MediaMaker Spotlight

Host Candice Bloch interviews Sophia Dilley , the Executive Vice President of Concord Originals , about the art of creating music documentaries. They discuss the origins of Concord Originals, the film and TV division of legendary music company Concord, and get into various projects already out (“Stax: Soulsville USA,” “Let the Canary Sing - Cyndi Lauper,” etc.) and some upcoming projects still in...

Host Tara Jabbari talks with Michael Kennedy , one of the screenwriters and executive producers of the rom-com slasher horror film, Heart Eyes. Released a week before Valentine’s Day in February 2025, Heart Eyes - directed by Josh Ruben and starring Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding - was met with positive reviews and grossed nearly $30 million in its first month. In their conversation, Tara and Micha...

Host Sandra Abrams has a lively conversation with James Beard Award winning chef, author, and TV show host, Pati Jinich . Pati shares insights on how she blends food, culture, and history into the making of her PBS docuseries, “Pati Jinich Explores Panamericana” - now streaming on the PBS app. In the series, Pati loosely tracks the “Pan-American Highway” where she travels from Alaska to Canada vis...

Host Candice Bloch interviews Steve Cohen, the Emmy Award-winning executive producer of HBO Max's documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes.' Steve is Billy Joel’s longtime lighting designer, creative director, trusted collaborator, and close friend. He was handpicked by Billy to build a team that would tell his story in this documentary.  In the episode, Candice and Steve discuss the...

Host Tara Jabbari has an animated conversation with actor Vincent Martella , best known as the voice of Phineas Flynn in the Disney Channel animated series, Phineas and Ferb . After a long hiatus, the show returned earlier this summer with Disney premiering season five on June 5. Vincent discusses with Tara the cultural significance of the show, the trials of being a child actor then navigating th...

In this episode, MediaMaker Spotlight producer Brandon Ferry hosts behind-the-scenes interviews with two more illuminating artists – direct from the 2025 Ebertfest film festival. First, Brandon speaks with writer-director Angus MacLachlan of 2005’s indie breakout film, JUNEBUG and the soon-to-be released A LITTLE PRAYER (starring David Strathairn, Jane Levy & Anna Camp). Prior to screening at...

In this episode, MediaMaker Spotlight producer Brandon Ferry sits down with two visionary directors whose films were screened at this year’s Ebertfest film festival held at the Virginia Theater in Champaign, Illinois. Brandon first speaks with trailblazing director of the 80s and 90s, Susan Seidelman, best known for directing the cult classic, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN (rapturously received at Ebe...

In this episode, host Sandra Abrams sits down with Chaz Ebert , for a lively discussion about her book, It's Time To Give A FECK . FECK stands for forgiveness, empathy, compassion and kindness. She also shares insights into the many projects she is working on including a documentary, Wellness Warrior, about the life of 103-year old Deborah Szekley, founder of the Rancho La Puerta spa. In addi...

In this conversation, filmmaker Chance McClain sits down with host Candice Bloch and shares his journey from a diverse creative background to founding Heritage Films, a company dedicated to creating personal legacy documentaries. He discusses the importance of storytelling, connecting generations, the emotional impact of capturing family histories, and the production process involved in making the...

In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with three WIFV members about their independent feature film, THE OTHER YOU, and how the movie went from an idea during the pandemic to its premiere during the DC Independent Film Festival in March 2025. The surreal comedy sheds light on how a wife and mother tries to find time to work on her writing when a portal in her closet shows her another version of...

Host Tara Jabbari interviews editor Dustin Elkin who has worked in Los Angeles and Chicago for clients such as CBS, Mattel, Hallmark, and Bally’s. During their conversation, Dustin shares the importance of networking, his work ethic, and why he is a fan of utilizing AI for his work - including for his own podcast, The Video Editing Guru Podcast. Connect with Dustin: https://www.dustinelkin.com/ Th...

In this celebratory 100th episode of MediaMaker Spotlight, our three hosts - Candice, Sandra, and Tara - reflect on their journey, the evolution of the podcast, and the impact of Women in Film & Video. They discuss the transition to video content, the diverse range of topics covered, and the importance of networking within the industry. The conversation highlights notable guests, achievements,...

In this episode, host Candice Bloch interviews William Fay , a seasoned producer and motion picture executive, discussing his extensive career in the film industry. Bill, known for producing and executive producing many notable projects through the years such as Independence Day, The Patriot, 300, The Hangover, The Town, and more, elaborates on the multifaceted role of a producer, his journey into...

In this second episode of a special two-part series, host Sandra Abrams chats with Maxine Peake about her portrayal of Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian-American journalist, in the film Words of War. Maxine shares what it was like to play the real life reporter, wife, and mother of two who risked her life to uncover the truth about the Chechen War. Anna was assassinated on October 7, 2006, the same da...

In this first episode of a special two-part series, host Sandra Abrams chats with Mark Maxey , WIFV board member and producer of a new geo-political thriller, WORDS OF WAR. The film tells the story of Russian-American journalist, Anna Politkovskaya, who was assassinated on October 7, 2006 for uncovering the truth about the Chechen War. The film opens in theaters on May 2, the day before United Nat...

Ahead of Earth Day, host Candice Bloch interviews Kat Friis , an Emmy award-winning producer and founding member of Green the Bid , a grassroots, non-profit industry organization that aims to shift the media production industry to zero-waste, minimal carbon, sustainable and regenerative practices. The two discuss the importance of sustainability in the production industry, educating and advocating...

Host Tara Jabbari has a conversation with Catherine Haigh and Hannah Congdon to explore the journey of creating their documentary, Women Behind the Wheel , which focuses on women's empowerment in remote communities. They highlight the importance of research, language, cultural challenges, and community support as they share their experiences connecting with local women, the complexities of ge...

MediaMaker Spotlight, the official podcast of the DC-based non-profit, Women in Film & Video , features conversations with industry professionals on a range of topics of interest to screen-based media makers. It's a must-listen resource for filmmakers of all interests and experience levels! Through fun and inspiring interviews with award-winning creators, you’ll learn all about what goes...

Dr. Paul Heinzelmann of the documentary feature, Safe Sets, and Becky Morrison of the production company, The Light, sit down with host Candice Bloch to discuss humane production practices. They explore the systemic issues affecting health and safety on set, alarming statistics regarding mental health, and the historical context of production practices. The conversation highlights the importance o...

Host Sandra Abrams chats with publishing trailblazer Regina Jones and Soraya Sélène , one of the co-directors of the new documentary, “WHO THE HELL IS REGINA JONES?” The film tells the remarkable story of Jones’s journey from being a financially struggling young mother of five to witnessing the Watts Rebellion in 1965 to creating and running SOUL newspaper. SOUL became a nationwide publication, sc...

In this episode, host Tara Jabari interviews actor Carl Lumbly , known for his roles in Captain America, Alias, Doctor Sleep, and more. They discuss Lumbly's portrayal of Isaiah Bradley in the latest Captain America: Brave New World , a character rooted in historical injustices faced by African Americans, and the thematic elements of love and sacrifice in the Marvel Universe. Lumbly shares in...

It’s time for another all-hosts special! Hosts Sandra, Tara, and Candice chat all about romantic comedies ahead of Valentine’s Day. We discuss some of our favorite films, actors, and tropes within the ubiquitous rom-com genre, while also sharing some fun facts. You’ll love hearing the banter about meet-cutes and steamy scenes, and you may even discover some classic movies to cozy up to with a spec...

Documentary filmmaker Melissa Davey sits down with host Candice Bloch in this episode to discuss her filmmaking journey and her latest film, Climbing Into Life. The film is about the remarkable story of Dierdre Wolownick, an accomplished writer, artist and musician who got into rock climbing later in life and, at age 66, became the oldest woman to ascend Yosemite’s famed El Capitan. The two also t...

In this episode, host Tara Jabbari speaks with Zhanna Ozirna , a Ukrainian filmmaker whose first feature film premiered at the Venice Film Festival. They talk about the inspiration behind her film, the importance of art showcasing challenges like war, winning the Biennale Cinema Competition, plus much more. The film, Honeymoon (English title) is about a couple, Taras and Olya, who just bought an a...

In this episode, host Candice Bloch has a brief chat with Director Tim Fehlbaum and actors Leonie Benesch and Ben Chaplin of the film September 5. They talk about some of what went into producing the film, which unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, the film follows the ABC Sports broadca...