Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Sue Thomson, Filmmaker

Direct from Australia - filmmaker Sue Thomson. She began her professional career working on Public Television in Melbourne and then went out on her own, writing and directing several documentaries. The most recent - THE COMING BACK OUT BALL. This film follows a group of older LGBTI folks who are invited to attend a ball celebrating age, gender and sexuality identity. It is a heart-warming, honest and moving look at their lives. Join us for a conversation with this creative woman from "Down Under."

Abby Epstein, Director/Producer

Abby Epstein's career has been a rich and rewarding one. It began in 1992 in Chicago when she formed her own theatrical company. She directed several plays there before moving to New York to work on "Rent" and "The Vagina Monologues." Then in 2004 she moved into film and 3 years later formed a partnership with Rikki Lake. They've made several documentaries together including the award-winning, "The Business of Being Born." Their latest collaboration - "Weed The People." It explores the use of cannabis for children diagnosed with cancer. Lots to talk about with this accomplished socially conscious and creative woman.

Polly Draper, Actress/Director/Writer

Polly Draper does it all. She's an awarding-winning actress, writer, producer and director. Probably best known to fans as Ellyn Warren in the 80's tv hit Thirtysomething, Polly was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 1998 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a drama series. Her latest project: STELLA'S LAST WEEKEND. She wrote, directed, and stars in the movie, which also features her 2 sons, Nat and Alex Wolff. We talk about the personal and professional in this open, honest, conversation with yet another accomplished, creative woman.

Paula Eiselt, Filmmaker

You're about to meet and get to know another female filmmaker. Paula Eiselt's work has been supported by the Independent Television Service, the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program and the New York State Council on the Arts. The recently released "93Queen" marks Paula's feature directorial debut. It tells the story of a group of Hasidic women as they overlook and overcome massive obstacles to form the first all-female ambulance corps in New York City. Their goal is to provide dignified, emergency medical services to the women and girls in this very religious community. "93Queen" won the inaugural first look Pitch Prize at the 2017 Hot Docs Forum.

Rachel Dretzin, Filmmaker

Meet Emmy award winning director Rachel Dretzin (PBS' Frontline), who has been producing and directing documentaries since 1994. Rachel, along with her husband, are the founders of Ark Media, a Brooklyn-based documentary production company. "Far From the Tree," Rachel's first feature documentary, is based on the New York Times best seller by Andrew Solomon. It explores the difficulties and challenges of raising a child who has Downs syndrome, dwarfism, autism, deafness, mental illness, is a child prodigy, or are transgender. The power of documentaries to educate, inform, empower is a focus of this fascinating, important and honest conversation with this committed, creative, accomplished woman.

Debra Granik, Award Winning Filmmaker

Acclaimed filmmaker Debra Granik's movies focus on the disenfranchised, marginalized and compromised as is evidenced by the powerful "Winter's Bone," which launched the career of Jennifer Lawrence and was nominated for 4 Academy Awards. Her latest, "Leave No Trace," tells the story of a father and his teenaged daughter who live off the grid in a nature reserve outside Portland, Oregon. We cover a lot of ground in this open, honest, fascinating conversation with a creative woman whose career has focused on exceptional people - both real and fictional.

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!