MISSION STATEMENT:

A Brighter Lens is a podcast 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.

 

HOW DID WE START?

We’re two best friends and long-time creative collaborators living in Los Angeles. In 2018, we were working on our first short film together and, since we hadn’t gone to film school, we looked to film podcasts as learning tools and resources. We realized that (at the time) the majority of podcasts about filmmaking were hosted by and/or interviewed white men, which also reflected the film industry as a whole. We knew there were more stories out there that needed to be heard, and we brainstormed ways that we could both give attention to and learn from these underrepresented filmmakers. So, we decided to create our own podcast: A Female Lens. 

 

During our first two seasons, A Female Lens focused on interviewing women in the film industry, in an effort to spotlight these incredible artists and their work. We talked with a number of writer/directors, as well as cinematographers, editors, actors, casting directors, composers, costume designers, and producers. We learned so much from each of our interviews, and loved hearing and sharing their stories.

 

WHO ARE WE NOW?

Fast-forward to 2020: we’ve learned a lot and now understand how the word “female” is exclusive. We aim to include more creators who are often left out of the narratives in Hollywood (both on screen and behind the camera), especially trans and non-binary folx. Hollywood is a long way away from gender parity. We still want honor that fact by continuing to spotlight womxn’s stories, and also broaden our own lens.

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As we evolve and learn, we feel it’s important our podcast reflects that. So, we’ve changed our name to:

A BRIGHTER LENS

As two white, cis-gender women, we have a lot more to learn. And as supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, we understand the perils of white feminism and believe in tackling issues in the entertainment industry from an intersectional approach. 

 

Being quietly well-intentioned is not enough, and we know that actions speak louder than words. We are committed to more actively dismantling the patriarchy and white supremacy, both in personal ways and with this platform. 

 

This is a passion project; we are currently not making any money from it. However, we hope to one day secure advertising or sponsorship for this work, and when we do, we are committing to donating a portion of our proceeds to non-profits that support BIPOC filmmakers.