Fellow Emma Forthofer is a native of Southwest Harbor Maine, whose love of nature led to her job at the National Park Service, documenting preservationists. She is working on translating her videography skills into a cinematography career in the narrative realm.
Fellow Sayla U’ilani Whalen is from Livermore CA. She’s passionate about bringing portrayals of her Hawaiian heritage, strong females, and queer characters to the small screen, with an ultimate goal of becoming a showrunner.
How did you hear about the WiM Developing Filmmaker Fellowship?
SW: I first heard of Women in Media through my professor at New York Film Academy. WiM’s mission of making every film set 40-60% or more crewed by women and non-binary persons is what interested me the most. I was excited at the opportunity to work with and learn from other women and felt there was no greater opportunity than the Fellowship to do so.
EF: The Women in Media newsletter is chock full of opportunities for filmmakers to keep growing their skills and to connect with like-minded creatives. After participating in a WiM + MBS Grip & Electric training in 2022, I knew that the WiM caliber of training is so high and that their genuine commitment to their mission is exceptionally executed. I immediately applied for the fellowship. I’ll never forget, my interview was scheduled for past 10 pm CET because I was on a documentary job in Germany, and I walked away from the interview feeling as though I had bombed but apparently the WIM team saw something in me, and I am grateful that they did.
How did you get into filmmaking?
SW: I started performing in musical theater in elementary school in the Bay Area. In high school I wrote and co-directed my first short film. I made a bullying PSA which was submitted to the Student Voices Campaign in Burbank and qualified as a finalist. When I attended a film camp in my sophomore year of high school, my short film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Emerging Filmmaker Award. At the age of sixteen it’s safe to say, “I caught the bug”.
EF: A summer job as a high school student growing up in a small town in Maine is what first hooked me on the world of cinematography. Thanks to Loyola Marymount University I slowly transitioned from rural Maine life to big city LA living. I had the privilege of participating in the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women in 2023, have continued shooting short documentaries for the U.S. National Park Service, and have shot upwards of 20 independent short films, music videos, and short documentaries, of which accolades include selections by Cannes Short Film Corner (BLEED DON’T DIE), National Film Festival for Talented Youth (VACATIONLAND), and a semi-finalist selection for the Student Academy Awards (NOTHING DOWN ABOUT IT).
Sayla, what has the first year of the fellowship looked like for you?
SW: The first event I attended for the Fellowship was where I met my mentor, Ben Coccio. I was blown away by Ben’s versatility as a writer and how open he was in his discussions. His notes were extremely helpful, and I feel I gained a lot from his feedback. With his mentorship I was able to get my scripts where they need to be and gain more bravery in branching out in my storytelling. I think the most valuable advice he gave me that will stick with me in the future was jumping into the story and action sooner.
I have attended several WiM mixers, where I got to meet incredible filmmakers and get some much-needed insights in a safe space; I participated in a Writers Group and connected with other writers; and lastly, in September, I started an internship with Deborah Pratt, the co-creator of QUANTUM LEAP and accomplished writer/director. From the first day of the internship, I knew it was a perfect fit. Not only has Deborah been working in film and television for over four decades, but she is the most driven and inspiring person I have ever had the pleasure of working with. My day-to-day tasks were always evolving from taking notes in meetings to editing a book cover in photoshop, I found myself growing in my role as the internship demanded different skills.
The highlight has been my internship with Deborah Pratt. I am so grateful for the connection that was made while working with her. She is such a visionary and I have learned so much from her on the meaning of integrity in film and TV. We are both passionate about creating strong female characters in sci-fi and fantasy stories which has inspired me to take more risks and be bold in my writing. After the internship was complete, Deborah kept me on as her executive assistant. I am very excited for this next chapter with her!
Emma, what has the first year of the fellowship looked like for you?
EF: Access to attending all Women in Media events has been one of the huge benefits of this fellowship. And Women in Media really knows how to hold an event! I’ve had conversations with filmmakers who I wouldn’t have dreamed of seeing face to face, let alone meeting. I’ve learned about new lights before they hit the market via “secret” demos, visited LED volumetric stages, discussed ethical and unethical uses of AI with industry professionals, volunteered at Cine Gear, connected with filmmakers while floating around a swimming pool, and have met so many incredible women and nonbinary people across all filmmaking disciplines.
Early in the fellowship, Women in Media placed me in an internship with Birns and Sawyer, enabling me to dive even deeper into the technicalities of cinematography. The welcoming staff at Birns made me feel right at home, and my filter knowledge has grown exponentially.
In June, DP Alicia Robbins (BRIDGERTON, GREY’S ANATOMY) agreed to be my mentor and that was really a pinch-me moment. Alicia is everything I could dream to be as a director of photography someday. I have gotten to know her for her incredible work ethic, her generous commitment to coaching & to uplifting her mentees, and her truly outstanding leadership skills. Alicia has taken my cinematography to the next level through her attentive personalized advice. How she has time to elevate my career so significantly considering her crazy schedule is beyond me, but I am soaking up every minute.
In talking with my mentor Alicia about career goals for the new year, it seems I am ready to take on a feature length project as a director of photography. This is something I’ll be seeking out in 2025. The world of color is also something that I am eager to dive deeper into. Many very exciting things to jump into in 2025!
What do you want industry professionals to know about the Women In Media Fellowship?
SW: Women in Media has created a community of talented artists who are masters of their fields. The fellowship is a way for young filmmakers in their early careers to learn from and gain experience with this community. In this fellowship I have been able to actively work and improve in my chosen position as a writer/director so I can keep growing in my career. Before joining Women in Media and being selected for the fellowship I didn’t have a path into the industry. Now, I not only have a path, but I also am gaining the tools and experience needed to achieve my career goals.
EF: The educational value of this fellowship is priceless. The quality of my cinematography work and of who I am as a director of photography has significantly increased during this fellowship’s first year, and that is in large part due to the resources, personnel, and highly focused attention that Women in Media has poured into developing me as a filmmaker. Knowing Women in Media, it’s no surprise that in the fellowship’s inaugural year they would manage not only to put together a good experience, but an absolutely exceptional experience. I would say that this fellowship offers a university level education, but it actually goes above and beyond that because it is so personalized, catered to the participants’ exact needs to grow in their own career and opening doors for them. Thank you to Women in Media for all that you do to uplift women and nonbinary filmmakers.
