The Chimaera Project’s chooses first group of SUPPORT.HER filmmakers and film artists for industry mentorships

SUPPORT.HER filmmakers chosen by The Chimaera Project for industry mentorships.

The Chimaera Project announced the filmmakers and film artists selected for the debut of the organization’s SUPPORT.HER mentorships for women and non-binary filmmakers. This first cycle of mentorships will begin virtually with plans to expand to and develop in-person mentorships, scholarships and job shadowing in future cycles.

The impressive group of mentors and the filmmakers and film artists they will be paired with, include; Vickie Toro being mentored by showrunner Maurissa Tancharoen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.); Teresa Jusino with writer Marc Bernardin (Star Trek: Picard); Julia Monahan with director Alexis Ostrander (Supergirl); Kristina James with composer Bear McCreary (Foundation); Jade Grace with Passionflix founder and director Tosca Musk (Driven); and compositing supervisor Joe Censoplano (Eternals) will be mentoring two women in VFX, Michelle Grey and Alisha Sweeting.

Vicki Toro
Vicki Toro
Teresa Jusino
Teresa Jusino

SUPPORT.HER mentorship chair and one of The Chimaera Project’s newest ambassadors, actor and producer Casey McKinnon (Crossover Point), oversaw the process from beginning to end, taking specific measures to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion. Working closely with the co-founders, they assembled a committee of over two dozen filmmakers to filter through the mentorship candidates and ensured that at least 50% of every team was made up of BIPOC and AAPI team members, with some teams going up to 100%.


Executive producer Ana de Diego (National Geographic Presents: Impact with Gal Gadot) who contributed to the selection process had this to say, “What struck me was the diversity of experience in the mentees that applied. It felt accessible in a way that I have never seen before.”

Kristina James
Kristina James
Julia Monahan
Julia Monahan

“I have been so impressed by just how much talent the program has revealed,” said filmmaker/Executive Producer and committee member Jonte Richardson,  “All I kept thinking was how I really wish someone had created something like this when I was coming up. Perhaps if they had, we’d already have a much more inclusive industry.”

The SUPPORT.HER mentorship will vary from mentor to mentor and is not designed as a “one size fits all” process or relationship due to restrictions with production schedules, individuals’ availability, etc. Following a sorting out of schedules and finding a time for both the mentor and mentee to meet remotely, The Chimaera Project team will manage the scheduling, communication, and technical support to foster the best and most productive scenario for the mentorship experience to take place. Most mentorships will be a one-time opportunity, but great care has gone into finding good matches for the mentors with the hope that it will foster lasting relationships with this first group of winning filmmakers and film artists which will benefit their career development in a significant way.

Jade Grace
Jade Grace
Michelle Grey
Michelle Grey


In addition to the selected mentees, The Chimaera Project team noted the impressive qualities of all the SUPPORT.HER finalists. The organization looks forward to seeing more of their work, and will also seek to find ways to support and empower them in the years ahead. The full list of finalists include; Brandi Nicole Payne, Minoti Vaishnav, Gisselle Gonzalez Legere, Roni Bradley, Grace-Mary Burega, Savannah Lack, Amanda Renee Knox, Lauren Ciaravalli, Meital Cohen Navarro, Katie Mathews, Sarah Moshman, and Xanthe Pajarillo.

“It is astounding how much talent, at every level, is seeking mentorship,” said The Chimaera Project co-founders (Shana Betz, Cheryl Bookout, and America Young) in a joint statement. “Clearly, there is a blind spot in the industry’s cultivation of original voices and The Chimaera Project is thrilled to have the opportunity to connect these talented artists at varying stages of their career development with generous entertainment professionals that aren’t afraid to pay it forward with their time and knowledge.”

Alisha Sweeting
Alisha Sweeting


The Chimaera Project’s SUPPORT.HER mentorship program is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture and the generous support of the California Arts Council, California Community Foundation, Department of Cultural Affairs City of Los Angeles and The J. Paul Getty Trust. To make a tax-deductible contribution and add your support to the organization’s programs, please visit chimaeraproject.org.

For more info on The Chimaera Project, go to chimaeraproject.org.

SUPPORT.HER filmmakers chosen by The Chimaera Project

SUPPORT.HER filmmakers chosen by The Chimaera Project for industry mentorships.