Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Darci Picoult, Filmmaker

Darci Picoult is a force to be reckoned with. She's an actress, an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, producer, teacher. Her credits are long and varied and include her powerful and very personal one-woman show, "My Virginia," which was presented in theaters and solo festivals around the country and broadcast on National Public Radio. Darci also wrote the screenplay for "Where is Kyra," starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Keifter Sutherland. It premiered at Sundance in 2017 and tells the story of a middle-aged woman who loses her job and struggles to survive on the income of her ailing mother. Join us for a very personal, open and honest conversation with this accomplished woman.

Rachel Israel, Filmmaker

Rachel Israel is an artist on several levels. She studied painting at Rhode Island School of Design and went on her to get Masters in Fine Arts at Columbia University. Rachel also happens to be a filmmaker, having directed numerous shorts that have been shown at various Festivals, including Sundance. One of them, "Keep the Change," premiered at the Columbia Film Festival in 2013 and went on to win the top award of Focus Feature Best Film. The feature-length version took home Best US Narrative Feature honors at Tribeca in 2017. The romantic comedy tells the story of two autistic adults who strike up an unlikely and transformative relationship.

Susan Silver, Comedy Writer

You're about to meet and get to know a Hollywood trailblazer. Susan Silver is one of the first female sit-com writers, whose career began in 1971 at "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Her mentor was none other than the great Garry Marshall. Susan went on to write for "The Bob Newhart Show," "Maude," "The Partridge Family" and "Square Pegs." She was also the Casting Director for "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In." Oh, there's more. Susan dishes about the highs and lows of both her comedy career and her love life in her memoir, "Hot Pants in Hollywood: Sex, Secrets and Sitcoms." This is one helluva conversation with one helluva creative woman!

Michelle Walshe, Filmmaker

Michelle Walshe finds herself in a unique category - one of the very few female filmmakers to direct a sports documentary. And what a documentary it is. "Chasing Great," follows 34 year old Richie McCaw, considered by many to be THE best rugby player ever, through his final season as captain of the All Blacks. "Chasing Great" happens to be the highest grossing documentary in New Zealand history and one of the top 100 highest grossing documentaries of all time. Michelle and her husband also happen to be the co-founders of the production company, Augusto. They're expanding their reach to include the U.S. - opening an office in New York City. In a word, Michelle is a dynamo!

Sharon Washington, Actress

You're about to meet and get to know award-winning stage, film, television actress and playwright, Sharon Washington. Her eclectic career spans more than 25 years and with it a long list of credits.

 

She recently made her debut as a playwright with her highly acclaimed one woman-show, "Feeding The Dragon." It's set in the St. Agnes branch of the New York City Public Library. Why? Because that's where Sharon lived with her mother and father, the library custodian. Sharon takes us on her creative career path in this fascinating, honest, engaging conversation.

Sophie Brooks, Filmmaker

Sophie Brooks got her Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and television from New York University in 2012. And not quite 5 years later, has made her feature writing and directing debut with "The Boy Downstairs." The romantic comedy stars Zosia Mamet (she played Shoshanna Shapiro in the HBO hit "Girls"), who, after a few years living abroad, moves back to New York City. Unbeknownst to her, she rents an apartment in her former boyfriend's building. Sophie talks about her motivation as well as the challenges she faced in making her first commercial film.

Joan Kron, Journalist and Filmmaker

Joan Kron in a word? Icon. This 90 year old creative, accomplished, trendsetter's career has spanned more than 50 years! Among her many accomplishments: Joan co-founded the New York Times Home section, was the first fashion reporter for the Wall Street Journal, an editor at Avenue and a famed columnist at Allure magazines, where she literally invented the plastic surgery beat. And than last year "Take My Nose...Please,!" the first film she wrote, directed and produced was released. Lots to talk about?? You bet!

Leah Warshawski, Filmmaker

Meet Michelle Materre, who during her 30+ year career, has amassed the following credits: producer, writer, arts administrator, distribution and marketing specialist and professor. For more than 20 years, her critically acclaimed film series,"Creatively Speaking," has been a respected forum for presenting works by and about women and people of color. Michelle is also a Associate Professor of Media Studies and Film at The New School. This creative woman has plenty to share, so sit back and enjoy this conversation.

Michelle Materre, Television and Film Producer, Writer

Meet Michelle Materre, who during her 30+ year career, has amassed the following credits: producer, writer, arts administrator, distribution and marketing specialist and professor. For more than 20 years, her critically acclaimed film series, "Creatively Speaking," has been a respected forum for presenting works by and about women and people of color. Michelle is also a Associate Professor of Media Studies and Film at The New School. This creative woman has plenty to share, so sit back and enjoy this conversation.

Talya Tibbon, Filmmaker

Talya Tibbon is an award-winning documentary film and television director, producer and writer whose projects have focused on contemporary social and political issues. Talya has documented street gangs, drug dealers and users, former Guantanamo detainees setting out on a new path and now, perhaps the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time - the plight of refugees leaving war-ravaged Syria to seek asylum  in other countries. Her riveting documentary "SKY AND GROUND" chronicles the journey of one such family as they make their way from Aleppo, Syria, to a refugee camp on the border of Greece and Macedonia, to their eventual goal - Berlin. You can't afford to miss this honest, compelling conversation with one helluva creative, committed woman.