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    Rachel Feldman is the 2015 NYWIFT Ravenal Grantee for directors over 40 working on a 2nd feature - for LEDBETTER, an Athena List winner, about the remarkable Fair Pay activist Lilly Ledbetter. Rachel also won the 2015 WGA Drama Queens Award for spec pilot THE UNDERNEATH, optioned by Maria Bello’s Ground Seven Entertainment. She has directed movies and episodic television for ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, FOX, The CW, SYFY, LIFETIME, DISNEY CHANNEL and TEEN NICK and written movies for Lifetime and ABCFamily. An ardent activist for women directors, Feldman was a prime mover in the recent ACLU actions, has chaired the DGA Women’s Steering Committee, and has taught directing and screenwriting in the MFA program at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. She received her MFA in Directing from NYU, and her BA in writing from Sarah Lawrence College and Parsons School of Design. Her grad thesis film won Best Short at The New York and Chicago Film Festivals, later sold to HBO, Showtime and PBS. Feldman has received filmmaking grants from The AFI, The Jerome Foundation, Kodak, Technicolor, and Panavision’s “Filmmakers To Watch”.11 Articles

    Actor - Hi, I’m Jackie Fogel! I’ve lived in Los Angeles for the past 4 years, and like so many people who end up here, I moved to L.A. to realize my dream of becoming a successful actor. I’m still working on that dream, and I work towards it every day, but if my happiness were based solely on my career, let’s just say I wouldn’t be winning any Miss Congeniality awards. One of the things that has helped make me a more well-rounded and consequently happier person has been cross-fit and following a mostly paleo diet. But, it’s been quite the journey leading me up to this point. Join me in my blog as I reflect on the crazy road that’s lead me here.10 Articles

    A Chicago Native and a classically trained singer, Dani has performed all over the world and the country in exciting places like Carnegie Hall. Singing transitioned to acting as she took part in stage productions all over Chicago where she worked with many talented actors and Steppenwolf directors. After moving to Los Angeles she has been working consistently in television, soaps, film and new media. One of her most notable projects to date is Lionsgate/Machinima’s successful Series ‘Bite Me’. In addition to acting and singing, Dani’s interests and talents are extended behind the camera as a Screenwriter and a Creative Producer. Having been an athlete most of her life, she enjoys performing her own stunts, firearms, boxing and riding horses. As a self proclaimed adventure junkie, Dani loves the outdoors. Hiker, camper, fisherman and equestrian are the few roles she plays in her everyday life.10 Articles

    Michelle Kantor co-founded Cinefemme, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization for women directors, while studying at San Francisco State University. She is the youngest daughter of political refugees who fled Communist Czechoslovakia in the 1960's, and is currently producing two films about her family's historic escape from behind the Iron Curtain: RED STAR, a feature documentary following her father's return on the 50th anniversary of his escape, and THE REBEL, a narrative feature film screenplay written by Michelle, based on their lives. She also directs performance art videos for painter Tara Savelo, former Haus of Gaga member and writes the blog www.ultra-luxurious.com. Michelle's body of work includes short films, experimental narratives, documentaries, and live work for circus performers at San Francisco's Teatro Zinzanni. Her music video "Highway To Yodel-Ay-Hee-Huuu," starring America's Got Talent's Manuela Horn, won Best Music Video at LA Femme Film Festival in 2014. Her production credits include work for HBO, FYI, The History Channel, Sony, Universal, and NASA. An advocate for epilepsy, her groundbreaking film "Bettina in the Fog" won the Thunen Award by the Illuminating Engineers Society. Michelle's other distinctions include the Goldfarb Award for Best Student Film and funding from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation for Cinefemme. She holds an MFA in Cinema from San Francisco State University and BFA in Film Production from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Michelle is a certified paralegal, mother, writer and artist. An active member of the female filmmaking community, Michelle belongs to WIF, AWD and Film Fatales.10 Articles

    Cindy Marie Jenkins is a Writer from Los Angeles who currently lives in Orlando for [NDA Redacted]. She’s an Arts Communicator specializing in gender parity and community outreach. She can be found @cindymariej on twitter and instagram.10 Articles

    Lavetta Cannon is a nerd/writer/improviser living in Los Angeles where she is in training to become a “cougar.” She loves eating carbs and all things Japanese. When she’s not listening to a plethora of podcasts, she is watching an inappropriate amount of television. Follow her on twitter@lavetta_cannon or on instagram@lavettacannon.10 Articles

    Ayelette Robinson is an actor, voiceover artist, and producer. Previously an attorney and multiple award-winning legal technologist, she is the founder of ActorsGuru, a career management tool for actors, as well as of Cross Carefully Productions LLC. She just premiered and launched her award-winning web series, The Couch, with an innovative Choose Your Own Adventure structure, and is in development on her first feature film, Love & Embalming Fluid. She is a passionate proponent of advancing the roles and visibility of women and people of color in front of and behind the camera, and is proud to have produced The Couch with a diverse and almost all-female cast and crew. An avid supporter of animal welfare, she is also on the Board of K9 Youth Alliance, an organization that brings together youth and shelter dogs. She shares her journey on Instagram @ayeletterobinson.10 Articles

    Actress Burgandi Phoenix, is currently working in several independent feature films, slated to begin production in the summer of 2016. She has produced 2 short films for the 48 Hour Film Festival and is working towards producing her first feature film in 2016/2017. Burgandi is often described by those she has worked with, in class and on set, as a positive, bright light, with endless energy. She is working very hard, towards being on Prime Time Television, as well as, in her fist major motion picture. She aspires to work with, Tom Hanks, Charlize Theron, Meryl Streep, William H. Macy, Lena Dunham, Gina Rodriguez, Seth McFarlane, Patricia Arquette, Angelia Jolie, Zooey Deschanel, and Jeffery Tambour.... just to name a few. She has had extensive training including UCB, Lesly Kahn, Stella Adler, The Laura Henry Studio and is currently enrolled in an ongoing class at the Stuart Rogers Studio. Burgandi's danced as a company member with the Tucson School of Ballet and Ballet Rincon for several years and eventually went onto train in belly dancing, salsa, ballroom, modern and lyrical. She is currently the national spokesperson for talentboom.com, an entertainment media company and a huge animal lover.9 Articles

    Andrea Adams Spellman is a Colorado transplant who has worked at companies including Anonymous Content, WME Entertainment, Team Todd and Davis Entertainment. She has received credit in Disney’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND, THE ROMANTICS and CHRONICLE. Andrea produced the documentary MY AMITYVILLE HORROR on Netflix, DVD and VOD. Andrea now works for a software company that supports the entertainment industry by day and (attempts to) write by night. Andrea fosters dogs through Much Love Animal Rescue, is a Daughter of the American Revolution and a P.E.O. member. She got married in September 2015 and her current obsessions include her husband's shrimp tacos, Stranger Things and tennis.9 Articles

    Director/Actor - Michigan native, Ally Zonsius, made her acting debut at 16, playing Elaine Harper in her high school’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace. With a subtle combination of sweetness and strength, she knew then a 9-5 was not in the cards and her aspiration to spend a life being creative began. It didn’t take long for Ally to pack up her suitcases and migrate to Southern California where she has been a rising award-winning director and actor for film, television and theatre.9 Articles

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