This is EyeCandy. It’s a home for big industry names, before they’ve become big industry names. These directors make music videos, commercials, short films, social content and everything in between.
March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the incredible achievements of women throughout history.
This year’s theme is #BreakTheBias – a call to action, encouraging everyone to work together to help forge a better, more inclusive and gender-equal world.
We at MindsEye are joining this movement by celebrating the amazing achievements of our female directors, staff members and the film heroines – from on and off the screen – that have inspired them.
Happy International Women’s Day to all those who identify as women!
Strong Women From the World of Film
We asked our female directors and the women behind the scenes at the MindsEye office, to tell us about their female heroes from the world of film.
Amelia Hashemi
“One of the people I’m very taken by at the moment is actor/activist Yara Shahidi. I’m a little biased as she’s also half Iranian, and an Aquarius, but I just find her a compelling and impressive human, and still only in her early 20s. She’s been acting since she was tiny, landed a role in ‘Black-ish’ which catapulted her and gave her a huge platform she uses for good to inspire many younger generations to do things like vote…and I recently found out she’s squeezed in Harvard. I’m interested to see what she’ll get up to at 42, a lot I imagine.”
Danielle Krieger (Mindcastle)
“While there are many people and famous celebs to be inspired by, I’ve always found the most inspiration from people that I know and that I’m close with because you can be aware of not only their successes but also the hard work and struggles they had to get there. I’m inspired by my friend Elena Hansen. She started a successful social media company, Swim Social that works with brands and celebrities. She’s a visionary in what she does and is always innovating while also taking the time to help young talent and those in need. She’s never afraid to push me to be better in my work and more aware of what is going on in the world.”
Java Jacobs
“I first thought of mentioning older women in the industry who I admire dearly and who led the fight towards gender equality and broke the bias for the next generation to step into… but this year I’ll focus on the youngsters who are carrying the torch.
Cheers to Halle Bailey, Beanie Feldstein, Emerald Fennell, Aissatou Diallo Sagna, Zendaya, the list goes on.”
Sage Bennett
“One of my favorite female writers/actors that “breaks the bias” is Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I remember watching Fleabag and laughing so hard, it was such a breath of fresh air. Women are often pigeonholed into tropes like the manic pixie dream girl, the asexual career woman, the hot cool girl that loves junk food, or the crazy ex. Fleabag shows us a flawed, horny, witty, relatable and yet very original character. One of my favorite lines from the show is ‘I have a horrible feeling I am a greedy, perverted, selfish, apathetic, cynical, depraved, morally bankrupt woman who can’t even call herself a feminist.’ I am a big fan of Phoebe.”
Sammi Cohen
Although Sammi is a huge supporter of brilliant women in film, she’s also a busy, brilliant woman in film herself. Work on her debut feature film, Crush, a queer high-school coming of age comedy, has meant she hasn’t had the time to take part in our challenge. Crush will be worth it, trust us. Check it out on Hulu soon.
Zite Vincendeau-Verbraeken (Zite & Léo)
“I immediately thought about Barbarella. The character from the French comic, embodied by Jane Fonda in 1968 (a very… hot year in France) is the first character I saw on screen from that time who was as great an adventurer as any other male hero in a sci-fi/adventure film. And more importantly, her (insatiable) sexual appetite was never weaponised. She just has a good time, like any other James Bond from this era. She’s just a badass. And don’t get me started on her outfits.”
Debbie Ninnis
Executive Producer
“Lucy from Peanuts.
Lucy was the first female character I remember seeing on screen who was not a people pleaser or a side player. Strong and confident, she had a bit of a celebrated sarcastic, sassy streak and wasn’t afraid to show it. I remember thinking I wanted to be just like that.
She also spoke out for women’s rights. Which, considering that her first time on screen was 1952, made her a female ahead of her time.
Lucy you legend!”
Leah Joyce
Head of Sales
“No one breaks the bias more than Marge Gunderson in Fargo. The police chief played by the always brilliant Frances McDormand is so unexpected with her small town mannerisms and heavily pregnant belly, but shows us why you should never underestimate a woman. Oh yah!”
Annie Maguire
Production Assistant
“Micahela Coel is an actor, producer and writer who created and starred in ‘I May Destroy You.’ It’s so hard to succinctly write how much of an inspiration she is to me, but her show gave a voice to suvivors of sexual assault, helped educate generations both old and young whilst depicting an all black leading cast with complex and nuanced character traits. Michaela Coel spoke her truth unapologetically and has created a conversation on consent, I truly believe she has changed the future of television, I am so excited to see what she creates next.”
Mana Mahmoudzadeh
Front of House
“‘Little Women’ is one of those movies that catches your attention as it has strong female characters as leads, who have dynamic and unique identities. Even though the film is based in the late 1800s, women can still relate to aspects in this story, especially to the main character Josephine “Jo” March as she breaks bias by choosing her career over the traditional path of marriage and a family. For International Women’s Day we should especially look around and praise women who do both, maintain a challenging career whilst also providing for a family.”
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