Sophie Hayssen explores ‘Promising Young Woman’ through the lens of justice for victims and survivors of sexual assault and abuse and where the film connected and disconnected with these real-world issues.

There are some things you need to keep in mind when you start crowdfunding and pitching! We want to dedicate this edition to the Hustle to answering “What’s Wrong with My Crowdfunding Pitch?”. When making your crowdfunding pitch, there’s a few key things that may prevent you from getting the buy in from the audience that YOU need to pull it off. Read on below to learn 4 key tips….

Whether it’s in directing for television, film or branded content — or even writing for your favorite tv show, these Asian American and Pacific Islander creators are making a splash on screen with their artistic vision! Read on to learn about Amina Munir, Emily Ting, Christina Xing, Karen Chee, Diane Paragas and Ravenna Tran.

Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp is a genderqueer, pansexual creator who examines the impact of Hunter Schafer's influence on HBO's Euphoria both personally and in the industry. Sophie dissects the HBO storyline that covers trans and queer identity and is modeled after Schafer's own experiences.y stage of production is critical to equitable and realistic representations of our lived experiences.

The Queen’s Gambit, follows Beth Harmon, a prodigious young woman who attempts to enter the male-dominated sphere of competitive chess. Critics have praised it for its cinematography but Dhara Patel explores how feminist a show can be when it’s still created in the male gaze.

The Light Leak is all about sharing information, inspiring, and supporting women and nonbinary filmmakers. So we took a critical look at how the Golden Globes has amplified (or not) the voices of women and BIPOC communities.

At the Light Leaks, we use different virtual tools to keep us on schedule for our editorial site, graphics, social media, and events! From what we use to track graphics to how we communicate as a team, check out the apps we use to ensure we’re making TLL the best it can be.

In this edition of The Hustle, feminist career strategist, Cynthia Pong, answers the question “What should I do if I don’t think my job is a good fit anymore?” with real tips and an action plan that anyone can follow!

If you’re a beginner editor, check out these tutorials ALL BY WOMEN (!!!) to learn more about video editing. Each video is free, hosted on youtube, and a great place to start if you’re new to the craft!

The Hustle is an advice section from the Light Leaks. If you’re a beginner in screenwriting for fiction short films, or going back to revise an old idea- this is the article for you. This easy breakdown was written by our founder, Kim Hoyos, and includes tips she’s learned from studying film, reading film books, and personal experience.

We created this master list of free PDFs for download because one major barrier, especially for students, women, BIPOC, and people living with a disability, is the financial barrier of higher education dedicated to film and tv. Education should be accessible. This list will be updated as more books are found and if a link is broken please feel free to reach out to us at kim@thelightleaks.com)

Anita Markoff is a freelance journalist and published poet, who is currently doing a Creative Writing MA in Scotland. They were able to view the premiere of Ashley by Jamie Crewe at the Glasglow film and it was the first time they’ve been able to see nonbinary representation by a nonbinary director.

Online branding doesn’t have to be intimidating, read some tips from our founder on how to make it more approachable.

Maya Korn is an NYC based producer who’s sharing her tips on what every aspiring producer should ask themselves before going into the field.

Think you can’t find a feminist icon in a soapy teen drama? Think again- Friday Night Light’s Tami Taylor is a fan favorite for that very reason. Read Sophie Hayssen’s debrief on Tami’s influence.

Marissa Domantay writes about her experiences as a Filipina creative and how Asian representation in Hollywood oftentimes means just one ‘type’ of Asian.

Fletcher Peters examines her own views of death and spirituality through the show Fleabag.

Arsal Asal breaks down how her creativity survived through the production of a short film, filled with taboos, while in her home country of Turkey and its’ restrictive media.

Queer films are overwhelmingly male- both behind the camera and on screen. Queer film criticism writer Ryan Coleman breaks down the historical importance of female directed and female focused Desert Hearts and its’ influence on Queer cinema.

Film writer Sophie Hayssen discusses the intricacies of Big Little Lies’s domestic abuse plot line through the lens of the Me Too movement’s ousting of public figures. With the manipulative tendencies of abusers to appear like good people, Sophie breaks down the complexity of public personas.