Meet Meredith Yinger | Film Director & Owner of She TV Media

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

Hi Meredith, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
By the time I graduated from LMU, I was committed to creating change within the media. For the stories and people that were overshadowed, left behind, or pushed down, I wanted to highlight them. I wanted to shed light on dark areas of our society and world and I realized the best way for me to do that would be through documentary filmmaking. I wanted to incorporate my quirky sense of humor with different subjects I found fascinating. I wanted to empower women in the male-dominated industry of film. I wanted to Direct and Produce.

In order to generate change, I created She TV Media, a production company focused on telling inspiring stories of empowered women, all while including women in the entire filmmaking process- from ideation to execution. At She TV Media, we highlight empowering and untold stories through our content: commercials, documentaries, and scripted shows. We get to choose who is in front of and behind the camera. We get to change the narrative. By doing this, we remain in charge of who and what we focus on, film, and promote.

In the United States, the population is made up of 50 percent women and 40 percent minorities yet
1.5 out of 10 film directors are female,

1.4 out of 10 film writers are people of color,

14 percent of actors featured in top films were women minorities.

She TV Media works predominantly with womxn and BIPOC to help us tell more human stories about the people who make up this beautiful world and give voice to stories that might otherwise be silenced.

I am most excited about Scars Unseen, our feature length 501c3 documentary about triumph of the human spirit in domestic violence cases. Scars Unseen aims to illuminate the power of healing, destigmatize victimhood, and encourage open communication about the causes, treatment, and prevention of abuse. This project has been 5 years in the making and I am beyond excited to finally be able to share it with the world. We’re currently making our rounds in the festival circuit. I know this is just the beginning of the impact this film can have.
I am also currently in development on my second feature documentary called Vulva La Revolution which is about starting a sexual health revolution in women’s healthcare. These documentaries are key in spreading the message about issues that impact a majority of womxn and I’m excited to keep telling these stories on larger scales.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I always tell people I am a filmmaker and documentarian by trade, but an entrepreneur out of necessity. Which, I have to say, is probably true for most indie filmmakers and creatives. We are constantly pitching ourselves, our ideas, our work, raising funds, developing products, marketing them, and creating communities. It’s terrifying, confusing, wonderful, and exciting all at the same time. I am insanely curious by nature and asking questions led me to my love of creating documentaries and interviewing, but has also helped me in growing a business. The beauty is that as I evolve, so does She TV Media.
I am excited to continue in my filmmaking and documentary career as well as expand into commercial and national campaign directing. I want to tell the untold story – the things that no one is talking about, but that are always in the back of our minds.
I have learned a lot of lessons along the way in running a business as well as filmmaking and the key advice I would offer are the following qualities that have played a huge part in my process.

Flexibility and the ability to adapt and evolve is the biggest asset you can have – regardless of what industry you are in. If you are able to be a chameleon and adapt and thrive, you will always succeed. When COVID hit, I sought out a business coach, and obtained financing through a relief loan to keep the business going during the most uneasy time. I applied (and still apply!) to every grant opportunity available whether that be for my creative projects/films or for the business.

DIY – instead of waiting for someone else to give you permission to do what you want to be doing, give yourself permission and create that opportunity for yourself.

Networking – I am a mega fan of networking – out of any situation, any conversation, we all have something we can help each other with or refer business to each other in some way, shape or form. There is an abundance of chances and connections to make and you never know where one conversation might lead. Some of my favorite clients and projects have come from conversations that did not have the intention of being a sales call, just a meet and greet or talk at an event that then led to creating something awesome together.

Persistence – this maybe should have been listed first! Persistence is so key in every.thing. Whether you’re starting a business, writing a script, filming a video, or promoting your work – keep showing up and keep pushing the needle forward. One of my life mottos is ‘if you never ask, the answer is always ‘no’. Continue to follow up for that info session meeting, pitch opportunity, business collaboration, new opportunity, etc. Be gracious, but It never hurts to ask, and unless you’re explicitly told to go away, things could have simply gotten lost in the shuffle, so why not follow up? It’s all about outlive, outlast.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Where do I even begin?? My priorities for the trip would revolve around the following – water, entertainment, food aka guacamole, and adventure.
Water – jet ski, charter a boat, paddleboard, surf, or rent a duffy out of Marina del Rey. The beach is the best part about living in LA so gotta make time to explore around the big blue.
Entertainment & Food – I am a huge fan of standup comedy so going to the Laugh Factory or any of the other comedy clubs would be top of the list. Drag Brunch or Drag Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s in West Hollywood (also have a long beach location) Ahmanson Theater or Pantages performances – see whatever is running – it will not disappoint! Eat at the best kept Italian food secret at Fabiolus on Sunset! Everything is delicious, be sure to have a glass of their rose and order the calamari and bruschetta trio.
I am a guac addict so mexican food, guac, and margs are always essential. If you’re in the south bay, hop over to Mi Burrito in redondo and walk along the beach afterwards. If you’re near LAX, visit Cinco (their happy hour is the best), Hacienda, or Sausal in El Segundo. One of the best tequila/margarita places is Palmilla Cocina y Tequila in Hermosa on Pier – another good beach sunset or bar hopping spot.
For awesome live music head to Lighthouse right across the street from Palmilla.
Adventure awaits – I love finding hidden gems within this massive city – so head to some good hiking trails with your dog in San Pedro/PV, Kenneth Hahn Park or Griffith park – you might even be able to chase some waterfalls.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to give a huge shoutout to BRA – the Business Relationship Alliance and the incredible founder, Carrie Murray. She has been instrumental in empowering me and my business to continue creating impactful content even when it feels like the cards are stacked against me. BRA also selected my feature documentary as the Women on the Rise Beneficiary in March 2023 which promoted our film and surprised us with a grant that allowed us to begin the editing process of our documentary. BRA and Carrie are the epitome of women supporting women and she definitely deserves a shoutout!

Website: https://www.shetv.me

Instagram: shetvmedia, scarsunseen, meredithyinger

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithyinger/

Image Credits
Nick Giggans-Hill