MediaMaker Spotlight

Host Tara Jabbari interviews actress and filmmaker Anna Campbell, who shares her journey from acting to directing and producing her first feature film, 'Nora.' They discuss the importance of community in filmmaking, the creative process, and the unique voice each artist brings to their work. Anna emphasizes the need for collaboration, defining one's uniqueness, and the challenges of distribution in the film industry. The conversation highlights the role of music in storytelling and the significance of art in exploring personal and communal questions.

Watch the Trailer

Nora Website 

Nora on Instagram

Anna’s imdb

Anna's Instagram

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

In this episode, host Sandra Abrams talks to Jamie Coughlin Silverman and Gabriel Silverman about the making of their feature documentary, THE SPIES AMONG US and how a German-American journalism program known as RIAS helped them meet Peter Keup, the subject of their film. The husband and wife duo, who run SideXSide Studios, filmed Keup’s personal journey and the actions he took after reading his secret police file created by the East German government. The secret police, or Stasi, had a data surveillance program on its citizens. From returning to the prison cell he was in, to the actual building where the program was run, Keup confronts high level officials who ran the program in rare one-on-one interviews. The film shows Keup, who was blindsided when he learns his brother was an informant for the secret police, piece his life back together and heal through the process. During their conversation, Jamie also shares what it was like to be a first time director and pregnant during filming.

Learn more about the doc and SideXSide Studios:

thespiesamongus.film

sidexsidestudios.com

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Jessica Steinrock, a pioneering intimacy coordinator, joins host Candice Bloch to discuss the value and particulars of intimacy coordination. Jessica shares her journey from theater to film, emphasizing the importance of consent, safety, and professionalism in intimate scenes. In their conversation, they explore the significance of intimacy coordination, the range of situations that require it, terminology, equipment, and common misconceptions surrounding the role. Intimacy coordination is more than just guidance for “spicy” sex scenes - it’s about ensuring safety and consent in all types of intimate moments on screen. From shower scenes to intense makeouts, these professionals support actors' well-being on sets and create a space where they can explore their craft without fear, thereby focusing on the artistry of their performances. 

Jessica is also the CEO of Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (or IDC), a SAG-AFTRA accredited training organization for intimacy coordinators. She shares how IDC is helping educate, train, and certify intimacy coordinators and discusses their resources and offerings, including a two-day virtual Summit on May 2-3, 2026.

Follow Jessica on Instagram @intimacy_coordinator_

Learn more about Jessica here: jessicasteinrock.com

Learn more about IDC here: www.idcprofessionals.com

And their upcoming 2026 Summit

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Host Tara Jabari interviews Grae Drake, a renowned journalist and film critic known for her vibrant personality and insightful commentary on the entertainment industry. Grae reflects on the challenges and joys of being a critic. She highlights the importance of empathy and understanding the filmmaking process. The conversation also touches on Grae's unique approach to interviews, where she balances humor and respect for the subject matter, ensuring that her interactions are engaging and memorable. 

Grae’s website: https://www.graedrake.com/

Connect with her: https://www.instagram.com/graedrake/

Read about the panel where Tara met Grae: https://thegameofnerds.com/2026/01/10/how-to-interview-like-a-pro-a-talk-by-josh-horowitz-guests/ 

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

In this episode, host Sandra Abrams talks to documentary filmmakers, Oscar winner Paul Wagner and his wife, Ellen Wagner, about their movie, Georgia O’Keeffe: the Brightness of Light. With actress Clarie Danes serving as the voice of O’Keeffe and Hugh Dancy doing the narration, the feature documentary uncovers new material about the life of the iconic artist known as the Mother of American Modernism. During the episode, the Wagners share how the project came to life and behind the scenes working with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Sante Fe. They explained the unique input from the O’Keeffe scholars who reviewed over 25,000 letters written between the artist and her husband, Alfred Stieglitz as a story telling tool. 

To learn more about this film visit -

Website: georgiaokeeffefilm.com  

Instagram: @georgiaokeeffefilm 

Discover more of Georgia O'Keeffe's Art: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum 

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Seasoned documentary producer Lisa Frank chats with host Candice Bloch about her healthcare-focused projects, namely her recent project American Delivery which focuses on maternal health and childbirth, showcasing diverse birthing experiences and the importance of equitable care. In their conversation, you’ll learn about Lisa’s ongoing collaboration with director Carolyn Jones and how creating documentaries around sensitive topics like end-of-life care and maternal health requires extensive pre-production work. The two discuss the challenges and intricacies of filming in healthcare settings, the importance of postpartum care, and the impact of care deserts on maternal health. Lisa shares insights on midwifery care, the role of fathers, and the need for advocacy in maternal health. They also touch on the influence of media in raising awareness about healthcare issues, advice for getting your mission-driven documentary seen by the right audiences, as well as the importance of nurses, and Lisa's upcoming project on global nurse migration.

Learn more about Lisa’s projects at: https://americannurseproject.com/ 

You can watch American Delivery on PBS at: https://www.pbs.org/show/american-delivery/

American Delivery was also included in Ms. Magazine’s list of favorite feminist documentaries of 2025.

Connect on Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/americannurseproject/
https://www.facebook.com/americannurseproject/
https://x.com/amnurseproject
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-frank-producer/

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

In this episode of Media Maker Spotlight, host Tara Jabbari interviews Shellée M. Haynesworth, an award-winning director and producer known for her work in amplifying marginalized voices through storytelling. They discuss Shellée's journey in the film industry, and her recent project, 'Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps,' available on PBS. The conversation also touches on the challenges of funding in filmmaking, the importance of collaboration, and the need for support networks for women in film.

See her company’s website: indigocreativeworks.com

Watch ‘Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps’:  https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/camille-a-brown-giant-steps/35962/ 

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with Eden Raskin Jenkins about her documentary, NOTES OF A CITIZEN: THE MARCUS RASKIN STORY. It is the story about her father’s career before she was born. Through family and notable figures, she learns about his work in the Kennedy White House, his role with the Pentagon Papers, the FBI raided his office, and why he was on Nixon’s Enemies List. The episode also highlights the role of music based on her father’s studies at Julliard and the support she received from Women in Film and Video. 

Learn more at marcusraskin.com

Instagram: @edenraskinjenkins

Instagram: @marcusraskinfilm

Linkedin

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Award-winning underwater cinematographer Roger Horrocks joins host Candice Bloch to discuss what it takes to capture the amazing underwater scenes we see in epic nature documentaries. Roger has worked on some of the most ambitious and acclaimed documentaries ever created, including My Octopus Teacher, Our Planet, Blue Planet 2, and Our Oceans. These projects have taken him all over the world, and earned numerous awards, including an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, The Critics Choice Award for Best Cinematography, and a BAFTA for Best Cinematography. Roger shares about his journey into the world of underwater filmmaking and the unique challenges and techniques involved in capturing the beauty of life below the surface. He emphasizes the importance of safety, the specialized equipment used, and the patience required during long shoots. Roger also reflects on the lessons learned from the underwater world and the significance of crew dynamics in filmmaking. You’ll come away with an even greater respect and appreciation of the skill and commitment it takes to bring audiences these incredible glimpses into our oceans and their inhabitants.

You can learn more about Roger Horrocks, his work, and his Ocean Footage Mastery mentorship program here:

www.rogerhorrocks.com

www.oceanfootagemastery.com

www.linkedin.com/in/rogerhorrocks

www.instagram.com/rogerhorrocks

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

In this episode, host Tara Jabbari interviews Sierra Urich, an interdisciplinary visual artist and filmmaker whose documentary, 'Joonam' explores themes of identity, displacement, and the immigrant experience. Sierra shares insights from her festival circuit journey, the significance of her family's story, and the challenges of filmmaking in an authoritarian context. The conversation highlights the universal nature of longing for home and the importance of cultural narratives in connecting diverse audiences. Sierra emphasizes the power of persistence in the independent film distribution process and the value of networking at film festivals.

Learn more at: www.joonamfilm.com

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!