Our special guest today is Julie Rubio. Julie is an award-winning film producer, writer, director, and actor. As President of Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area and founder of East Meets West Productions, she produced the acclaimed “East Side Sushi,” which has enjoyed both domestic and international distribution via the Samuel Goldwyn Company, Sony Home Pictures, HBO North America, and Netflix. Rubio is the writer, director, and producer of the comedy “Too Perfect,” which found its audience domestically on Amazon Prime and through Osiris Entertainment. She was also the writer, director, and producer for "Six Sex Scenes and a Murder," available on Netflix and Apple TV. Other cinematic ventures Rubio has helmed include "Soledad is Gone Forever" for Haiku Films, "Oakland B Mine," the comedic "Del Cielo," "Everything is Temporary," and "Impression." Her films have graced numerous domestic and international festivals. Rubio’s latest work, "The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival," marks her debut as a feature documentary writer, director, and producer. For years, the enigmatic allure of Tamara de Lempicka's paintings and life story have captivated Rubio and we are thrilled to discuss the film with her today.

Join Carole Dean and Kelly Mason and learn how to:

Break Into Cinematography

Transition from Cinematographer to Producing Cinematographer and

Become a Film Consultant & Create Impact Through Filmmaking

Kelly Mason

(Mom |Entrepreneur | Healer | Filmmaker | Cinematographer)

Kelly Mason’s priority is to make a lasting difference in the world for generations to come. A mother, entrepreneur, filmmaker, and intuitive healer, Kelly’s mission spans storytelling, advocacy, and transformational work. As an independent producer, her focus lies in creating stories that champion social justice, environmental protection, and well-being awareness. 

Kelly shattered barriers in 1997 as the first female cinematographer in IATSE (ICG 669). Over her 30-year career, she has collaborated with Tier 1 crews, A-list celebrities, and world-class directors for major companies like Netflix, Warner Bros., Disney, Apple TV, and the Berlanti Group. Her cinematography expertise extends across film, digital, green screens, LED environments, and virtual production alongside cutting-edge VFX teams. Notable projects include The Night Agent (Netflix) and Travelers (Netflix). She has worked with legendary producers such as Greg Berlanti, Shawn Ryan, and Seth Gordon, and Academy Award-winning filmmakers Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. 

Her career as an "A" camera operator has been shaped by mentorship from cinematographic masters like Vilmos Zsigmond ASC and Dante Spinatti ASC, contributing to over 200 productions. Kelly’s cinematic vision has also earned her acclaim in the impact filmmaking space, with 18 laurels for her feature documentary Pave the Road, including Best Documentary Feature at the 2021 Chelsea Film Festival.

In 2024, Kelly earned the Altitude Award recognizing her achievements in the industry through Women in Media. She is an Executive Producer and the Cinematographer for the docu-series The Frequency of Miracles, currently in post-production. She is also collaborating with Academy Award-winning producer Mimi Polk Gitlin (Thelma and Louise, The Breadwinner) to adapt Pave the Road into a narrative feature film.

Through the power of impact filmmaking, Kelly influenced environmental legislation in Costa Rica to mandate the use of plastic waste in road construction, triggering an investigation that led to incarcerating 72 corrupt government officials.  Beyond filmmaking, Kelly established the Trinidad and Tobago Film Commission, and created impactful educational programs for the American and Canadian Societies of Cinematographers. Her curated motion pictures with Getty Images has generated over seven figures in royalties and continues to enrich productions worldwide.

Through her extensive work in film, healing, and environmental advocacy, Kelly Mason exemplifies the power of storytelling to inspire, transform, and create a better future.