I graduated with a theatre degree from UCLA where I learned all about putting plays on the stage. I studied lighting design with Prof. Neil Jampolis giving me the opportunity to paint with light and sound for the stage. In my required costume design class I learned a ton despite barely passing my lab work where I created sewing samples that were sometimes a little wonky. I studied directing and acting at UCLA - and went to London where I continued with 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 short plays and films.
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 for 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 camera work. I worked as a grip. Whatever was necessary. During my MA where I wrote a thesis on female directors in film in the United States I taught myself how to work sound and camera and interviewed a ton of incredible people. My early interviews look a lot different than my later ones thanks to all that learning. I conducted 100 interviews in a variety of places with various challenges.
After graduating from my MFA in Film Production I started working as an Assistant Editor and Editor where I found that many of the skills I acquired from producing theatre and working as a paralegal translated well. I continue to do theatre work with Undiscovered Works Theatre Company in New York City and work with friends on films as I make a living working on larger studio projects.