Behind the Lens: Sara Seligman on Amplifying Voices in Film

In this episode of the She+ Geeks Out podcast presented by Inclusion Geeks, we interview Sara Seligman, a writer, producer, and director whose work includes the film "Ramadan America" and the feature "Coyote Lake." Sara shares her journey from training as a ballet dancer in Mexico to becoming an actress in telenovelas to transitioning into directing and producing films. She discusses the challenges of breaking into the industry as a Latina and the complexities of different directing and producing roles in film and television. Sara also touches on the significance and controversies of the term 'Latinx,' and the importance of diverse representation in the media.

 

We also discuss our journey from "She Geeks Out" to "Inclusion Geeks," explaining how our name change better reflects our dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training. Join us as we discuss our evolution from "Boston Girl Geek Dinners" to our current mission, highlighting our broader focus beyond gender to include race, ethnicity, social class, disability, and more.

Links we discussed:

• Ramadan America
• Coyote Lake
• Sara Seligman Instagram
• Inclusion Geeks
• Inclusion Geeks Instagram

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Podcast Rebranding

(00:53) The Evolution of Our Name

(03:40) Why 'Inclusion Geeks'?

(06:34) Celebrating Birthdays and Switching Topics

(08:13) Interview with Sarah Seligman

(09:37) Sarah's Villain Origin Story

(18:05) Moving to LA and Producing Films

(27:16) Role of a Line Producer

(28:46) Balancing Director and Producer Responsibilities

(32:55) Breaking into Directing

(33:42) Challenges in Different Directing Fields

(37:50) Commercials vs. Narrative Directing

(45:38) Leadership and Management in Film

(52:28) Representation and Identity in Film

(01:01:40) Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.