follow up to her original pre-Covid interview. She speaks with Shirley and Karen about the challenges she has faced in the Pandemic Pause, the adjustments she has experienced in her career and the insights she has gained with the first time out she's had in almost twenty years of back to back production schedules and deliveries.