Women In Media’s Festive Fundraiser Shines a Spotlight on Female Talent
Women In Media (WIM) continues its mission to bring balance to the entertainment industry by empowering women both in front of and behind the camera. Under the visionary leadership of founder and executive director Tema L. Staig, the organization recently hosted its Holiday Toast 2024 fundraiser at the Sofitel hotel in Los Angeles.
This celebration brought together industry powerhouses, trailblazing honorees, and rising stars. It was toast to innovation, creativity, and the people whose behind-the-scenes brilliance brings your favorite stories to life.
The event recognized four extraordinary women for their groundbreaking contributions to the industry:
Geneva Nash Morgan - Special effects makeup artist behind Planet of the Apes (2001) and Star Trek: Insurrection.
Ellen H. Schwartz - First AD and executive producer whose work includes Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries.
Helena Jackson: A camera operator with credits ranging from Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour to the Oscars.
Jeannine Oppewall: A production designer who shaped the visuals of LA Confidential and Catch Me If You Can.
Tichina Arnold (Martin, Everybody Hates Chris), Rebecca Cutter (Hightown), Donna Deitch (Desert Hearts), and Michael A. Joseph (Girl Meets World, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) were the toastmasters, and they delighted the crowd.
Guests bid on incredible prizes via the Givebutter app and took home glamorous gift bags brimming with treats from many brands including RCMA—a favorite of makeup artists working on set— and OHIU.
Heart of Hollywood CEO/Publisher Giovanna Salas and Editor Sandy Rodriguez attended the event to document the magic.
They interviewed a host of luminaries, including honorees Ellen H. Schwartz, who showed a fabulous sense of humor when addressing the audience, and Jeannine Oppewall, as well as toastmaster Rebecca Cutter.
They also spoke with Bettina Sherick, founder of Hollywood in Pixels, a group that preserves digital movie marketing campaigns; Cameron Barrett, who creates films and online classes to inspire positive change; costume designer Betsy Heimann (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction); sound editor Vickie Sampson (Return of the Jedi, Donnie Darko); picture editor Andrea Bottigliero. Giovanna and Sandy also got to meet two talented young women who were chosen to take part in the WIM Developing Filmmaker Fellowship, Sayla U'ilani Whalen and Emma Forthofer.
Heart Of Hollywood Magazine’s interviews with these inspiring figures can be found on Instagram at @heartofhollywoodmagazine.
They all spoke highly of WIM and the opportunities it has created for mentorship, networking, and professional advancement. Years ago, in response to the excuses for why women were not being hired to work behind the scenes in entertainment, Tema L. Staig created the Women In Media Crew List, a Google doc that went viral. This gave way to a grassroots community that later became a vibrant organization. The searchable crew list database is now the go-to place to find, vet, and hire women above and below the line.
With its blend of advocacy and holiday cheer, the WIM Holiday Toast 2024 was more than an event; it was a movement.
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