Hello  ✨ 

Happy New Year, lovelies! Hope you all had a happy & healthy holiday break and didn’t miss us too much. 😉 Welcome back to The Light Leaks Highlights: your biweekly dose of all things TLL. From industry news to upcoming events and skill-building opps, we've got you covered! Ready to dive back in?

Meet the Social Team

For the past 2 editions, we’ve devoted this space to introducing the talented folks behind TLL’s operations. Last edition we highlighted the newsletter team. This time, it’s all about our social pod. Meet the talented trio that keeps our social media channels alive and well!

Lauren is head over heels in love with all things film! Hailing from Austin, Texas, she is a passionate and personable content creator using art as a driving force for positive change in the world. She began her career in the film industry as a digital marketing intern for Women Make Movies in New York City.

Maria is an NJ-based social media strategist and content creator with a BA in Journalism and Media Studies from Rutgers University. She has a passion for managing social and her past experiences include work for Elvis Duran, Scarlet PR, and more. Maria is excited about using social media to educate, inspire, and inform others.

Brielle is a NJ-based writer and content creator currently studying Communication and Media Arts at Montclair State University. She's passionate about using her media skills to combine her two loves: entertainment and social justice. Outside of her academics, Brielle is the head of the video team for the campus newspaper.

• Trying to level up in your career this year? Badass WOC career strategist Cynthia Pong is here to back you up! Get the no-BS down-low on what to do if you don’t think your job is a good fit anymore.

• Don’t let imposter syndrome get the best of you. Dropping valuable gems about crushing self-doubt, creating influential media, and combating exclusivity in film is Sesame Street’s lead digital designer Breonna Rodriguez — go and collect them!

• Idk who needs to hear this… but all your hard work and dedication will one day pay off! 💪Don’t believe us? Let these female & non-binary filmmakers tell you themselves in our latest YouTube playlist.

• The 11th Edition of the Athena Film Festival is returning virtually in March to celebrate Women’s History Month! You can expect a full program of documentaries, feature films and shorts, plus panel conversations that examine the challenges all around us and envision a new future with women leaders at the forefront. Stay tuned for more details! In the meantime, be sure to grab your early bird festival pass by February 1, and knock 10% off your order with our code: AFF10OFF

• Our first event of 2021 was one for the books! We partnered with friends at Seed & Spark for a goal setting workshop, thank you to all 120+ of you who joined in! Totally missed out, or simply need a recap? We got y’all. You can catch the recording on-demand now and download the free Goal Setting Workbook. Let us know how it works for you!

• Do you need stock music, SFX, or stock video for your projects? We’ve teamed up with Soundstripe to offer a discount to our TLL community! Use our affiliate link or code THELIGHTLEAKS to get some $ off.

• Bridgerton is taking the world by storm, becoming the most watched original series in Netflix history!  If you’re a fan (or curious about the hype!) head to the TLL Insta to see how this show breaks the mold of what’s expected in period pieces.⁠📲 

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 93 this year. While he’s no longer with us, his message carries on through generations and is echoed by the Black Lives Matter movement today. Here’s a list of films you can watch this MLK Day as we continue to reflect — and act —  for change, reform, and justice for all. 

• Just when awards season was hoping to rev up, strict lockdowns, social distancing, and hand sanitizer have taken the place of red carpets, gold statues, and acceptance speeches. From Sundance to the SAG Awards, here’s a breakdown of how awards shows are responding and adapting to the pandemic. 

• Netflix has released its first internal Diversity and Inclusion report focused on what representation within the company looks like now, and how Netflix plans to increase it in the future. 

• 🗣Tessa Thompson stans, ASSEMBLE!🗣 With roles in everything from Westworld to Avengers, she’s adding “executive producer” to her IMBD bio, too. She’s launched her own production company, “Viva Maude,” with HBO/HBO Max, where she'll be taking on film adaptations of two literary faves. Tessa — if you’re reading this and you’re hiring, you know where to find us.👀

• 🤑PAID OPPORTUNITY🤑Submissions are open! We’re looking for new women/nonbinary voices to publish on our site in the form of think pieces, interviews, feminist analyses, genre pieces and help guides. Writers of all levels are welcome! For more information, read over our guidelines on how to pitch to TLL. 

• 🎞SUBMISSIONS OPEN🎞We’re looking to highlight short films by rising female and GNC filmmakers. Do you want to get your work to a larger audience? Be part of our Project Spotlights feature focused on first- time and student filmmakers! Submit to this form for a chance to be featured.

• Have you bookmarked our list of opportunities for creators? We’re always updating this list with current film festivals, labs, funding opportunities and more. Deadlines are quickly approaching for a lot of these opportunities, so don’t miss out!

• Here at TLL, we value our community's needs and creative ideas. That's why we created The Light Leaks Feedback Form. Is there something you want to see more or less of from us? Submit your thoughts and let us know!

• Like what you see? Be sure to follow us on social for more highlights, more empowerment, and more education. Here's to spreading light ✨

Like what you see? Be sure to follow us on social media for more highlights, more empowerment, and more education. Here's to spreading light ✨