WICT Wisdom WICT Southern California

The WICT Network: Southern California presents a special from the screening of the Docuseries Unmuted by Without Exeption Films from early 2024 to WICT members. 
Following a short introduction and audio sample from UNMUTED, listen to a panel discussion with producers, Charlotte Lubert and Milena Warns, and director, Dena Hysell-Cornejo led by Stephanie Cobian. 

UNMUTED shares the harrowing, untold survival stories of brave women and girls around the world who are fighting against human rights violations and exploitation.

Working with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) that take a non-traditional approach to these problems with proven results, Without Exception Films was able to earn the trust of women who were brave enough to share their stories. By focusing on one issue per episode, they tell women’s stories in all their intricacies, explore in-depth the socio-cultural factors underlying the problems and highlight solutions.
 
The Creative Team
 
Charlotte Lubert, Producer
A writer, fundraiser and philanthropist Charlotte is dedicated to motivating people to donate money to great causes and giving people the opportunity to make a difference. Originally from the UK, she now resides in California. She has lived in several different countries and has had the opportunity to appreciate and learn about a wide range of people and cultures first hand. Charlotte founded Without Exception Films with this fantastic community of like-minded, talented individuals, in order to creatively shine a light on issues of importance and touch the hearts and financial resources of many. Her primary focus is to develop the minds of her four boys and impact this and future generations through inclusion, equality in education, and the protection and improvement of the environment.
 
Milena Warns, Producer
Milena is a project & event manager with thirteen years experience in non-profit fundraising, and who loves helping others and animals. While studying at Texas A&M University, she founded a service leadership organization for women, which is still in existence today. A passionate traveler and scuba diver, she has visited over 50 countries and hopes to visit every country in the world in her lifetime. More than anything, she believes in making a difference in other people’s lives and leaving the world a better place than when you enter it. She recently became a producer at WithoutX.
 
Dena Hysell-Cornejo, Director
Dena Hysell-Cornejo is restlessly creative, working across mediums depending on the direction the story takes her as a writer, director, photographer, producer, and multimedia artist. Her work has been recognized with top honors at multiple festivals (Toronto, Seattle, Indiana, NYFF), and acquired by major distributors. After graduating from Stanford University, she has produced, directed, and written for Eli Roth’s Crypt TV, Legacy Entertainment Partners, Drive Media and various other companies. She was featured in the 2017 Buzzfeed article on female directors talking about gender and representation in Hollywood. Dena has been a huge part of the creative team for Without Exception Films as well as Director and Showrunner for Unmuted and continues to advise and co-create on this and other projects.

 
Without Exception Films introduces the audience to women affected by these issues in the USA to show that these issues affect females globally, even in our own backyard. Without Exception Films are storytellers for people who otherwise would not be seen or heard.
 
For more about the Docuseries UNMUTED and Without Exception Films, please visit: https://www.unmutedseries.com and https://withoutx.com/
The WICT Network's Mission: Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment and Technology. https://socalwict.org/

WICT Wisdom's Stephanie Cobian interviews Gloria Jolley and Paola Velasquez
Stephanie is joined by Gloria Jolley and Paola Velasquez, The WICT Network: Southern California Chapter Mentorship Program Co-Chairs.
Gloria and Paola highlight the WICT Network: Southern California Mentorship Program, how the program works, how to be a part of it, and the importance of mentorship among female colleagues. Each of these ladies share there insights as to what makes our program unique and how it creates more women leaders in the entertainment industry.  
The WICT Network's Mission: Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment and Technology. https://socalwict.org/

WICT Wisdom's Stephanie Cobian interviews LaFaye Baker
Stephanie is joined by LaFaye Baker, Stunt Cordinator & Executive Director of Diamond in the Raw.
LaFaye Baker is the first African American stuntwoman to coordinate a big budget project, HBO’s special Introducing Dorothy Dandridge starring Halle Berry. LaFaye is an Intimacy Coordinator and also the founder of the Action Icon Awards which recognizes the achievements of stunt women, actresses, and sports enthusiasts, all the while benefiting Baker’s Diamond in the RAW a 501c3. The organization is devoted to empowering and transforming the lives of foster care and at-risk teen girls between the ages of 12-18 through the arts and S.T. E. M. education. Recently, Baker recently launched, The Stuntwoman’s Journal and an activewear clothing line, Stuntwoman Xtraordinaire a brand for the aspirational and unapologetic WOMAN living a phenomenal LIFESTYLE.
LaFaye shares with Stephanie what it took to become a Stuntwoman, Stunt Coordinator, and Intimacy Coordinator and what's involved to help make the actors feel the most comfortable on set. She also shares some of the mentors who helped her get her start. They then dive into what led to LaFaye starting Diamond in the Raw and the Action Icon Awards as her own way to give back and help others get their start in the entertainment industry.   
The WICT Network's Mission: Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment and Technology. https://socalwict.org/

WICT Wisdom's Stephanie Cobian interviews Merideth Mehlberg
Stephanie is joined by Merideth Mehlberg, Author & Executive Coach.
Merideth is an executive coach, career strategist and CEO peer facilitator. She helps senior leaders elevate their performance, impact and career fulfillment. Merideth is also the author of, Your Finest Work: Career Fulfillment in a Complicated World.
Stephanie and Merideth discuss the differences of mentorship compared to coaching, leadership of men and women in the workplace, what skills led her to becoming the Executive Coach that she is today, and the importance of completing her book. 
The WICT Network's Mission: Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment and Technology. https://socalwict.org/

WICT Wisdom's Stephanie Cobian interviews Mentor Erica Renee Davis & Mentee Kate Berumen
Stephanie is joined by Erica Renee Davis, on-air talent, reporter at FOX Bet Super 6, and Kate Berumen, production assistant. 
We are joined by The WICT Network: Southern California's Mentor Erica Renee Davis and her current Mentee Kate Berumen from our mentorship program. We discuss the importance of mentorship, what we can learn from the mentor/mentee relationship, growth in our media journey and the ongoing networking opportunities. 
In addition to being a mentor, Erica Renee Davis is a journalist, host, producer and writer and working as on-air talent in sports and entertainment in film, television and commercials. As a host, Erica has appeared as a pop culture expert on TEGNA's popular syndicated talk show Daily Blast Live and has lent her on-air sports and sociopolitical commentary to Spectrum News, CNN, CNN International and Michaela on HLN.
WICT SoCal offers a mentoring program to support both mentees and mentors in achieving their goals. It aims to foster relationships through shared knowledge and experience, trust, respect and honest communication. To learn more about our mentorship program: https://socalwict.org/mentoring/
The WICT Network's Mission: Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment and Technology. https://socalwict.org/

WICT Wisdom's Stephanie Cobian interviews Holly Henderson
Stephanie is joined by Holly Henderson, Senior Vice President of Distribution, Hallmark Media
Prior to working with Hallmark Media for 10+ years, Holly was Director, Affiliate Sales at TV Guide Channel. Additionally, Holly was recently presented The WICT Network: Southern California Catalyst Award at the Wonder Women Awards by Multichannel News. This award salutes a WICT Southern California chapter member who has positively impacted the industry through mentorship, leadership, and dedication to female career empowerment through involvement with WICT Network programs. 
Stephanie and Holly discuss how The WICT Network helps build women in media, her journey from civil service and transitioning into media, the power and work mentality of women in leadership positions, female relationships in the workplace and more.
The WICT Network's Mission: Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment and Technology. https://socalwict.org/