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welcome those of the feminine persuaSion & identification
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Welcome. I was born in the 60's in an empowering and inspiring decade where women were shaking things up, demanding to be unleashed from a patriarchy that quelled their rights and their voices. From my earliest days I have been a daydreamer and creative, telling stories in words and pictures. Shy by nature, the fear in me magically vanished when I walked on a stage. My curiosity and conflicts poured into poetry and short stories. I believed that anything I could imagine for myself was possible. And so I dreamt. I dreamt hard and often. A feminist at fifteen, there would be nothing that would get in my way. Until there was.
Pregnant at 21, I made a choice to have my child (a 'choice' made possible by unstoppable women before me) Subsequently, I dropped out of my theatre arts degree. Five years, and two kiddos later, I was a single mom. With no intention of letting my circumstances get in the way, I took acting classes in NYC, created an art studio in my Queen NY railroad apartment, and printed my poetry onto greeting cards and sold them, all while cocktailing in JFK's Pan Am lounge. Despite my voracity, my dreams were slowing caving in, and the imaginative girl and her stories, failing. I went back to college as a visual arts major, choosing a career that would pay the bills, but failed to fill me up.
During my creative dark age, I raised my daughters into fiercely inclusive women, never afraid to speak up and out. It wasn't until my forties that my creative renaissance began. With space, the daydreaming returned. I let go of fear, embraced possibility, and arrived with passion at every opportunity. I studied, engaged, practiced, and modesty aside, I am proud to say that my latest chapter has yielded both laurels, as well as national and international awards. I am doing what I love, writing, filmmaking, acting, teaching, and collaborating with female storytellers, writers, filmmakers, actors and directors.
Female energy is the life force. Creativity is our birthright. As a young woman, I lacked the presence of a strong female role model/mentor. I now know the importance of community. PlanetFemale is for storytellers of all female persuasions, providing a launch and landing pad, a platform to share what we females have lived and imagined. Here, on this virtual planet created just for us, we share our angst and our hope, with support and inspiration, creating the best narrative for what is yet to be.
– Dusty, Fellow Creative
dusty Noval McCullough
PF Global StoryFest Director & Founder/Screening Committee Chair
My experience... the many things I have done, and learned from, are not who I am, but they have seasoned my being. They include: Actor, Art Director, College Administrator, Educator, Film Artist (Writer/Director/Producer) Graphic Designer, Fine Artist, Playwright/Producer, Creative Writing Professor, Eco Positive Shoppe Owner, and Yoga Teacher. I've looked sexism and ageism straight in the eye and said, "Oh no you don't." We can't wait to be chosen, we must choose ourselves. Don't be afraid of telling your stories. You have nothing to lose but a missed opportunity. We do manifest our dreams - this is not a myth. It happens when we keep our eye on the prize, faith in our abilities, along with community, support and self-compassion.
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AMANDA PARVIS
PF Global StoryFest Assistant Director/Screening Committee
Formerly a creative producer in the sports entertainment field for over 20 years, in this next chapter I am focusing on my own creativity, writing, editing and producing narrative films. With my diverse skills and unparalleled passion stuffed into my mini backpack, I’ve landed here on Planet Female to help women tell their stories, because unfortunately Planet Earth has a bad habit of not believing or supporting us. So here we are, your devoted girl gang, ready to lift and support as you speak your truths, share your experiences, and expand your imaginations! All while – you guessed it – HAVING THE FUN!
STORYFEST 2025 SCREENING TEAM
KAREN SILLAs
Actor/Producer
naomi elice
Actor/Life Coach/Model
katharine chin
Writer/Actor/Producer
maddie robbins
Writer/Filmmaker