Empowering Female Filmmakers as an Ambassador for the Chimaera Project

Aside from acting and filmmaking, one of my greatest passions is being a source of support. I have always wanted to help fellow filmmakers get over their hurdles, everything from helping them develop an indie marketing strategy to sharing the actual nuts and bolts of producing a film or series start to finish. I have lent my brain power to projects led by Ted Raimi and David Sutcliffe, but there is nothing more rewarding to me than helping out my fellow females.

Gif from A League of Their Own, directed by Penny Marshall

Having showrun a digital series for SONY, directed over a hundred webisodes, and produced even more, I know a lot about the unique challenges we face as women in this industry. Growing up in a competitive environment made it difficult to understand how much stronger women can be when we don’t waste our time cutting each other down. The truth is that filmmaking is a collaborative experience; it’s a team sport. It works best when we all work together. Theatre taught me this. There is no space for competition on stage; we must row the paddles together or the entire barge will sink deep into the ocean. Heck, sometimes an actor will blank on their lines while onstage… and it’s often up to the rest of the cast to help get the production back on track. We save each other! The same should apply to every single level of filmmaking.

Gif from Belle, directed by Amma Asante

When I first heard about the Chimaera Project, I was ecstatic! A non-profit dedicated to uplifting filmmakers identifying as female at every step of their career? Yes, please! It has been an incredible resource to share with women in my industry as they provide hands-on training, informative panels, spotlights on female filmmakers doing great work, and an amazing program to provide finishing funds to multiple projects a year. Practically every time I’ve met a woman even thinking about writing a script or making something themselves, I have enthusiastically told them to do it and that Chimaera Project has their back.

It is that enthusiasm that led the ladies behind the organization to ask me to be an ambassador for them.

Gif from Clueless, directed by Amy Heckerling

As an ambassador, my responsibility is to show up and support; attend screenings, check out panels, take photos of female filmmakers doing their thing, and just celebrate all the hard work it took to get to where they are today. How joyful is that?! I’m excited to continue empowering my fellow female filmmakers, even if only in virtual spaces at first. So, if you’ve got a project coming out that you want to share, please let me know! Let’s move forward together.

Gif from Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay

And because I care so much about this organization (and about you, dear reader), I am teaming up to develop something very exciting with them for the future. No hints yet, but stay tuned…

Gif from The Matrix Reloaded, directed by The Wachowskis

And if you’re an ally who wishes to champion female filmmakers by helping us build this incredible organization, please donate what you can to the Chimaera Project on Venmo (@TheChimaera-Project) or on PayPal. Another way to help is to link to the Chimaera Project whenever you think we might be helpful to someone. You can always tag us on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and definitely let us know when you see a screening or panel that might be of interest to us!

Thank you for reading and for supporting. 🙏

Gif from The Handmaid’s Tale episode ‘Women’s Work’, directed by Kari Skogland