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

Hi Pam, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting my own business was simple – I was looking for a space where I could practice my craft as a director, looked everywhere, found nothing and created it myself. After a director or filmmaker graduates college or film school, where do they go to keep honing their skill? Where is there a safe space to play, try new things and make mistakes without money or an important project on the line? Where would or could a director go to brush up on skills before their next project that isn’t a 3 month workshop where you sit and listen most of the time? I wanted to create a safe environment for directors and creatives to come play, practice their craft, find their voice and develop their style all in a real life set environment with time & resource limitations but no other stress beyond that; and I am insanely proud to say that it finally exists!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I launched the LA Director’s Lab in August of 2023 – scared out of my mind. I had been sitting on this idea for 2 years at least, unsure that it would work. As a director, I was constantly searching for either workshops, labs or something – anything, to continue working on my craft and keep my directing chops fresh, but nothing really did the job. They were either lecture style, long format workshops or you had to apply and hoped you were one out of thousands of applicants. Wasn’t really much out there for us directors. So the LA Director’s Lab was born. Nothing like it exists. I’ve searched high and low! What sets this apart from anything else out there is simple: I don’t teach directing, I simply provide a space for directors to practice their craft in a real set environment. Directors have to prep, work with their DP, rehearse with actors, shoot their scene, edit and then we screen – all in less than a week’s time. Actors get to go to acting class, dancers to go dancing class, writers go to writing class – but where do directors go to practice their craft? Well, now they can go to the LA Director’s Lab to do just that!

What I’m most excited about is this has just begun. It’s grassroots, still just me building this whole thing, hosting tons of events that don’t exist to connect creatives and it’s already caught so much attention. Directors and creatives alike are so excited that something like this exists. It’s already forming such an awesome community and network of people in our industry and creating what they are now dubbing, a “Pamily”. I still laugh at that one.

Long term big picture, this eventually goes from a lab, to supporting filmmakers with funding for their shorts, to funding features, turning into a production company and eventually a studio, a la Tyler Perry. But one brick at a time of course.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am eternally grateful to share that I have built an absolutely wonderful community of friends, colleagues and peers in my journey, all of whom I have taken notes from and have helped me grow as an artist, person and friend. I want to shoutout my family first for their ongoing support for me as an artist and always believing in me even when I threw out crazy ideas about what I was up to next! I also have a strong supportive net of close friends that support and champion the hell out of me and without them, I’d still be scared with a brilliant idea in my head but not out in the world. Thank you Cassandra, Bahareh, Jay, Kierra, Shelly, Emil & Lindze for seeing the big dream just like I did and non-stop supporting until I did the damn thing. And to every creative I’ve met, connected with, worked with or just plain ‘ol vibed with, thank you for seeing me, supporting me and joining me in my big dreams. You are all a part of this with me.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinadirector/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-matew-77879031/

Other: LA Director’s Lab IG: https://www.instagram.com/ladirectorslab/ Email: hello@ladirectorslab.com

Image Credits
Stills Photographer for all photos: Bahareh Ritter

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