The Reel Girls Club

Lucie RG

I'm Lucie and this is my podcast, The Reel Girls Club. Join me as I interview Oscar and BAFTA-nominated women in cinema, diving into their inspiring journeys and groundbreaking contributions to the film industry, providing you with advice, tips and inspirational anecdotes about their careers. The aim of the podcast is to educate, inform and inspire women and girls (or to anyone who is interested!) who want to work in the world of cinema.

  1. Rosie May Bird Smith - Writer & Director (Egg Timer)

    11/18/2025

    Rosie May Bird Smith - Writer & Director (Egg Timer)

    In this episode of The Reel Girl's Club, I sit down with Writer & Director Rosie May Bird Smith to talk about her brilliantly surreal short film Egg Timer - a dark comedy that turns the pressure of the biological clock into a bold, hilarious, and chaotic cinematic experience. Rosie shares how the idea came to life, her process for creating eye-catching practical effects, and how she used humour and absurdity to explore deeper personal themes about womanhood and fertility. We also dive into her beginnings as a director of commercials, writing to briefs and creating treatments for brands such as Andrex, Asda, Durex and Muller Light, finding your creative voice as a filmmaker and much more. In this episode: The inspiration behind Egg TimerWhy surrealism and comedy are powerful tools for female storytellingBehind-the-scenes details from the film's productionHow to use your creative voice while working to a brief for huge brandsWhether you're an emerging filmmaker, a film lover, or just someone who's ever felt "the clock ticking", this conversation, and Rosie's film Egg Timer is just for you. For more information, find Rosie's website here: Rosie May Bird Smith Production company: Biscuit Filmworks - Rosie May Bird Smith Rosie's Instagram: Rosie May Bird Smith (@rosiemaybirdsmith) • Instagram photos and videos Egg Timer Instagram: Egg Timer (@eggtimerfilm) • Instagram photos and videos Rosie's Vimeo: Rosie May Bird Smith - Director & Screenwriter Rosie's IMDb: Rosie May Bird Smith - IMDb Rosie's LinkedIn: Sign Up | LinkedIn Directors Notes: Egg Timer by Rosie May Bird Smith // Comedy // Directors Notes

    43 min
  2. Ella Dorman-Gajic - Writer, Performer & Filmmaker (Back of the Net)

    06/27/2025

    Ella Dorman-Gajic - Writer, Performer & Filmmaker (Back of the Net)

    In this episode, I sit down with multidisciplinary talent, Ella Dorman-Gajic, English-Serbian writer, performer, and filmmaker - to explore her powerful short film Back of the Net, a multi-award-winning short film directed by Klara Kaliger and written by Ella Dorman-Gajic. Back of the Net is more than just a sports film - it's a moving portrait of girlhood, power, and persistence and is the perfect film to see right now as excitement builds in the run up to the Women's Euros in July! Synopsis: 'Maya, a passionate young footballer, is given an opportunity that could offer her the future she’s always dreamed of. But now, the one person who inspired her pursuit of this dream, her grandmother, is the only thing holding her back. A heartfelt, bitingly human story of care, female aspiration and the evolution of women’s football in a male-dominated world.' It has been selected for 20+ film festivals globally (including BAFTA and BIFA-accredited festivals) and picked up 5 awards, including ‘Best Screenplay’ (at Healdsburg International Festival, judged by Tom Waits) and ‘Youth Jury Prize’ (at Women X Festival). It stars Ella herself, and Maureen Casey alongside Emmy-nominee Tom Goodman-Hill. It is Executive Produced by Lewes Depot Cinema, Declan Lowney (director of TED LASSO), Sandro Monetti, Football scholar Jean Williams, Rob MacDonald, Sushant Sharma Bhattarai, Ella Dorman-Gajic. We dive into the inspirations behind the project, the creative process from script to screen, and the deeply personal themes it tackles - from identity and belonging to resilience on and off the pitch. Ella shares insights into her journey as a storyteller, the importance of platforming underrepresented voices in British film and advice for aspiring writers and creatives alike. We also unpack the challenges and joys of blending poetry, performance, and activism through visual storytelling. You can review Back of the Net on Letterboxd HERE. For more information about Ella's work, visit her website HERE. KEY DATES mentioned in the podcast: 4th-6th July: 'Off The Chest' poetry performance during the 'Love Supreme Festival' 7th July: Poetry headline performance at 'Everything Poetry Night' 19th July: LA Premiere, Lumiere Cinema Beverly Hills 27th July: Screening at Lewes FC, including match and screening of Women's Euro Finals In July (TBA): Online premiere of Back of the Net during the Women's Euro Finals

    1h 7m
  3. Sheffield DocFest Special - Vickie Curtis & Doug Anderson - Directors & Writers (COMPARSA)

    06/19/2025 · BONUS

    Sheffield DocFest Special - Vickie Curtis & Doug Anderson - Directors & Writers (COMPARSA)

    In this special bonus episode, I'm joined by directors and writers, Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson, from the US, to discuss their powerful new documentary 'COMPARSA', which will be premiering at the Sheffield DocFest 2025. Set in Ciudad Peronia, Guatemela, the film follows sisters Lesli and Lupe, whose activism is ignited by the 2017 fire at a state-run children's home that killed 41 girls - a tragedy emblematic of Guatemala's wider crisis of gender-based violence. Told through the eyes of young women who have survived and endured, Comparsa captures a powerful journey of healing and resistance. Through music, dance, and collective protest, Lesli & Lupe lead their community in reclaiming space, voice, and dignity. The filmmakers share how they approached this deeply sensitive story, the role of creative collaboration, and what it means to bear witness to the strength of girls rising up. Comparsa premieres at the upcoming Sheffield DocFest on the following dates: Sat 21 June 20:45 - 22:24 Curzon - Screen 1 English Subtitles Throughout Q&A with directors Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson, and protagonists Marta Chicoj, Lesli and Lupe Perez. Moderated by Mathy Selvakumaran. Sun 22 June 12:45 - 14:24 The Light - Screen 9 English Subtitles Throughout Q&A with directors Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson, and protagonists Marta Chicoj, Lesli and Lupe Perez. Moderated by Amy Bryant. To book your tickets, follow the link HERE. Disclaimer: the sound drops out at 1:44 (the word intended was 'teenagers'), at 3:18 (word: seamstress) and again at 8:11.

    33 min
  4. Sheffield DocFest Special - Jessi Gutch - Filmmaker, Writer & Producer (Blue Has No Borders)

    06/14/2025 · BONUS

    Sheffield DocFest Special - Jessi Gutch - Filmmaker, Writer & Producer (Blue Has No Borders)

    In this special bonus episode for the Sheffield DocFest, I sit down with UK-based filmmaker and writer, Jessi Gutch to talk about her deeply personal and beautifully crafted documentary, Blue Has No Borders. Set in the port town of Folkestone, the film explores themes of migration, identity, and community through a hybrid documentary style that blurs the lines between filmmaker and subject, observer and participant. Jessi reflects on the power of collaborative storytelling, the emotional complexity of borders - visible and invisible - and the importance of vulnerability and humour in her creative process. Synopsis: 'A young filmmaker is determined to know her neighbours in the port town of Folkestone. But in the aftermath of Brexit, building new relationships isn’t easy. In Folkestone, which refugees attempt to reach from France on a daily basis, tensions are rife. Old traditions die hard, voices struggle to be heard and the notion of British identity is regularly asserted and contested. In the face of mounting pressure, Jessi Gutch sets out to do the unthinkable: seek common ground. Honest conversations with six people, grappling the divisions surrounding race, class and politics, give way to a rumination on how make sense of our present moment, in spite of all the uncertainty and fear. An ode to participatory filmmaking and forging messy friendships in your own backyard, Blue Has No Borders illustrates how spending time with people from all walks of life is in itself an act of hope.' Blues Has No Borders will be screening for the Sheffield Doc Fest on the following dates: Fri 20 June 21:00 - 22:47 Showroom - Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Audio Description (AD) Q&A with director Jessi Gutch, and protagonists Heba Arab and Neil Jones. Moderated by Joan Parsons. Sat 21 June 10:15 - 12:02 Curzon - Screen 3 Audio Description (AD), Descriptive Subtitles (Open Captions) Q&A with director Jessi Gutch, and protagonists Dita Garbo and Josie Carter. Moderated by Dan Weldon. Sun 22 June 15:30 - 17:17 Curzon - Screen 2 Audio Description (AD) Q&A with director Jessi Gutch. Moderated by Hope Cook. Don't miss your chance to experience this powerful documentary film on the big screen! To book your tickets, click HERE You can follow Jessi on Instagram @jessi_gutch Please subscribe, share and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode and follow @reelgirlsclub on Instagram for updates, behind-the-scenes content and more. Disclaimer: Apologies for the imperfect sound, all is recorded over Zoom. Furthermore, I mention the Sheffield Doc Fest screenings in the interview, which had actually not yet happened at time of recording :)

    29 min

About

I'm Lucie and this is my podcast, The Reel Girls Club. Join me as I interview Oscar and BAFTA-nominated women in cinema, diving into their inspiring journeys and groundbreaking contributions to the film industry, providing you with advice, tips and inspirational anecdotes about their careers. The aim of the podcast is to educate, inform and inspire women and girls (or to anyone who is interested!) who want to work in the world of cinema.