Her First Take

What is the core of a movie? Plot? Character? Theme? The easy answer is all three. But every filmmaker seems to have one or two they’re especially drawn to-- what does it look like to be drawn to character? Amy Wadsworth from Irvine unravels her mission to make people feel through her character-centric approach to filmmaking.

"Horsegirls" feature film director Lauren Meyering joins our former guest Sydney Wider in a heartwarming discussion about filmmaking, women, acting, and more. Lauren shares her experiences and insights in hopes of uplifting Sydney's future career.

What does it mean to be alienated? Picked on? Today's special episode features the "Horsegirls" feature film director Lauren Meyering, who shares her perspective on promoting acceptance for all.

New Yorkers are known for having pride in their city, and rightfully so. But does being from New York, a place where life sometimes feels built for you, at all shape the stories that are told through the medium of filmmaking? Lara Jayanti, a talented writer/director, shares her experiences in the City that Never Sleeps, and how that shapes her art today.

Individuality versus conformity is a theme that re-occurs as a celebrated theme in multiple art forms, whether it be painting, writing, filmmaking, or music. Especially when culture is involved, the idea only gains more nuance. But what does it mean to live and breathe this idea? If your world was at a constant crossroads of individuality and conformity?

This podcast features the many talented student female filmmakers of our world. But what about the other side of the story? What does it feel to be let down by filmmaking? Today on the show we’ll shed light on the perspective of Eva Lee, a talented artist who opted out of filmmaking to pursue her calling: theater stage management.

What is social justice? Combatting climate change? Racism? Sexism? These are all important issues to address, but sometimes justice is served best at a smaller scale. This episode with Lauren Lee, we discuss what it means to be a filmmaker who wields her skills to serve justice in local communities.

A short bonus episode where I introduce myself, the host.

Every place on our planet offers unique opportunities and community. Garvin Kim— a multicultural filmmaker with roots in Korea, France, the US, and more— definitely resonates with this statement. From building communities in Korea to further developing her career at Harvard, Garvin shares her experience seizing opportunity, wherever she is.

1/2 Chinese, 1/4 Italian, 1/4 Spanish, and 1/8 Indonesian. Being multicultural isn't easy, but it does bring a lot to the table. Such as, perspective. As Sofia learns to wield her background to create horror films, it's important we begin to promote multiculturalism.

From running photo book fundraisers to receiving accolades for a symbolic image of the Star of David, Sydney Wider has been at an intersection of art and advocacy for the longest time. Today, she hopes to empower the Jewish population through her art.

Hispanics have fallen victim to superficial, sexual, and inauthentic portrayal on screen. Filmmaker Zoey Rodriguez aims to dismantle the status quo, and represent her community through her work.

For the longest time, Jaeeun Lee has been exploring the fine line of being a Korean-American. Her ultimate conclusion: the best stories arise from accepting your unique identity.

Is female representation improving within the film industry? Yes. Could it be better? Also yes. Michelle Park shares her views on the best ways to empower women through cinema.

From battling anxiety to eating disorders, it hasn't been an easy ride for Katelyn. But great things can come by wielding hardship in the best ways possible.

What does it mean to have ADHD and be a student filmmaker? Esther Yoo from Irvine unpacks her mental journey: from diagnosis to expression, and how it shows up in her films.

Welcome to Her First Take, a podcast highlighting emerging female filmmakers around the world.