We at EDIT Media are excited to introduce the newest undergraduate research assistant to our team, Zahra Cawley!
Zahra is currently a Communications major at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Here’s a little more about her.
Where are you from?
I live in Dearborn, but I was born in New Zealand. Most of my family is still there, and we visit each other as often as possible.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
After I graduate, hopefully after the 2018 fall semester, I plan on getting as much experience working in media production as possible, here in Detroit. This will probably mean taking a low-level position or internship, but as long as I’m working on a film set I’ll be ecstatic. Eventually, I hope to work my way up to an associate producer position for film or television. No matter what, I want to be behind the scenes, where all the action is!
What made you interested in working with EDIT Media?
I’m so passionate about EDIT Media because I see the need for it all around me. Whether I’m in media class that assigns works almost exclusively from white men (even the likes of Roman Polanski and Woody Allen) or looking up the writers and directors on some of my favorite television shows and seeing how underrepresented so many groups are in this business, I’m acutely aware of just how crucial it is to work on making this industry a more inclusive one.
Why do you think addressing inequities in media education is important?
I’m thrilled to be a part of EDIT Media because it addresses this atmosphere of exclusion at the academic level, helping a new generation of diverse filmmakers learn everything they need to work and create media that encompasses a wide range of perspectives and experiences. After having a media production class that implements EDIT Media throughout the course, I can say with absolute certainty that creating a learning environment that prioritizes equity, diversity, and inclusion allows people who are traditionally marginalized in this field to be involved, passionate, creative, and part of the team.
What’s a movie you would recommend beginning students watch to help broaden their horizons about onscreen representation?
Two films I would recommend for anyone who wants to watch widely are Raw (2016), a chilling French horror film written and directed by Julia Ducournau, and Ayanda (2015), a beautifully rich South African coming-of-age story written by Trish Malone and directed by Sara Bleche. Both of these movies feature a female lead and both are available on Netflix! Sorry I couldn’t pick just one!
