Today we continue to look at the creative stories of the brilliant women that make Revenant run, all whilst sharing their very own curated movie watchlists that uplift remarkable women, too.
It’s our pleasure to introduce you all to our incredible Production Manager, Rebecca Wallace. With over 15 years working in production positions, and now Production Manager at Revenant, Rebecca’s expertise is integral to bringing our projects to life. But what drew Rebecca to creativity? What films inspire her? And what advice does she have for women just like her, traversing this industry?
Do you have a piece of a film, an art piece, a TV show, a song that struck a chord with you, or amazed you, when you were younger, showing you the possibilities of art?
I remember when I was younger I was absolutely taken with the Lord of the Rings film trilogy to the point where I would just watch the extended behind the scenes features on repeat. Watching a cast and crew be so passionate about the source material and working with each other was so inspiring. My family was also always rooted in a love of the theatre and I remember going to see The Reduced Shakespeare Company and then performing a version of their Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) in Theatre Studies and it really showed me the fun of working in a team.
And what went on to shape your approach to your creative role now?
I think what’s really shaped my approach to my role is experiencing negative leadership and toxic work environments. It’s made me strive to be a better manager and create positive environments so the people I work with don’t have those negative experiences.
If you could have worked on one piece of art throughout history, collaborating with the creative team on it, what would it be?
I’d loved to have worked in the Muppets workshop in New York in the 1970s when they were creating characters for Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. To be in that mix of creatives on the cusp of something so different and creative at the time would be amazing.
You’ve curated a Top 10 Female Composers for Film & TV for us. Could you speak to some of your choices at all?
I’m a massive fan of soundtracks in general and over the years have come to know the exceptional female composers in Film.
Rachel Portman was the first female composer to win an Oscar in 1996 for her film Emma. She’s also created scores for Chocolat and Cider House Rules.
Wendy Carlos is a trans female composer known for her work with a moog synthesiser and has worked on classic films The Shining, A Clockwork Orange and Tron.
Yoko Kanno is a favourite of mine, she’s a Japanese composer, arranger and music producer across anime, video games, tv and movies but usually most notably for her work on Cowboy Bebop.
Lastly, though there has been progress in many areas for women in this industry, we are still living in very tumultuous times, and there are barriers for many women in creative and leadership roles. If you could give one piece of advice to women wanting to do what you do, what would it be?
Most of the advice I have I am still working on myself on an almost daily basis! But I would say don’t let anyone else define who you are or what you want to be, always work towards your goal even if it’s slow going, have empathy, always be ready to listen and learn and be kind to yourself.
Inspired by her love for soundtracks, discover Rebecca’s “Top Female Composers for Film & TV” here!
