Swim to Steven is starting its festival journey with The San Diego International Film Festival this weekend, and Hollyshorts next month. I'm excited to share this film, which was a joy to make, beginning to end.  

MILFs (Mothers I'd Like to Film)

I made some comedy web series for Nick Mom. (I hinted at this earlier in the year, but since they're up, subtlety is no longer needed.)  Here is the first episode of Your Childless Friend, an advice show for parents, by a woman who is not a mom and probably shouldn't ever pursue it.  And here is the first episode of Healthy Parents Healthy Kids, a DIY home-cooking show by the most awkward couple in America.  I loved working with all these actors, and teaming up again with Cami Delavigne, writer extraordinaire.  Enjoy!  There are at least two more episodes of each show coming soon...

Atop Green Mountain

I started off the year making some fun stuff for NickMom. More hilarious redheads coming soon.

Climate Change

Yesterday, I was lucky to be one of a small gathering of producers and directors who were invited to participate in the first annual Women Filmmaker's Initiative Forum, co-hosted by Women In Film and the Sundance Institute.  You may remember that earlier this year, there was a lot of hoopla when they released the sobering results of their extensive research into the real statistics about female filmmakers.  But they're not just studying it, they're actually set on doing something to change it, starting with the basic issue of how women filmmakers lack the access to capital that their male counterparts enjoy.  Hence, yesterday's financing forum.  And I have to say, after a full twelve hours where we talked about everything from foreign sales to raising girls with confidence, I think that the climate can change. Everyone there felt it, but we all agreed it will only work if women continue to help other women.

#whatsyourhealthy #yeshealthyisanoun #dealwithit

As I sit here doing prep on my one of my last Aetna shoots of the year, I thought maybe I'd share a little bit about the job!  Since May, I have been directing and co-writing all the videos for their, "What's Your Healthy?" YouTube show.  This has meant lots of traveling and working with the really cool people at My Damn Channel.  It has also meant trying my hand at unscripted, man-on-the-street type stuff.  The show is hosted by Angie Greenup, who is a delight.  My favorite episodes so far are this garden, this de-cluttering, and this one at the Dance Theater of Harlem.  With at least twenty more on their way, there's definitely something for everyone.  Also, Slate printed an article poking fun at the campaign, which was pretty amusing. 

Laides In Waiting

Kerry Carney and I created this web show called Ladies In Waiting.  In it, we play Kimmie and Ari, best friends and lovable lushes who are aging out of the only job they've ever been able to keep, dressing as Disney-style princesses at parties for the over privileged children of Los Angeles.  Lucky for them, they are too drunk to notice.

We have filmed three episodes.  Please watch and enjoy the adventures of what will soon become your favorite new comedy duo.  That sounds like I'm tooting my own horn, but really, I think of it as tooting Kerry's horn, because that's what co-dependency is all about, dammit.  Also, if you are a fancy producer or show runner who secretly follows my career news blog, a) why haven't I heard from you before now? and b) here's your big chance.  We have expanded the web series into a treatment and first season outline for a half hour single camera comedy.  I look forward to your call.

KCET and Me

Exciting news!  Hold For Laughs will screen on KCET this Thursday, January 31st at 9pm as part of their Fine Cut series.  Why?  Because---get this---we were selected as one of the sixteen best student films to come out of the many prestigious So Cal film schools in the last two years.  Woah!  Not only that, but ours was the first ever to be chosen from AFI's Directing Workshop for Women program.

Last night I went to a party celebrating the filmmakers, held at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  Here is me after that party, with the giant Emmy of my dreams. 

Blog on Blog Action 6

The sound of my own voice makes me want to crawl under a large object and die alone.  However, David Newhoff has a great voice, and on his blog, The Illusion of More, he addresses with real insight all the stuff that comes up for those of us who participate in the digital culture.  Which is, you know, all of us.  He interviewed me about my perspective on these things, and you can listen to our chat here.

Blog on Blog Action 5

How do you know when you're legit?  When the Scientific American blogs about your science mockumentary web series. 

Web Burger

Remember how I teased you with a rather cryptic reference to Umami a couple of months ago?  Well, now I can tell you what the hell that was all about.

Over the summer, I wrote and directed a branded web series for Umami Burger.  If you're not familiar with the Umami restaurants, there are twelve of them in LA and a few more in San Francisco, Miami, and New York... and their burgers are works of culinary art.  I had the privilege of aligning myself with their awesomeness, and now there is a really fun, silly bit of internet comedy to prove it.  It's all about burgers and the human brain.  WATCH ALL FIVE EPISODES HERE.  And yes, that is a mustachioed Ray Wise in the photo.  He is the star, along with a stellar supporting cast.

Go on, take a bite. 

The Fifth Feeling

Do you like Umami?  If you don't yet, you will soon.  As soon as our web series about the fifth flavor comes out.  Like I said, soon.

Durable Content for Branded Goods

Now that I'm part of the branded content collective at Durable Goods, is it too late to ask what exactly branded content is? Do you know? Does anyone? Yeah, I thought not.

Tell you what. Bring me your brand, I'll throw some content all up in it, and we'll see what happens. My guess? Good stuff. New stuff. Stuff from the Future.

Who's the Boss?

Comediva.com is the boss. But in this case, "the boss" is an adjective, similar to noun-turned-adjectives such as "my jam" or "top drawer". Yes, Comediva is the boss. So I am thrilled they wanted dub me a "Boss Lady". Read my interview here. They asked good questions. Not surprising, considering they're the boss.

Blog on Blog Action 4

Women in Hollywood asked if I would do a guest post about the UCLA Festival of New Work. I did.

Blog on Blog Action 2

Click here to read the little story I contributed to Melissa Silverstein's awesome indiewire blog, "Women in Hollywood".

Oh, what a night!

The DGA showcase was a truly magical night. It was the first time I'd seen most of the final versions of the other ladies' shorts, and every single one of them turned out unbelievably well. Forgive me this brief moment of horn-tooting to say that, as a group, WE NAILED IT!

I am also thrilled to report that the audience seemed to really enjoy my film---laughing in all of the right places, being quiet in the tragic bits, and best of all, freaking out about how amazing Sarah was in the leading role.

Here is a photo of me with my cast. I love them. I love the DWW. I love AFI. Dreams-coming-true material, all around.

Realeasing my Hold (For Laughs)

My latest directing effort is about to hit the big screen! Hold for Laughs, a short film, will be screening on May 9th at the beautiful 600 seat DGA Theater, as part of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women Showcase. This movie is the culmination of all of the learning I've done over my year at AFI. It's like a 15 minute long year book page that I'm asking you to sign, except using your laughter and tears instead of a Sharpie.

My Website is Live! (Yup, "Live". Because if you're going to have a website, you should use the lingo.)

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