Network, Share Your Stories, and Be Inspired: Welcome to the Cinegirl Club
From cancelled premieres and virtual film festivals to the delay of production timelines across the world as waves of COVID-19 cases continued to scupper the best-laid plans, after almost two years of conducting so much of our work, industry, and connections remotely, gathering for the long-awaited launch of Cinegirl Club was a special moment.
The Cinegirl Club has been established in partnership with industry-leading motion picture equipment company Panavision to carve out a place for authentic, industry-inspired events designed to bring talent and industry together, and to provide a platform for insights and discussions from professionals across the film industry. Cinegirl Club enables members to unwind, receive industry guidance, and network to nurture genuine contacts and relationships - relationships based on mutual respect and a shared passion for the meaningful advancement of women and underrepresented voices in the film industry.
Our inaugural event centred around mental health and wellbeing on set, and we were thrilled to have wellbeing facilitator Leo Anna Thomas (they/ them) join us as our keynote speaker. Having worked as a Mental Health and Wellbeing Facilitator on multiple productions, including Amazon’s The Peripheral, Leo is also a Director of 6ft From the Spotlight, an organisation dedicated to advocating for industry-wide incorporation of mental health safeguarding for crew—both above and below the line—working on set.
Once our group had gathered and drinks had made the rounds, Leo held the floor to discuss the experiences that led them to consider the plight of mental health and wellbeing in production and on set. They shared their own struggles with mental health working on set as a member of the art department, providing invaluable context to their work and why it is evermore critical that, across the creative industries, we place mental health on a par with physical wellbeing in production.
The reality is that the majority of professionals working in the British creative industries move from one production to the next as freelance or self-employed crew members. This work by its very nature revolves around long and often anti-social hours during which crew are required to be away from home, without the support and regulation reflected in most professional corporate structures. The lack of stability, intense hours, and challenging working conditions can contribute to myriad mental health and wellbeing issues for crew members across the board - a reality which resonated with many of the group gathered at the Cinegirl Club. We heard from editors and producers, camera assistants and art department crew members - professionals from so many areas of the industry, who all shared the common experience of the toll that their work has taken, at one time or another, on the state of their mental health.
Guided by Leo’s insights, it was inspiring to hear such impassioned contributions from friends, colleagues, and new faces in the room at Notting Hill’s The Little Yellow Door.
Leo’s experiences and work visibly struck a chord: stories were shared, questions were answered, and the meaningful safeguarding of mental health and wellbeing on set was encouraged and discussed at length - amidst much laughter and over drinks and a selection of The Little Yellow Door’s utterly delectable canapes.
The Cinegirl Club is thrilled to be sponsored by Panavision. Christina Salampassis reflected on our partnership: “Panavision is honoured to announce our partnership with Cinegirl. Cinegirl’s efforts to foster community in the film industry and promote a safe space for women to network & gain knowledge are essential. We look forward to participating in the community and supporting a platform to elevate women’s voices.” We could not be more delighted to be working with an organisation so committed to supporting our cause to elevate female and underrepresented voices in the film industry.
That so many colleagues, friends, and new faces joined us, and contributed so authentically to the evening, brought us more joy than we can say. Our community is for you; and we hope you left feeling as inspired and connected as we did.
If you missed the Cinegirl Club this time around, stay tuned for details of our next gathering, coming soon - we cannot wait to meet you! Sign up here
All photography by Nic Roques
