Meet Josie Andrews

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josie Andrews.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up a theatre kid in New Jersey, performing in everything from Broadway tours and regional productions to educational outreach shows. When I reached my teen years, there were fewer roles I was eligible for since it’s easier to cast 18+ to play younger, so I pivoted to writing and recording my own pop music and ended up opening for Raven Symone, The Naked Brothers band and several other Radio Disney acts. It wasn’t until coming to USC as an undergrad that I really shifted my attention from the live arts to the canned (aka film!) and I’ve been riding that wave ever since.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
After over ten years of homeschooling to facilitate my work, I was pretty terrified to step foot on USC’s campus as a freshman in 2014. I had only ever attended high school online, so the college experience was a bit of a culture shock. I think I really hit my stride though when transferred out of the theatre program and into the film school. I was placed into the Cinema and Media studies program – which with hindsight played a huge role in shaping my approach and sensibilities as a filmmaker – but somewhere deep inside I still desperately wanted to take a stab at getting on set with the production department. I applied to transfer into the BFA program probably three times in undergrad and was rejected every time. I decided I’d try one last time before dropping it, applying to their MFA program my senior year of undergrad. Fourth time is indeed the charm because 8 years later and two degrees later, I’m now actually an adjunct professor at USC, teaching a course in that very department on Development and Production.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Writer/Director/Producer person focusing mostly on female-driven content and stories. I love finding unconventional ways to address familiar narratives and push the boundaries of what we believe defines genre. My USC thesis film WANNABE sets a sexual assault story in what’s initially disguised as a teen girl band movie, exploring the ways in which these sinister situations creep into spaces we wouldn’t think they belong. Wannabe has won several student categories and played in festivals all over the world including LA Shorts, Nashville Film Festival, Sydney Women’s International Film Festival, Melech Tel Aviv, Imagine this NYC, and many more. I also directed my first short documentary following two Los Angeles theatre companies in the fight to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s called WAITING IN THE WINGS and is now streaming on the PBS app through their Fine Cut series!

Any big plans?
I just recently founded my own production company (Dumm Blonde Productions) where I’m a lead producer for both projects I’m attached to direct as well as select collaborations with other directors and creatives I adore. First up on our slate in post-production is LINE OF FIRE, a short by wonderful director and wonderful friend Weston Porter starring Sidney Flannigan and Cathy Moriarty. The film examines the dark path toxic masculinity can ultimately lead and is expected to hit the festival circuit in Fall 2023. We’re also prepping our first feature from one of my favorite writers/people ever Levi Tariff titled MIRIAM. Set in 1980s Los Angeles, Miriam follows what happens when the girl chosen to be the first bat mitzvah of her ultra-orthodox community develops a secret passion for skateboarding and the lengths she’s willing to go to chase her dream. Miriam will be my full-length directorial debut, with both myself and Mr. Tariff co-producing. Dumm Blonde is also getting into some short sketches, music videos, and commercial work in the short term, so stay tuned ✨

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thatjosieandrews.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatjosieandrews/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/dummbl0nde/

Image Credits
Personal photo “Director Josie Andrews with 1st AC Nick Kleismith” by Michelle Sastraatmadja Director Josie Andrews + Margo Parker starring as Jada by Michelle Sastraatmadja Director Josie Andrews + Margo Parker starring as Jada by Michelle Sastraatmadja Director Josie Andrews with boom op Alex Balogna Michelle Sastraatmadja Josie on the red carpet in Cannes by Francesca Maria Josie at SFIFF by Harrison Herzberg Still from Waiting in the Wings by Nick Kleismith Still from Wannabe by Luke Sargent BTS from Line of Fire by Liliana Trejo Vanegas Still from Wannabe by Luke Sargent