Meet Mary Lyn Chambers of Island Girl Films in West Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Lyn Chambers.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
At my core, I strive to honor, empower, and celebrate each and every one of us. I am compelled by a central belief that all people deserve to feel safe, have equal access to opportunities, and be treated with dignity. I am an activist, and with my films, a freedom fighter, devoted to putting a light on suffering and injustice and perspectives less visible.

Born in Fiji and raised on the Pacific Island of Nauru and New Zealand, I owe my parents a great debt of gratitude. My mother was eccentric, a feminist and producer for Radio New Zealand. My father was a pacifist Northerner from the United Kingdom. He was a teacher by day and a high-tenor opera singer by night. We were a well-informed and unconventional family that lived on the smell of a teacher’s salary.

I credit New Zealand for shaping my views around feminism and equality and for activating my activism. The imprint on my being and work is undeniable.

Between the ages of 4 and 17, my parents moved me through ten schools, marking a darker side of my childhood. It taught me to notice and care deeply for those our society deems as outsiders. It consistently put me in worlds and communities that were not my own, and I was forced to normalize the uncomfortable feeling of not belonging. The pain of not belonging and seeking to belong and ideas of home, family, and dislocation’ is consistently being reconciled in my work.

At the age of 18, I left for London, England. There I studied drama while pulling pints in a pub and eventually ended up in Los Angeles, California where I studied cinema while serving in a 1950s diner. In my first days in the U.S., despite reservations about American politics, I discovered the friendliness, warmth, and awe-inspiring can-do spirit of the American people. This resonated profoundly and influenced my choice to call America home.

Before I focused fully on writing and directing, I cut my teeth in the film business working for world-class film festivals such as Los Angeles, Denver, Doha-Tribeca, and Associate Produced for the Independent Spirit Awards. I am fortunate to be a Directing Fellow from the Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Program, Film Independent, and Alliance of Women Directors, and I have been pronounced top ten female directors to watch from Diversity in Cannes.

My award-winning 1920s pilot Tijuana which I created alongside my Mexican producing partners, screened at the 2019 editions of Slamdance, Bentonville, Hollyshorts and Content London. The project is currently being developed by Tealhouse Entertainment.

The Plural of Blood, a pilot exploring the private world of a police officer’s wife after her husband is involved in a high-profile shooting of a young Black man, won “Best TV Pilot” at the 2018 Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival and has been released on Amazon Prime. Debris (Escombros), a short film exploring child refugees in a US Immigration Detention Center screened at the American Pavilion, Diversity in Cannes, and the United Nations’ Refugees in Film Conference during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. The film traveled the globe garnering several awards including “Best International Short” from Manchester Film Festival and “Best Female Director” from Hollyshorts.

I identify as a Fijian/New Zealand/British/American who intends to leave my tread on this earth. My work is a love letter to all who wrestle with belonging. I am flawed and I am happy. And above everything else, I cherish and hold in high regard this life that I have been given.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been many struggles and lessons learned along the way. Some internal and some external.

When I deepened my commitment to becoming a writer/director in 2014 and chose to blend human rights and inequality issues into my narrative storytelling, it was before #Metoo, #BlackLivesMatter, and Trump’s child separation policy at the border. Given this, there was less interest back then than there is today in tackling such topics in mainstream spaces. At the time, doubts rose in me that if I didn’t lean into mainstream tastes, I would not have a career. My intuition instructed me to remain sincere to my truth reminding me that my unique voice as an artist is my strongest currency. Interestingly, mainstream tastes have begun to turn toward my tastes.

Trusting my gut was and continues to be a big struggle for me. He are some of the things I remind myself when my instincts communicate to me. Speak up when your vision is being compromised. You may not win the battle at hand, but you stood up for your work. That being said, choose your battles and be flexible and adapt your vision when it is essential to do so. Find ways to adjust while protecting the truth of your story. Your only job is to serve your story. Inspire your team to do the same. Being right is not the goal. Find producers and collaborators who understand this philosophy. I strive to find smart people who have the ability to check their ego at the door. These are the people who do not bring conflict or drama to the workplace and do exceptional work. I cut people loose if they present mediocre work during prep as this foreshadows problems on set or later in the process. Find collaborators you have ease being around, have a natural way of communicating and shared morals and worldviews. Be sure they have a sense of humor. Move away from people who you are incompatible with. Protect the joy of your workplace at all costs.

I have long-hired inclusive crews that reflect the people who walked the streets of my city. For this, I have been on the receiving end of resistance and hostility and have also been championed and held up as a role model. If I am not effecting change, elevating cultures, creating a safe and inclusive work environment, or uplifting women and minorities and their careers, I am not feeling alive or living a meaningful life. All these choices matter in small and large ways. All are acts of resistance and a step toward a safe and peaceful world.

There is nothing smooth about being a woman or a feminist in the film industry. 80% of mainstream Hollywood has no idea what to do with me. They struggle to put me into their limited boxes. I am a white immigrant female not telling exclusively white stories. This reflects my experience. This rejection plays into my childhood wound of not belonging, and I wasted many years seeking their acceptance. I liberated myself of this struggle is I attempt to lean into the 20% of people who do “get” me and champion me and what I strive for.

It takes time to learn how to write and direct a story with moving images and develop your voice. It is a slow and uncomfortable process that I struggled with and my self-esteem took a beating. Looking back, I wished someone had helped me understand this phase and it is one all filmmakers must endure. You need to make mistakes to develop. It is uncomfortable and it is necessary. And it is nothing to be ashamed of.

I turned my attention toward breaking into television, particularly in the streaming space, where some of the boldest, smartest, and entraining stories are being expressed. These spaces are more welcoming for women and minorities – and willing to take risks on unproven talent as they search for fresh voices.

The major streamers were early adopters of valuing a global audience and listening to what their audience desired in content. As a consumer, I enjoy being the recipient of content from around the globe and expanding our access to worlds beyond and in addition to UK and US-created content. I believe this is essential in shaping an accepting world. I always create with an international audience in mind. This is in part due to my international upbringing and my many years in film festivals where I had access to international cinema. The notion of releasing everywhere on the same day is thrilling and one that was not possible a decade ago. I believe that film, TV, and media and exposure to international stories play a major role in gender parity, equality, safety for all.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
We are a female-led boutique production company developing curated material for film and series in the English and Spanish language space. The stories we lean into effect change and express perspectives less explored. We are most proud of our stories, our passion for global connection, and our inclusive hiring practices with an emphasis on elevating careers for women and Latinx artists.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The weather. Nothing beats the weather in Los Angeles. The other is the people. LA houses the smartest, creative, and most ambitious people I know. It’s energizing. And the diversity of Angelinos. It is a city that reflects the world. I love it so. The downside of LA is traffic. One can spend a lot of time in traffic.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marylynchambers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marylynchambers/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/directormarylynchambers/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLynChambers

Image Credit:
Ashly Covington, Dave Birch, Candice Coke

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