Hello  ✨ 

Happy June, and 🌈Happy Pride🌈!! We missed you! The TLL team has been extra busy this spring, so we're taking it slow this summer. BUT we'll still be sharing the need-to-knows on virtual events, Hollywood news, industry skill building and more. There’s still a lot going on in the wide world of film, so let’s get to it, babes! 💖

• Did you miss our last virtual event with Seed x Spark? If you couldn’t make it to “Art of the Pitch,” or you’re feeling FOMO about missing a virtual mixer or writing session, fear not! Learn more about crowdfunding from this article “What’s Wrong with My Crowdfunding Pitch, this tiktok on Where to Find Footage for a Crowdfunding Video or keep an out for more events in our newsletter!

• Our editorial pieces are all written by female and GNC filmmakers, providing perspectives that aren’t often featured on typical film websites. in this edition of TLL Highlights, we're sharing two ✍️NEW✍️ posts that do just that:  The powerful and irrational fear of our own sexuality and that of those around us is called “erotophobia,” and historically the TV industry spread the message that sex was not something to be acknowledged in the public sphere. Chelsey Morgan writes for TLL how that on-screen history was enough for them to become a a Sex Educator and an Intimacy Coordinator.  In a new piece for TLL, Sophie Hayssen analyses how Promising Young Woman speaks to a reality of womanhood in which society minimizes and ignores women’s trauma. Read more here.

• Black, queer, an immigrant and a woman. Filmmaker Funkuin Sam details her her struggle to reclaim her identity, and how those labels have fueled her creativity: “This mentally and physically damaging odyssey is yet the most satisfying euphoria known to any artist...I’m able to chop and arrange visuals from something I filmed myself then manufacture it to express all the thoughts and emotions inside.”

• RomComs, but make them intersectional. We’re shining the Project Spotlight on dynamic duo Kyra Jones and Juli, who play India and Margo in their web series. “The Right Swipe.” It’s the story of two best friends who begin a business ~finessing~ the dating profiles of single bachelors.

• Meet So Yun Um! As a film critic, she highlights international, indie and genre films. In her own work, she explores the intimate stories of marginalized people through her poetic visual language and poignant editing style. Read up on what she does in our interview with her. 

• Finding a mentor can change your life! It happened for Alexa Jordan, who was looking for a literal — and figurative — seat at the film industry table. She found one when she became a production assistant to Catherine Filloux, an award winning playwright and a human rights activist. Here’s how that moment changed Alexa’s mind on collaboration.

• It’s Pride Month and some of the largest networks curated programming, news, and streamable content to celebrate. HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video both launched pages of tailored films and shows that feature the LGBTQ+ stories and creators from their libraries. Showtime, NBC Universal, and Paramount + all will be showing more programming both old and new to honor Pride Month.

• As of May 26, 2021, Amazon officially bought MGM for $8.45 billion. This means Amazon has now acquired more than 4,000 films and 17,000 hours of television that will soon be made available to Prime Video subscribers. 

• The trailer dropped for the Gossip Girl revival hitting HBO Max on July 8th. From the looks of it, Manhattan’s elite are still no match against the power of GG, but this time via social media instead of the classic blog. A whole new cast of socialites enter the scene, including fashion writer turned actress Tavi Gevinson. But one thing remains true to the original, Kristen Bell being the voice of the drama and we cannot wait to hear her classic sign off - XOXO, Gossip Girl

• Ava Duvernay’s ARRAY, the collective for POC and women filmmakers teams up with Google to launch a $500K Film Grant. The grant will provide one underrepresented creative with the funding for their first full-length feature film. This is a way to build and amplify a more inclusive community of creatives.es and ignores women’s trauma.

• Take some tips from our founder, Kim Hoyos, about all things online branding. Here, she’s breaking down the best ways to showcase your work on the platforms we already use daily! You can keep reading helpful career tips and guides in our advice column, The Hustle!

• Calling all women and nonbinary filmmakers!! Want to be featured on TLL? Fill out our form to be considered for crowdfunding, interviews, project spotlights, and more.

• Submissions have officially opened for the 2022 Athena Film Festival! The festival celebrates women leaders across the globe. If you have a short film or script ready for Athena to see, check the site for more details about submission deadlines and requirements.

• 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! ✨