Meet Bridgette Yaxley | Director & Executive Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bridgette Yaxley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bridgette, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Since founding Trailblazing Female Productions LLC, a couple of years ago, I’ve maintained a primary focus on the narrative of the most underrepresented voice in the room, that less obvious perspective or point-of-view. By examining current research, nearly 50% of the viewing audience consuming the most popular streaming services are female (ages 18-55 and older). However, I know women who spend a considerable amount of time, as I do, searching endlessly to select just one film that resonates in some way. We also try not to rewatch something from our previously watched “favorites” listing and when a streaming service offers one category featuring “films directed by women,” that’s a key indicator of a tremendous void in content created by women, for women, or films with the type of conflict that we can relate to because the amount of available content doesn’t match the viewing statistics. Women experience different types of conflict than men altogether, which serve as the foundation for every film we watch and why we choose to watch it. As a result, it’s really not easy for women to always find a film that we find a real sense of connection with. Since my production company started, I’ve been directing and producing films that focus on that missing perspective, the female point-of-view, as well as the most underrepresented voice in the room.

I founded Trailblazing Female Productions LLC after spending several years on the other side of the camera, acting in feature films, commercials, and TV series, in addition to professionally studying film, production and screenwriting, I also taught classes on these same topics at a university in New York and worked in production on several films before relocating to California in the fall of 2021. Since arriving in Los Angeles, I have directed and executive produced a several projects, worked with talented cast and crew members, and even found time to act in a couple of films myself.
My background also includes being a multi-award-winning screenwriter. Overall, I’m very thankful for the various experiences in production that I gained in the film industry back in New York that I’ve brought with me to the west coast as my journey continues, and I’m very excited about the road ahead.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One thing that sets me apart from others is that I quickly realized that it was a waste of time chasing down directors and producers to shoot my award-winning screenplays. Because I have a background in IT, I’ve been able to overcome the challenge of depending on others in the film industry in a variety of roles. As a result, I trained myself in Davinci Resolve and edit all of my own films. I also taught myself how to operate my camera equipment and lighting gear. However, I prefer to direct and have a cinematographer that I can collaborate with. One of the challenges I overcame was listening to people tell me to just hand over my project to someone else to shoot, to edit, to take over, to produce and more. This happened when my screenplays began to win award after award and I’m so glad I didn’t do that. At that point, I took a moment to reconsider and realized that I’m highly skilled in the field of IT and can train MYSELF in the editing software and camera equipment, and that’s exactly what I did! I’ve never looked back. I operate now as a Screenwriter/Director/Executive Producer/Editor – all in one and I really love what I do! I’m a visual story teller.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Ojai, Santa Barbara, Solvang, then the Getty Museum, Malibu for dinner, The Academy Museum for dinner and a tour, then a trip to Laguna Beach, before going out dancing at The Moose Lodge in Burbank.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Tommy Anderson He’s been a wonderful inspiration since I moved to Los Angeles, and fellow filmmaker, and we are both members of Hollywood Post 43 American Legion.

Website: https://trailblazingfemaleproductions.com/

Instagram: instragram.com/bridgetteyaxley/

Facebook: facebook.com/bmy1971

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@trailblazingfemaleproductions

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10080397/

Image credit:
Main photo is taken by Valerie Gormley