Tell us a bit about your organization and what your specialty is in the film and video space.

Gal Pal Films centers the lives of women with rich cinematic storytelling, impact‑driven documentaries and scripted series that move hearts, policy, and culture. At Gal Pal, women’s voices and experiences are the blockbusters. We center the lives and stories of women first, best, and always.

What is your organization’s ethos and how does it set you apart from industry competitors?

Gal Pal was born from a simple truth: women drive culture, the economy, and community, yet the systems that tell, fund, and distribute their stories still belong to someone else. We are kicking down the doors of traditionally male-dominated media and centering the lives, voices, and experiences of women—in films, books, and live events.

How can people join or learn more about what you do?

Visit us at wearegalpal.com

Tell us about your Telly Award winning piece. What’s the story behind it?

Help Solve a Murder is docu-series lifting up the voices and experiences of Black and Brown mothers affected by gun violence in Portland, OR. Gun violence prevention advocate Asianique Savage has dedicated her life to preventing gun violence, after losing both her mother and younger brother to gun deaths. Her creation of this powerful series helps center and elevate the stories of families and communities in desperate need of resources and support from legislators, political leaders, and advocacy groups nationwide.

What are you most proud of about this piece? What was your biggest challenge during production and how did you solve it?

We are most proud of the impact this project has had on getting it into the hands of local Portland legislators and law enforcement to bring about change and justice for these families. The biggest challenge of a project like this is to support the families in every possible way while bringing their stories to the screen. The interview and production process takes a lot of time and requires large emotional space and lots of care for people to share their experiences. This can mean a longer, more drawn out production schedule. The solution for this is to make the space, take the time, and provide an environment for everyone to tell their own stories in their own way and at their own pace.

Do you have any advice to other filmmakers based on your career or your team’s approach to work?

Do the work, and it takes as long as it takes. Rushed work is worse than no work at all. Give your subjects the space and time to tell their stories authentically and in their own way.

Tell us about the most memorable response you got from this work.

Episode one of the series has been accepted into many film festivals, won a variety of awards, and now has the attention of many in local Portland leadership actively working to help solve the murder case featured in the episode.

Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’

… capturing stories authentically, with people telling their own stories in their own way.