I often think about my younger self, that wildly ambitious film student with a zillion ideas. Sure, some of them were over-the-top. Maybe even what the kids now call “delulu.” But as I grew into the woman I am today, I started realizing something uncomfortable: somewhere along the way, we fumbled the role of the director a little bit. We’ve overextended talent. We’ve burned people out. We’ve confused accessibility with availability. And sometimes, we’ve slowly chipped away at the core of what makes great creatives great in the first place.

I remember being told this director thing was straightforward. I’d watch all those men in backward hats pointing across the set with so much bravado and think, I’m gonna be a powerhouse too... just in my own way. As madame director, I imagined I’d oversee performances, define the visual language, and sit in the fancy chair with SHAW on the back. I wanted to tell deeply focused, culturally rich stories through my feminine lens. Stories the industry desperately needs more of.

That was the handshake deal, right?

Boy, was I wrong. I love this job but being a director today means being half marketer, half visionary, half writer, half business strategist, and half therapist (Trust me on this one... I’ve led more than a few crew heart-to-hearts). You realize I’m running out of halves, right?

Breaking into directing is one thing. Sustaining a career in today’s commercial landscape is the real challenge. Yes, I want creative control. But at what cost? Sometimes it feels like the goalpost keeps moving. You mean I gotta do the treatment, pull off a stellar campaign in fewer days than it probably requires, help tighten the script, attend the client dinner with a smile, jump online to... Read More