Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

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.

Jessica Thompson, Filmmaker

Meet Australian-born film editor, writer, director, producer Jessica Thompson, who moved to New York City in 2010 and where she co-founded Stedfast Productions, a collective of visual storytellers who use imagery to entertain, provoke thought and explore the human condition. Jessica, who has several short films under her belt, recently made her feature writing and directing debut with "Light of The Moon." It premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival and won the audience award for Best Narrative Feature. It tells the story of Bonnie, a young, successful Latina architect who is sexually assault walking home after spending the evening with friends at a bar in Brooklyn. There's plenty to talk about with yet another, creative, accomplished, engaging woman.

Shawnna Thibodeau, Stuntwoman

Jumping off buildings, setting herself on fire, falling down a flight a stairs - all in a days work for stuntwoman Shawnna Thibodeau. Her list of film and tv credits is mind numbing and includes: "X-Men," "War of the Worlds," "Spiderman 3," "The Borne Ultimatum," "Ugly Betty," "Law and Order" and "Oz." Shawnna's been a stunt double for Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Uma Thurman and Carrie Mulligan. There's a lots to talk about with this daredevil who's also a wife and mother of 2 young children.

Cynthia Hill, Television and Film Producer

Award-winning director Cynthia Hill's newest documentary series is the 8-part "Road to Race Day," which offers a behind the scenes look at the world of NASCAR racing told through the people who make it happen. Cynthia's made it happen with her films that focus on critical but often overlooked stories of the American South...and beyond. Perhaps you're familiar with "A Chef's Life," her first tv series which has been broadcast on PBS since 2013. It won both a Peabody and Daytime Emmy Award. There's plenty too talk about with this born and bred North Carolinian who also happens to be....a pharmacist!

Civia Tamarkin

In her decades long career as an award-winning investigative journalist, former television executive and documentary filmmaker, much of Civia Tamarkin's focus has been on criminal and social justice. She's covered stories all around the world, including the fall of Vietnam. Her latest project is "Birthright: A War Story." This riveting, feature length documentary tells the story of "how women have become collateral damage in the aggressive campaign to take control of reproductive health care and to allow states, courts and religious doctrine to govern whether, when and how women will bear children." This is yet another conversation you can't afford to miss.