My policy on crews has always to been to try and break down old practices. We use mixed crews and search out gay people to work with, as well as trying to train our own people. It helps when you start to have some buying power. Out on Tuesday pulled out of a lucrative contract with a post-production house because of negative remarks by technicians and they were really stunned. Yes, we often work together.
Independence is very important.
With other companies they may impose a company executive producer over you who knows nothing about gay and lesbian lives and culture. Penny is also my technical support here tonight. As of next year I am trying to stop directing docs and focus entirely on drama. It has always had a good reaction from audiences. It won the audience prize at the Madrid Women's Film Festival.