How many years have you been a judge?
1-3
What are your responsibilities in your current role and what do you love most about your job?
As Founder and Producer of Female Funded Films, I develop and produce projects from the earliest idea through production, while also building the partnerships, creative teams, and financing needed to bring those stories to life. Our focus is on women-led filmmaking and meaningful stories that can entertain while creating impact.
What I love most is bringing people together around a story that deserves to be told. Producing is equal parts creative instinct, entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and perseverance—and I love all of it. There is nothing quite like watching an idea that began as a conversation become something audiences can experience.
What inspired you to pursue your career path?
I came to film later in life, after a long career as an entrepreneur, retailer, and Pilates professional. I had always been creative, but eventually I reached a point where I decided that if I wanted to work in film, I needed to stop thinking about it and simply begin.
I started acting, which quickly opened my eyes to the larger world of storytelling and production. Producing became a natural extension of my entrepreneurial background. I realized that many of the skills I had spent a lifetime developing—building businesses, recognizing opportunities, assembling teams, taking calculated risks, and refusing to give up—translated beautifully to filmmaking. That realization ultimately led me to create Female Funded Films.
What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?
My entry into the industry was as an actor. One of my early experiences was appearing in Babylon, alongside an extraordinary ensemble that included Margot Robbie, Jean Smart, Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire and directed by Damien Chazelle. That week of filming was a lesson in mastery. I later co-starred in Nathan Fielder’s HBO series The Rehearsal and again watched genius in motion. I witnessed greats dedicated to their craft.
Being on professional sets taught me how collaborative filmmaking truly is. Every person—from the actors and director to camera, sound, wardrobe, production, and the many people whose names audiences may never know—contributes to what ultimately appears on screen. It gave me enormous respect for the craft and for the people behind it, something I carry with me as a producer.
What do you look for to determine excellence in video?
For me, excellence begins with whether a piece makes me feel something. Technical execution matters enormously, but beautiful cinematography alone cannot replace authentic storytelling.
I look for a clear point of view, emotional truth, originality, strong pacing, intentional visual choices, and an understanding of the audience. I also pay attention to whether every creative element—performance, direction, cinematography, sound, editing, and music—is serving the same story. The best work feels cohesive and stays with you after the screen goes dark.
What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?
One project especially close to my heart is MINDFIELD, a documentary initiative centered on veterans and first responders and the possibility of post-traumatic growth. We are exploring deeply personal stories of resilience, purpose, community, and what can happen when people are given the tools and support to rebuild their lives.
Through Female Funded Films, I am also developing a slate of narrative and documentary projects while continuing my work as an actor. I’m particularly excited by projects that combine compelling storytelling with meaningful social impact. I believe entertainment can move us while also opening conversations that might otherwise never happen.
Tell us about a moment of recognition that had an effect on you – whether personal or official? What does recognition mean to you and why is it important in our industry?
One particularly meaningful moment was seeing one of our Female Funded Films projects, BETTER FATE THAN NEVER, recognized at The City of Angels Film Festival as Best Comedy Short. Awards are wonderful, but what affected me most was realizing that people outside our immediate creative circle had connected with something we had worked so hard to bring to life.
Recognition in our industry is about more than a trophy. At its best, it says, “We saw your work.” That matters enormously in a business where artists and filmmakers can spend years creating something before knowing whether it will connect. Recognition can give an emerging filmmaker confidence, bring attention to an overlooked story, open a door, or provide the momentum that allows someone to make the next project. That is why organizations like the Telly Awards have such an important role.
Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?
I stay curious. I talk to people, travel, listen to their stories, observe what is happening around me, and try not to dismiss an idea simply because it seems unconventional.
I also believe strongly in action. Creativity can get stalled when we overthink an idea or wait for perfect circumstances. I would rather explore an idea, put something on paper, make the call, shoot something, or bring people into the conversation. Movement creates momentum, and momentum often creates the breakthrough.
In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?
We are experiencing an extraordinary democratization of storytelling. Technology, new distribution models, short-form and vertical content, and emerging AI tools are changing who can create and how quickly stories can reach an audience.
That creates tremendous opportunity, but it also makes authenticity even more valuable. Technology should expand what storytellers can do—not replace the human experience at the center of storytelling. My approach is to remain curious about new tools while staying grounded in story, ethics, craft, and emotional truth. Platforms and technology will continue to change; our need to connect through meaningful stories will not.
What excites you about judging for the Telly Awards?
I’m excited by the opportunity to discover exceptional work from creators I may not otherwise encounter. As both an actor and producer, I understand how much thought, courage, collaboration, and persistence can exist behind even a few minutes of finished content.
I also love that the Telly Awards recognize excellence across such a broad spectrum of screen-based storytelling. Judging gives me an opportunity not only to evaluate the work, but to learn from it. I expect to come away inspired by the creativity, innovation, and different perspectives represented in this year’s entries.
