Host Tara Jabbari talks with Michael Kennedy, one of the screenwriters and executive producers of the rom-com slasher horror film, Heart Eyes. Released a week before Valentine’s Day in February 2025, Heart Eyes - directed by Josh Ruben and starring Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding - was met with positive reviews and grossed nearly $30 million in its first month. In their conversation, Tara and Michael discuss his experience writing solo versus with a writing partner. They talk about how each department on Heart Eyes incorporated various tropes, homages, and much more. In time for the Halloween season, Heart Eyes is now available to stream on various platforms, including Netflix.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cRzZcMlJh8

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Host Sandra Abrams has a lively conversation with James Beard Award winning chef, author, and TV show host, Pati Jinich. Pati shares insights on how she blends food, culture, and history into the making of her PBS docuseries, “Pati Jinich Explores Panamericana” - now streaming on the PBS app. In the series, Pati loosely tracks the “Pan-American Highway” where she travels from Alaska to Canada visiting the food scene in remote towns. In each episode, Pati weaves together culture, the history of migration, and food to help the audience understand what brings us together.

In this conversation, Pati shares funny and colorful stories, including how her own family history of emigrating to Mexico from Poland helped her connect with the owner of a bagel and bialy stand in Alaska. The series reinforces that we often connect by sharing memories of the same family experiences with food.

In addition to this three-part series, Pati has an Emmy-nominated public television series, Pati’s Mexican Table, which premiered its 14th season in September, and a James Beard Award-winning PBS primetime docuseries, La Frontera with Pati Jinich. Pati is also featured on the cover of Bethesda Magazine’s September/October issue, “Women Who Inspire: Meet local leaders who are making an impact now.”

To learn more about Pati and her projects:

https://patijinich.com/

https://www.pbs.org/show/pati-jinich-explores-panamericana/

https://www.pbs.org/show/patis-mexican-table/

https://www.pbs.org/show/la-frontera-pati-jinich/

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/28/women-who-inspire-2025/

https://www.instagram.com/patijinich/

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!

Host Candice Bloch interviews Steve Cohen, the Emmy Award-winning executive producer of HBO Max's documentary 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes.' Steve is Billy Joel’s longtime lighting designer, creative director, trusted collaborator, and close friend. He was handpicked by Billy to build a team that would tell his story in this documentary.

In the episode, Candice and Steve discuss the evolution of lighting design in music, the impact of lighting on live performances, and the transition from lighting design to film production. Steve shares insights on the collaborative process of creating the documentary, assembling the team (including co-directors Susan Levy and Jessica Levin), the importance of including family and friends in the narrative, and the challenges of sourcing quality archival material, especially from the earlier years. He also reflects on the emotional journey of watching the documentary and the audience's connection to Billy Joel's music, while hinting at future projects.

The two-part documentary, “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” is an extensive look at Billy Joel's life and prolific music career, featuring exclusive interviews, performances, and personal archives. Released in July of 2025, the documentary is available on HBO Max.

Support the show

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Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!