After graduating with a theatre degree from UCLA, I went to London where I studied Performance Theory at the Central School of Speech and Drama. When I returned to the United States, I made a living as a paralegal and started a theatre company in San Francisco. We incorporated as a 501(c)(3), produced several plays and an annual shorts festival of plays and films accompanied by live, originally composed music.
It wasn't until moving to New York City that I gravitated more to the study of film... I often joke I studied theatre in the U.S. city known for film (Los Angeles) and film in the city known for theatre (New York). I began producing films with friends, similar to the work I did in theatre. I took on many roles. I helped with production management. I did some cinematography. I worked as a grip. Whatever was necessary. During my MA at the CUNY Graduate Center, I wrote a thesis on female directors in film in the United States. I interviewed a ton of incredible people and wrote a thesis exploring the challenges and accomplishments of women directors in the United States Film Industry - The 2nd Sex and the 7th Art.
I went directly from obtaining my MA to matriculating at CCNY for an MFA in Film Production. Soon after, I started working as an Assistant Editor and Editor where I was able to use many of the skills that I acquired from producing theatre and in my capacity as a paralegal. I continue to engage in theatre with Undiscovered Works Theatre Company in New York City and working with friends on films while also working on larger studio projects.