Conversations with Sarah Moshman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Moshman.

Hi Sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always known I wanted to be a filmmaker. I grew up in Evanston, IL, went to film school at UMiami and then moved out to Los Angeles in Fall of 2008. I worked as a field producer in reality television for my first five years out here, primarily on “Dancing with the Stars” on ABC, as well as shows for Lifetime, Bravo, The Food Network and NBC.

In 2013, I decided to focus on my own projects and help to shine a light on more positive female role models and direct and produce documentary features. Since then, I have been directing, producing and essentially being an entrepreneur to make the kinds of films I want to see more of in the world, films that can start a conversation, inspire someone, and for women to be able to see themselves reflected back in the media.

My 3 feature documentaries are “The Empowerment Project: Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things” (2014), “Losing Sight of Shore” (2017) and Nevertheless (2020). I also just directed a fiction short film based on a true story about the first mother to go into space entitled “UNBOUND” (2022).

Today I direct and produce documentary projects as well as narrative, branded content, commercials, speaking, teaching, writing and more. All of what I do tags back to my love of storytelling and my chosen medium is film.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“Nothing worth having comes easy.” Words to live by! The struggles make the triumphs that much more delicious.

It has been a smooth road only in the sense that I have never wavered from my original passion and goal of being a filmmaker. I have struggled every step of the way because being a filmmaker is insanely hard. You wear so many hats and have to have so many skills simultaneously, and there is so much rejection and disappointment all the time. That’s why you have to hold on to the small victories and good moments even harder.

Fundraising in any form I think is the Achilles heel of any filmmaking journey. How are we going to fund this project is the toughest question, and then going out and pitching, raising money little by little or all at once is very complicated and often feels impossible. But, in the end all worth it when it works out.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in directing films about strong female role models and issues that impact the experience of being a woman in the world. I love shining a light on seemingly “ordinary” women doing extraordinary things.

I am right now most proud of my short fiction film based on a true story called UNBOUND which is about the first mother to go into space. In 1983 Dr. Anna Fisher was chosen for a mission to space when she happened to be eight months pregnant! She trained for 14 months and then in November 1984 when her daughter was 14 months old became the first mother to go into space on the Discovery mission. When I heard this story from my friend and incredible writer Christina K. Moore, I knew this was the film I wanted to make, and to tell it in a narrative/fictional style made it a wonderful creative endeavor. I cast my good friend Lauren Lapkus in the lead role of Dr. Fisher and that was a total joy because we have been friends since we were 12 years old and have always dreamed of working in the film industry as an actress and director and now both as moms ourselves got to work together in this way. It was very special. The award-winning film is screening in film festivals around the world this year.

I’m proud of all of my films, but in truth I’m just proud of myself for continuing to push my own boundaries as a filmmaker and to keep dreaming big like I have since I was a teenager.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I have learned to value health in a new way, and I have learned to tell friends and family how I feel about them and to lend my support and love to the people in my life in any way I can. I hope the positive effect of Covid-19 is the way it has shown us how to appreciate what we have when we have it and not to waste time in life.

Although it was insanely difficult for parents during the pandemic, and I gave birth in December 2020 which was quite scary, I am grateful for the time I had with my kids at home when they were and are so young.

Pricing:

• $150/hr consulting for fundraising, distribution and filmmaking knowledge

Contact Info:

• Website: http://sarahmoshman.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/sarahmoshman
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahmosh
• Sarah’s Book About Filmmaking: https://amzn.to/2IHtgvo