StudioDaily is proud to announce its first roster of Exceptional Women in Production and Post!
The Exceptional Women honorees include power players in the C-suite whose decision-making helps dictate the future of content, as well as the experts and visionaries in the trenches whose hard work and leadership guarantees the success of individual projects. Their contributions drive media-makers to new heights in the era of immersive content, influencer marketing and peak TV. And these exceptional women are mentors and role models who help advance the progress and recognition of all women in production and post.
StudioDaily’s Exceptional Women hail from all corners of the media industry, from creatives and craftspeople to executives and engineers. They create great media, from feature films and episodic programming to cutting-edge VR experiences, branded content and advertising. These powerful women are paving the way for their successors and encouraging gender parity in the industry.
Bryant Frazer
bfrazer@accessintel.com
Mary-Lou French
mfrench@accessintel.com
Kathryn Hempel's award-winning feats include editing P&G's acclaimed Always "Like A Girl" campaign. Famous not just for its record-setting awards tally, this global campaign is credited with galvanizing women in the vital mission of bolstering the confidence of girls. Hempel's portfolio includes spots for Burrell, Commonwealth/McCann, Cossette, Cramer Krasselt, DDB, DigitasLBi, DraftFCB, Energy BBDO, Leo Burnett, mcgarrybowen, Ogilvy, R/GA and Saatchi & Saatchi. She has also edited web films, videos, shorts and long-format documentaries, all spotlighting her ability to create and cut to the essence of a story. Hempel is co-writer and editor of Road to Roubaix, a documentary about the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic in France. She also directed and edited the documentary film "Ox-Bow," which screened at the Tribeca International Film and Video Festival. Her work for Whirlpool via DigitasLBi won Cannes Lions Grand Prix, Gold and Bronze Awards. Hempel is founder of the international Camp Kuleshov, an editing, design and sound competition for assistants in Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) member companies. She was honored in 2016 with a Women in Film Chicago Focus Award and is also a proud member of the Curatorial Committee for the AICP Awards and Clio Awards Film Jury for Editing in Film Technique.
Who’s your favorite female character in movies or TV? Growing up, I appreciated the legendary Mary Tyler Moore’s Mary Richards character and loved looking for her MTM logo, along with Lucille Ball’s earlier DesiLu Productions and, later on, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios, at the end of their TV shows. It was so cool that not only were they amazing and fun women for a million reasons, but they also owned their own production companies! I realize now that Mary Pickford originally blazed the trail, co-founding United Artists Corporation way back in 1919, and there has been a recent explosion of many talented women writers, actors, and directors who are also studio executives.
What topic do you think will dominate media industry headlines in 2019, and why? I hope we will begin to hear about companies eliminating toxins and plastics and improving our environment.
What can people in the industry do, today, to help reduce gender discrimination? To reduce gender discrimination, we would all be better served to mentor, hire and promote those who are underrepresented in our industry.
What famous women, living or dead, would you like to have dinner with? I would be honored to have dinner with the amazing and courageous Malala Yousafzai, along with Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. We'd have a great time covering a lot of topics.
What have you seen or read recently that inspired you? I have been inspired, motivated, saddened and filled with pride for all involved in the “America to Me” documentary series. It hits home following the lives of some of my kid’s peers at Oak Park and River Forest High School. A lot of friends and neighbors are having meaningful discussions about the documentary and race relations in our community. I am also excited to continue to edit stories, make art, and share a new love and vote message to the world: LOVE EARLY LOVE OFTEN. 