Media & Monuments

Professional stuntwoman, motion capture performer, and champion martial artist, Thekla Hutyrova sits down with host Candice Bloch for a fun conversation all about bringing action to our screens - on film, television, and in video games. Thekla has worked on films such as Alita: Battle Angel, Logan, and Deadpool 2, shows such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Ms. Marvel, and video games such as God of War: Ragnarok, Mortal Kombat 1 and Spider-Man 2. In their conversation, you’ll learn about how stunts are coordinated and executed, both on and off sets, some of the technology that helps make it happen, and discover more about the profession, the process, and the skills it takes to execute action safely for our entertainment. You’ll leave this episode with a greater appreciation and respect for the professionals that enhance our visual stories, and even some everyday useful information! You can follow Thekla on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/theklahutyrova --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Israeli director, Anna Somershaf sits down with host Sandra Abrams in this episode to talk about her award-winning feature documentary, Women of Valor. The film follows the odyssey of Esty Shushan, an orthodox mother and wife, as she seeks to change the law for Haredi women to be elected representatives to Israel's Knesset. Over a five year period, there are many obstacles, especially from ultra-religious men, as these Orthodox women become modern-day Suffragettes, fighting to have their own voices heard. For some Orthodox women, it comes at a high cost. The film is in both Hebrew and English, and is the winner of the Best Documentary Feature at the 2023 Richmond International Film Festival. In their conversation, you’ll hear about the journey of getting the film made and more specifics about the powerful documentary. LINK TO TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/584628555 LINK TO FILM’S FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/womenofvalor.film --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Up-and-coming television comedy writer, Julia Lindon sits down with host Candice Bloch in this episode to chat about her journey in writing. You’ll learn more about the dynamics of the writers’ room, hear stories about leveraging connections to get in the door, and get a glimpse into the process of honing her comedy chops and bringing stories to the screen. Julia began by working at NBC’s Saturday Night Live and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, and has gone on to work on such hit series as Netflix/A24’s Survival of the Thickest and Apple TV’s Ted Lasso. She is currently writing on Peacock’s NPR parody, In The Know. To learn more about Julia, you can visit her website at: https://www.julialindon.com/ and follow her on Instagram @julialindon --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

In this episode, Michael Schulman, author of "Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears'' sits down with host Tara Jabbari for a conversation about notable Oscars moments and their larger significance. Michael shares how voting works for the Academy Awards, and the two discuss how the famous ceremony is a lens into how Hollywood thinks. You’ll hear more about some notable chapters from the book (like when Gregory Peck was the President of the Academy, or when Harvey Weinstein played dirty in campaigning), history-making moments, and more! Learn more about Michael Schulman: https://www.michael-schulman.com/ Article Michael wrote on Oscar nominations and “Barbie’s” lack of nominations https://www.newyorker.com/culture/notes-on-hollywood/the-oscars-are-confused-about-barbie Buy “Oscar Wars” https://www.harpercollins.com/products/oscar-wars-michael-schulman --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

In this episode - our first with a video companion - join all three of our hosts on a journey through the dynamic world of American reality TV. We explore its origins, cultural impact, and evolving genres. From the groundbreaking series "The Real World'' to the global phenomenon of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," we unpack how these shows reflect and shape our society. Listen in as we share personal anecdotes and discuss how reality TV has become a platform for important conversations. We examine the mechanics of reality TV and its widespread appeal. Whether it's the satisfaction of quick resolutions or the emotional manipulation of viewers through crafty editing, there's no denying the genre's ability to captivate. Sub-genres provide drama in following celebrities’ lives, binge-worthy spectacle in navigating love connections, inspiration in creative competitions, and so much more… which sub-genre is your favorite? To watch our conversations, subscribe to our YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/@MediaAndMonuments --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

People with disabilities have been historically underrepresented in the entertainment industry. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with U.K.- based actress, writer, and disability advocate, Melissa Johns. Johns explains how she landed the role as the brainy Miss Scott in the British detective series, Grantchester, where her disability (born without her right forearm and hand) is a non-factor, who she called first when she landed a role on the iconic soap, Coronation Street, and how her foundation is helping others with disabilities break down barriers in the entertainment industry. She also shares what happened when intimate photos of her were posted online and how she got her power back through writing. To learn more about Melissa Johns and her organization TripleC, check out: https://triplec.org.uk/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

You’ve only got one chance to get it right when the broadcast is live. In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with Remote Operations Manager, Pam Chvotkin all about the fast-paced and intense world of live event coverage. Pam has years of broadcast production experience ranging from professional sports, to concerts, competitions, awards shows, and more. In the conversation, Pam shares her knowledge about the often chaotic but rewarding lifestyle that keeps one adaptable and ready for anything. After listening to what it takes, you’ll watch live programming with a better understanding and more respect for what goes on behind the scenes to make it happen. To learn more about Pam and her work, visit www.pamchvotkin.com and to see some great behind-the-scenes content, follow Pam @reddusfoximus on the socials. --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Thumbs up, thumbs down? Five stars (or are four stars the highest number?)! In this episode, host Tara Jabbari speaks with film critics to discuss how viewing films has changed over the last few years. When is it worth going to the movie theater? Where should we look to know what’s worth seeing? What’s the difference between Rotten Tomatoes versus Meta Critic? They dive into these topics as well as what goes into being a film critic. Our guests are: Ann Hornaday, who has been film critic at The Washington Post since 2002. Learn more about her work here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/ann-hornaday/ Bob Mondello, who has been with NPR since 1984. Learn more about his work here: https://www.npr.org/people/3813466/bob-mondello Leslie Combemale, who is a professional film critic and industry insider.You can learn more about her work on the following sites: https://cinemasiren.com/ and ArtInsights.com and https://womenrockinghollywood.com/ She also discusses being involved with https://awfj.org/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Making a career pivot after 15 years in one job takes guts and some financial planning. Then add to the mix several disabilities and it sounds impossible. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams talks to filmmaker, advocate, and podcaster, Ariel Baska. Ariel shares how she made the leap to a new film career in a niche genre: Queer Horror, and founded the Access:Horror film festival. Ariel explains why inclusion in front of and behind the camera helps everyone on set, not just those with disabilities. She also gives us some insight on the Film Event Accessibility Scorecard. For more information about Ariel, visit: https://arielbaska.com/ Find her podcast, Ride the Omnibus, wherever you listen to your podcasts. To learn more about the Film Event Accessibility Scorecard, visit: https://feaw.org/ Learn more about Access:Horror at https://www.accesshorror.com/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with the creative team behind the hit indie TV show, ‘Sexpectations.’ Writer Jenna St. John and Director Kevin Good shed light on how they took the series from story concept through production, post-production, and eventually out to audiences on major streaming platforms. They talk about their multi-year journey including self-funding, casting, the show’s message, technical aspects of using CGI, and more. ‘Sexpectations’ centers on an aspiring romance novelist and her quest to lose her virginity for the sake of her writing. Season one of the adult comedy is available for rental or purchase on AppleTV+ or Amazon Prime. To learn more about the show, visit https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9470422/ Follow the show on Facebook and Instagram at https://www.facebook.com/SexpectationsTVShow and https://www.instagram.com/sexpectationstv/?hl=en --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Abby Greensfelder has an instinct for developing not only iconic cable shows such as, “Say Yes to the Dress,” but also documentaries featuring icons Megan Rapinoe and Alicia Keys. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with the indie filmmaker and native Washingtonian, ahead of the World Premiere of UNCHARTED at the Tribeca Film Festival in June. The doc, from her company, Everywoman Studios, is a behind-the-scenes look at Keys’ songwriting camp that hopes to create a pipeline of women songwriters and music producers. The studio’s first film, LFG, featured the U.S Women Soccer team’s fight for fair pay. In this discussion, Abby shares why her company aims to develop women-centric content that has a social impact and how female filmmakers can apply for the Propelle program to develop their media ideas. In May, WIFV named Abby a 2023 Women of Vision honoree. www.everywomanstudios.com https://west.realscreen.com/2023/propelle/ To view a complete list of Women of Vision winners, visit https://www.wifv.org/women-of-vision-awards/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Originally released Oct 1, 2023 The choice of who is cast in a role can make or break a performance. In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with casting director Anne Chapman all about the art and business of casting a project. Anne draws on her decades of professional experience casting projects of all sizes and styles as they discuss the methods and evolution of the process, the importance of chemistry, the difficulties of casting historical figures, advice for those interested in the career, and more. To learn more about Anne and her casting company, visit: https://www.annechapmancasting.com/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Originally released on Oct. 8, 2023 What is the difference between a cinematographer, camera operator, and director of photography? Has there been more gender diversity behind the scenes? What is the difference between filming on digital versus film? These questions and more are covered in this episode as host Tara Jabbari speaks with the award-winning South African cinematographer and camera operator, Pascale Neuschafer. To learn about Pascale’s work, visit: https://www.instagram.com/pascaleneuschafer/ https://quickbrownfox.co.za/ To learn more about the International Collective of Female Cinematographers (ICFC), visit: https://www.icfcfilm.com/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Originally released Nov. 12, 2023 Screen-based media by its very nature, relies on visuals. And as stories unfold on set, the art department is key in not only building those sets, but making them look the part for the world being created. In this episode, host Candice Bloch sits down with Betsy Zuck, an experienced Production Designer, Set Decorator, Lead Person, Set Decorator, fabricator, and beyond. They discuss not only those roles and what they mean, but Betsy draws on her experiences working on crews of all types and sizes to shine a light on the workflow and hierarchy of sets, as well as give some great tips and advice for those looking to break into production design. Check out more of Betsy’s credits at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6826143/ Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-zuck-26110718/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Originally released on Sept. 14, 2023 Love the movie? Read the book before it’s banned! In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with Kristen Lopez, author of "But Have You Read the Book? 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films” in association with Turner Classic Movies. Kristen knows her topic as creator of the Ticklish Business podcast and a film editor with entertainment daily, TheWrap. Film buffs will get the behind-the-scenes story of how THE THIN MAN, DUNE, and PASSING went from book to an adaptive screenplay and then beloved classic film. They also discuss the impact of the current banned book atmosphere on future screen-based works. Find the book wherever books are sold, including: Hachette Book Group Ticklish Business podcast www.thewrap.com/author/kristen-lopez/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Originally released May 14, 2023 In this episode, host Tara Jabbari sits down with actor Shimmy Isaacs on location in Cape Town, South Africa to talk about her Netflix hit crime thriller, Unseen. They discuss the show, Shimmy's acting journey in drama and comedy, her writing process, her time in the USA, and how the arts is a universal language. You can follow Shimmy for the latest on her work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shimmyisaacs/ or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/shimmyisaacs/ Watch Unseen on Netflix here. --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Originally released on Dec. 18, 2022. Season two wraps up with this Holiday Special, where all three hosts – Candice Bloch, Sandra Abrams, and Tara Jabbari – discuss the mega genre of Christmas and holiday movies. The trio share fun facts, their personal opinions, and go over the results of Media & Monuments’ own holiday survey, which centered on movies related to “the most wonderful time of the year.” Here are a few highlights from the survey to get you into the holiday mood: Love Actually was voted favorite holiday rom-com, Miracle on 34th Street was voted favorite Santa-theme movie, and A Charlie Brown Christmas was the winner in the animated category. Want to hear more results or find out if you got a shout out? Want to hear a lively debate on why Die Hard is or is not a Christmas movie? Tune in! While this is the last new episode for 2022, Media & Monuments will play reruns during their winter break, and return with season three in the new year. Happy Holidays from the WIFV podcast committee! --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Making a career pivot after 15 years in one job takes guts and some financial planning. Then add to the mix several disabilities and it sounds impossible. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams talks to filmmaker, advocate, and podcaster, Ariel Baska. Ariel shares how she made the leap to a new film career in a niche genre: Queer Horror, and founded the Access:Horror film festival. Ariel explains why inclusion in front of and behind the camera helps everyone on set, not just those with disabilities. She also gives us some insight on the Film Event Accessibility Scorecard. For more information about Ariel, visit: https://arielbaska.com/ Find her podcast, Ride the Omnibus, wherever you listen to your podcasts. To learn more about the Film Event Accessibility Scorecard, visit: https://feaw.org/ Learn more about Access:Horror at https://www.accesshorror.com/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Host Tara Jabbari sits down with influencer Nikole Eva, aka Evasive on YouTube, for this episode. After studying film, gaining experience as an editor, and working towards being a comedy writer, Eva started her YouTube channel to get her name out there… and it has been working! Tara and Eva talk about the start of her YouTube channel, how to make money through the videos, copyright issues, the importance of engaging with comments to build your audience, and much more! Evasive YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUGZFAqUNtF_kJF80XOa5zQ For business inquiries email: theevasiveone@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikole_eva_/ --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with the creative team behind the hit indie TV show, ‘Sexpectations.’ Writer Jenna St. John and Director Kevin Good shed light on how they took the series from story concept through production, post-production, and eventually out to audiences on major streaming platforms. They talk about their multi-year journey including self-funding, casting, the show’s message, technical aspects of using CGI, and more. ‘Sexpectations’ centers on an aspiring romance novelist and her quest to lose her virginity for the sake of her writing. Season one of the adult comedy is available for rental or purchase on AppleTV+ or Amazon Prime. To learn more about the show, visit https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9470422/ Follow the show on Facebook and Instagram at https://www.facebook.com/SexpectationsTVShow and https://www.instagram.com/sexpectationstv/?hl=en --- 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 mediaandmonuments.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/Communications Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!