PODCAST · business
A BRIGHTER LENS
by by Jennifer Zahlit and Larkin Bell
A BRIGHTER LENS is a podcast, hosted by Jennifer Zahlit and Larkin Bell, that aims to spotlight women, trans, and non-binary folx in film at different stages in their careers through thoughtful discussion. By holding a space for underrepresented creators to share their knowledge, experience, and creative inspiration, we hope to make the process of filmmaking more accessible and cultivate a community dedicated to collaboration and support in the film industry.
Episodes
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The Creative Team Behind MY NAME IS PAULI MURRAY
We sat down with directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West and producer Talleah Bridges McMahon to chat about their new film MY NAME IS PAULI MURRAY, which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. The film takes an in-depth look at the life and ideas of Pauli Murray, a non-binary Black lawyer,...
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Emily Best and Seed&Spark
Emily Best is the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, a platform that makes entertainment more diverse, inclusive, connected and essential. Over the last 8 years, Seed&Spark has developed an unprecedented pipeline of unique voices and award-winning content through its education and crowdfunding...
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ARIEL MARX & Rebel Hearts
This week, we chat with Ariel Marx, composer of the documentary Rebel Hearts, which premiered at Sundance this year. An eclectic composer and multi-instrumentalist, Ariel draws from many genres and often combines orchestral and rare instruments with electronics to create unique worlds of sound.…
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MEI MAKINO & Inbetween Girl
This week, we chat with writer/director Mei Makino, about her feature film debut Inbetween Girl, which just had its premiere at SXSW! For three years, Mei taught filmmaking to youth in the Austin area which inspired her to tell honest stories about kids and teens. She’s written and directed short...
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WHITNEY SKAUGE & The Beauty President
This week, we chat with Whitney Skauge, director of the short documentary The Beauty President, premiering at SXSW this week. The Beauty President asks the question, “If a bad actor can be president, why not a good drag queen?” In 1992, Joan Jett Blakk made a historic bid for the White House as…
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BRENDA WACHEL & Script Supervision
Brenda Wachel is a veteran script supervisor. She has worked closely as a script supervisor for directors and producers including Joe Johnston, Paul Haggis, Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, John Dahl, Gary Sinise, on projects such as Jurassic Park 3, Hidalgo, October Sky, and The Next 3 Days....
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JESSIE BARR & Sophie Jones
This week, we check in with Jessie Barr, director of SOPHIE JONES. We talked to Jessie at the beginning of the pandemic and wanted to chat with her again now that her film is out in the world. The film tells the story of a teen who [ushes the boundaries of her newfound sexual awakening as she…
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AMY WILLIAMS & The Wilds
This week we chat with Emmy award-winning production designer, Amy Williams. Amy has worked on over 40 films, including a number of Sundance selections, in addition to several TV shows. She won an Emmy for her scenic design work on A Crime To Remember, and some of her other work includes Master…
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ASHLEY O'SHAY and MORGAN JOHNSON & Unapologetic
This week, we chat with director Ashley O’Shay and producer Morgan Johnson about their film Unapologetic. They talked about collaborating, their love for Chicago, and why this doc following two fierce abolitionist leaders coming of age within the Movement for Black Lives in Chicago is a timely...
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GILLIAN WALLACE HORVAT & I Blame Society
This week, we chat with Gillian Wallace Horvat, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, writer, and film programmer about her new film I BLAME SOCIETY. I BLAME SOCIETY is Gillian’s feature film debut; previous projects include KISS KISS FINGERBANG, which was awarded the Jury Prize in the Midnight Shorts...
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BEANDREA JULY & Sundance 2021 Roundup
It's a Sundance tradition! We welcome back friend of the pod + film critic Beandrea July to chat with us about her Sundance Film Festival 2021 virtual experience and her favorite films. Beandrea July (@beandreadotcom) is a freelance film critic based in Los Angeles who works in print and audio.…
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AMEY RENÉ & Marvelous and the Black Hole
Happy (virtual) Sundance Film Festival! We're warching films from our living rooms all week and bringing you interviews with Sundance filmmakers. We chatted with a favorite past guest, Amey René, casting director of MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE, directed by Kate Tsang. She tells us about the...
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SUNDANCE: Julia Baylis, Deanna Gibson & WIGGLE ROOM
Happy (virtual) Sundance Film Festival! We're watching films from our living rooms all week and bringing you interviews with Sundance filmmakers. First up, we chatted with co-director/co-writer Julia Baylis, and actor Deanna Gibson, about their short film WIGGLE ROOM. WIGGLE ROOM synopsis:...
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CHANTAL POTTER & Balloon Man
This week we sat down with award-winning director, producer, and writer, Chantal Potter, and talked with her about her directorial debut, Balloon Man. Chantal founded Made For T.V. Productions in 2008 and she was previously known for BET Network's award-winning docu-series, The Defining Moment &...
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LAURA CRISTINA ORTIZ & Synchronic
This week, we chat with costume designer Laura Cristina Ortiz. She chats with us about discovering her love for costuming (it’s in her blood!) and her passion for ethical fashion. She talks with us about her recent project, the film Synchronic which can be found on VOD, and the fascinating design...
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SUJATA DAY & Definition Please
With her infectious personality and unique sense of humor, Pittsburgh native Sujata Day has established herself as a performer, creator, writer, and director. She regularly performs in Upright Citizen Brigade's hit Asian AF show. Sujata is known for her starring role as CeCe in Issa Rae’s The...
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SADE NDYA & The Red Futon
This week, we chat with Sade Ndya, an LA based Cinematographer, who also specializes in Fine Art Photography and Community Organizing. Through her creative work, Sade is actively dedicated to providing safe creative spaces for fellow BIPOC to carry out their personal visions and endeavors. At…
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TARA MIELE & Wander Darkly
This week, we have a conversation with writer/director Tara Miele about her recent feature film, Wander Darkly, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Tara is well known for the viral video 'Meet a Muslim' which she created to combat Islamophobia. The video has been featured on...
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KENNA WRIGHT & Palms
This week, we bring you a delightful conversation with Kenna Wright. Kenna is an actress, dancer, and choreographer based in Los Angeles. She has appeared on TV shows such as Veronica Mars, Grown-Ish, The Affair, Fresh Off The Boat and multiple national commercials. Kenna recently directed, wrote...
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TRACY DISHMAN & Black Bear
Special Episode! We're so excited to re-air this conversation (and one of our last in-person interviews!?) with film production designer, Tracy Dishman. We chatted with Tracy at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival about the film Black Bear, which she designed for. Black Bear was directed by Lawrence...
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HILLARY SPERA - The Craft: Legacy & Run
Hillary Spera is a cinematographer based in Brooklyn, NY. We’ve coinicidentally watched a handful of Hillary’s films during the pandemic, so we were delighted to chat with her about a couple of her most recent ones! We specifically talked with her about her work on the Blumhouse/Sony Pictures...
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KELLY WALKER & My Fiona
Kelly Walker is an Australian multi-hyphenate award winning filmmaker. She's had multiple short films in the festival circuit, most notably The Brownlist, directed and edited by Walker, which received the Jury Award for Best Short Film at Bentonville Film Festival. We chatted with Kelly about her...
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ANNA KERRIGAN & Cowboys
Anna Kerrigan is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker with a background in independent film, digital storytelling and theater. HOT SEAT, which she wrote and directed, premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. She also directed THE CHANCES, a digital series written by and starring two deaf actors,...
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KYRA JONES & The Right Swipe
Kyra Jones is a Black queer screenwriter, actor, and filmmaker based in Chicago. She holds a degree in Theatre and Gender Studies from Northwestern University. In 2019, Kyra co-wrote, executive produced, and starred in the award-winning web series,The Right Swipe (OTV), which was an official...
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JESSIE KAHNWEILER & He's The One
This week, we chat with Jessie Kahnweiler about her short film He’s The One. Jessie first became known for writing, directing and starring in a short film called ‘Meet My Rapist’ that imagines Jessie bumping into her rapist at the farmer’s market, and then dating him. Jessie then wrote, directed,...
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KIM TRAN & Zoe and Hanh
This week, we chat with Kim Tran, a first-gen Vietnamese writer, director and comedian who once rode her bike from Texas to Alaska. Her films have been official selections of SXSW, Palm Springs ShortFest and Short of the Week. Her film Zoe and Hanh recently earned a Vimeo Staff Pick. She received...
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BRIDGET MOLONEY & Blocks
For this week's episode, we talked with Bridget Moloney, back at the beginning of quarantine! Bridget is an award-winning writer and director working in television, film and commercials. We talk to her about the short film, BLOCKS, that she wrote and directed. She is also the writer/director of…
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SATINDER KAUR & Blood and Glory
For this week’s episode, we talked with writer, director, and U.S. Army veteran, Satinder Kaur about her short film Blood and Glory. Blood and Glory premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and won the Grand Prize in Women in Media CAMERAderie initiative. Kaur is a fellow of the Writers Guild...
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KEYLEE KOOP-SUDDUTH & Backsliders
Keylee Koop-Sudduth is a Texas born and raised actor, writer, producer, and director now living in Los Angeles. In 2013, she co-founded the award-winning independent production company Bob Billiams Productions with her husband and creative partner Micah Sudduth. Keylee’s original projects have...
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ISABEL SANDOVAL & Lingua Franca
An emerging auteur recognized by the Museum of Modern Art as a “rarity among the young generation of Filipino filmmakers for her muted, serene aesthetic", Isabel Sandoval is a US-based filmmaker who has written and directed three features. Isabel's third feature LINGUA FRANCA (2019), co-starring...
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MONICA SOTTO & Drunk History
With 15 years in the entertainment business, Monica Sotto is just beginning her path as a full-time Production Designer. Monica is a first generation Filipina-American who grew up in Pasadena, CA. Earlier this year, Monica won an Art Directors Guild Award for her Production Design work on the hit...
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JESSIE BARR & Sophie Jones
Back at the beginning of quarantine, we chatted Jessie Barr. Jessie is a filmmaker and 2020 Sundance Fellow based in Los, Angeles. She is an actor, writer, director and producer with a background in independent film, digital storytelling and theater. She makes her feature film directorial debut...
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LEAH MEYERHOFF & Film Fatales
Leah Meyerhoff is an award winning independent filmmaker who wrote and directed the narrative feature film I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS starring Natalia Dyer and Peter Vack, which was released theatrically after premiering at SXSW, winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Atlanta Film Festival and additional...
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TAHAJAH SAMUELS & Black PR Girl Magic
For today’s episode we interviewed film publicist, Tahajah Samuels. Tahajah (pronounced: ta•hay•ja) serves as Senior Digital Publicist at BRIGADE where she manages digital publicity campaigns for films' theatrical, streaming, PVOD and/or home entertainment releases. Clients of hers include Focus...
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BEANDREA JULY & Film in the Covid Era
We're happy to have friend of the pod, Beandrea July, return for a discussion about the film landscape during pandemic times. Beandrea is a freelance writer and audio producer focused on culture. Her film criticism has been published in several outlets including The New York Times, Time, The...
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TANYA SARACHO & Vida
Tanya Saracho is a playwright and television writer who serves as creator, showrunner, and executive producer of the critically-acclaimed series Vida on Starz, which earned 100% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first, second and third seasons. The show, which recently aired its third…
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LINDA GOLDSTEIN KNOWLTON & We Are The Radical Monarchs
Linda Goldstein Knowlton is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, working in both documentary and scripted feature films, as well as in television. Linda directed and produced WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD, one of the six, one-hour documentaries for the Emmy-nominated PBS MAKERS: Women Who Make America series.…
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SUE DING & The Claudia Kishi Club
We’re excited to announce our new name: A BRIGHTER LENS! In this time of reflection and learning, we wanted to have a more inclusive and expansive name. We’re still committed to spotlighting women in the film industry, but also want to feature more trans and non-binary folks as well and wanted…
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NISHA GANATRA & The High Note
We have a special bonus episode for you today featuring one of our favorite past guests, Nisha Ganatra, director of the recently released The High Note, starring Tracee Ellis Ross and Dakota Johnson. Check out watchthehighnote.com to find out where you can digitally watch it! Hope you enjoy the...
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(Re-Air) In Memory of Lynn Shelton
We were so sad to hear of the passing of beloved filmmaker and director, Lynn Shelton. We wanted to honor her memory by re-airing her episode in which we discussed her recent film Sword of Trust. Lynn was deeply loved in the film community (and beyond) and known for both her own films and her...
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Sundance Film Festival Roundup
We’re back from Sundance and have finally had a chance to catch our breath and regroup in Los Angeles! We were so inspired by the festival and by all of the films we saw. First, we interview our favorite film critic Beandrea July for her festival hot-takes and in-depth thoughts on her favorite...
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SANDRA MAE FRANK, Actress
Season 2 Finale! Thank you to all our listeners for tuning in this season. This week we reflect on our personal favorite moments about women in film in 2019, as well as our favorite AFL moments! Then, we interview Sandra Mae Frank. Sandra is a deaf trained stage and film actress, best known for…
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NATALIE BRONFMAN, Costume Designer
This week, we chat about the recent Golden Globes nominations and the absence of women in the Best Director category. Then, we interview Natalie Bronfman, costume designer for film, TV, and theatre. Most recently, she has designed for The Handmaid's Tale. In between projects, she can be found…
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FREE THE WORK x A FEMALE LENS Presents: Sophia Takal
This week is the third installment of our collaborative series in partnership with Free the Work, which is a curated talent-discovery service of underrepresented creators. Free the Work is a non-profit founded by Alma Ha’rel. Check out their new platform at freethework.com. For our third episode…
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SAMANTHA MCINTYRE, Writer
This week, we chat about the recent DGA report on female and minority TV directors and how they directed 50% of all episodic TV this year. Then, we interview writer Samantha McIntyre, who recently wrote Netflix’s Unicorn Store, directed by Brie Larson. Samantha has written for HBO’s Bored to…
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YVONNE HUFF LEE, Actress and Producer
This week, we’re discussing the streamlined “French Hours” shooting schedule Marielle Heller used on A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, which made it feasible for cast and crew to see their children while in production. Then, we interview actress and producer Yvonne Huff Lee, who is Co-CEO of...
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GERSHA PHILLIPS, Costume Designer
This week, we're discussing the Hollywood assistants' revolt and #PayUpHollywood and the implications this has for the rest of the industry. Then, we interview costume designer Gersha Phillips. Gersha is a costume designer who has designed for more than 30 films and numerous TV series. She...
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FREE THE WORK x A FEMALE LENS Presents: Minhal Baig
This week is our second installment of our collaborative series in partnership with Free the Work, which is a curated talent-discovery service of underrepresented creators. Free the Work is a non-profit founded by Alma Ha’rel, whom we recently interviewed. Check out their new platform at...
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SHERRI CHUNG, Composer
On this week's episode, we discuss The Academy's recent announcement that their "Best Foreign Language Film" award is now titled the "Best International Feature Film" award, and the controversy surrounding the disqualification of the entry films from Nigeria and Austria. Then, we interview film…
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ALISON KELLY, Cinematographer
On this week's episode we discuss recent controversy over the censorship of same-sex love scenes in Olivia Wilde's film "Booksmart" for in-flight entertainment. Then, we interview cinematographer Alison Kelly. Alison is the cinematographer behind the ABC drama Grand Hotel, which is executive...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A BRIGHTER LENS is a podcast, hosted by Jennifer Zahlit and Larkin Bell, that aims to spotlight women, trans, and non-binary folx in film at different stages in their careers through thoughtful discussion. By holding a space for underrepresented creators to share their knowledge, experience, and creative inspiration, we hope to make the process of filmmaking more accessible and cultivate a community dedicated to collaboration and support in the film industry.
HOSTED BY
by Jennifer Zahlit and Larkin Bell
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does A BRIGHTER LENS have?
A BRIGHTER LENS currently has 70 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is A BRIGHTER LENS about?
A BRIGHTER LENS is a podcast, hosted by Jennifer Zahlit and Larkin Bell, that aims to spotlight women, trans, and non-binary folx in film at different stages in their careers through thoughtful discussion. By holding a space for underrepresented creators to share their knowledge, experience, and...
How often does A BRIGHTER LENS release new episodes?
A BRIGHTER LENS has 70 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to A BRIGHTER LENS?
You can listen to A BRIGHTER LENS on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts A BRIGHTER LENS?
A BRIGHTER LENS is created and hosted by by Jennifer Zahlit and Larkin Bell.
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