6th Annual Hollywood Game Changers: A Conversation with the Women Behind Popular Film and TV Projects

6th Annual Hollywood Game Changers: A Conversation with the Women Behind Popular
Film and TV Projects
By Sarah Kujacznski – Skewed and Reviewed.

This panel was part of Impact24’s superblock series of three panels and this one featured
Allison Norlian (Director of Meandering Scars), co-composer & music producer Angelica
Camacho (Wylde Pak), Composer Erica Procunier (Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go),
creative director Grace Davis (Wondla), makeup artist & designer Katie Machaiek (The
Rehearsal), film and TV makeup artist Scotia Boyd (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), and
cultural consultant Sue Obeidi (Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)). The panel was
moderated by actor, director, and co-founder of Not Your Daddy’s Films, Kourtney Bell.

The panel was full of very helpful tips and advice for women who work with film and tv projects.

To illustrate this, the panel started with the question, “How have you felt you belong”?

Allison – She was a journalist first and decided she wanted to try her hand at making films
and just did it! She knew, after interaction with fans, that she was meant to do this.

Angela – She felt belonging when people really started to listen to he r ideas. Also that
diversity was brought into the process.

Erica – The “little moments with fans” and seeing kids play her works on the piano.

Grace – Seeing her name in the credits on Apple+ is what did it for her!

Katie – Being on panels instead of attending! And when someone cosplays as her Scotia – During her first horror B movie and the camaraderie on set.

Sue – When round tables included people taking notes, saying thank you, and wanting to
talk. Also, seeing her name associated with the Council.

While these are specific to each panelist, they all said that becoming seen/visibility and using your name and ideas to connect with the community was a huge part of feeling like
they belong.

Question: What is Creative Authorship and how does it affect women in the industry?
• Creative authorship is many things, among them, not having ideas but advocating
and executing them, making space while creating for all voices.
• Being a woman doesn’t mean something specific. For example, music has no
gender. It is important to just be in the space and not acting in a gendered way.
• Being a woman in the industry and advocating is important. In the “Rehearsal” there
are women in every department.
• Be there, be a leader, show up, and show strength. Be a boss.
Question: How does one advocate for Diversity and Leadership
• Start with base levels and create projects with that focus.
• Create the stories, bring in the community to the space and consult.
• Authenticate story tellers who have lived those experiences.
• Hire people to write and be in the room.
Question: What does great creative leadership look like?
• Let creatives be creative.
• Align your vision but let them do what you can’t.
• Be brave, maintain creative integrity. Allow for people to stand up and say it’s not the
best it can be yet.
The panel rounded out with one last question: For the next generation of woman, what
advice can you give?
• Don’t ask for permission, just do it!
• Know what you want and go for it!
• Tell the stories you believe in.
• Do great work consistently.
• Network across as well as up.
• Keep standards high and lock in.
• You’re in the business of building trust in you.
• Find mentors.
• Don’t be afraid to start over, staring later in life is not a bad thing.
• Be relentless, you’re never too old and the career you may have might give you skills
for those other things.

• Don’t have an ego. Don’t see those around you as competition. Women shouldn’t be competing, get more women’s stories told and get women in the storytelling.

• A little self-doubt is ok. Use it as a propeller to move forward.
• Surround yourself with wonderful people.

• Is there some other industry you love? If so, go for it 100%!
• Never be afraid to redefine yourself.