In your journey through life, there are people who reach out to help and guide you through difficult times. On October 17, 2015, Western Washington University held a panel discussion on "Female Film Directors: Breaking the Celluloid Ceiling," where film directors shared their stories on mentors who helped them pursue their dream careers.

Heidi Kumao, director of “Swallowed Whole”, reflects back on a professor who mentored her through a rocky time in her college career. In her last years of college, Kumao was on track to earn a degree in chemistry. However, when she realized that you could major in art, she quickly became one of those six-year-senior type people. With the help and mentoring of her photography professor, Kumao decided to pursue an art degree. However, Kumao broke down, realizing she had no money to buy the materials she needed to do photography. She had found her passion, but also a roadblock. The professor could see Kumao’s potential and passion. When she came to his office, he sent her to the photography store and to use his name and buy any photography materials she needed. Kumao was grateful for her professor, and sees him as the mentor who helped her accomplish her dreams.

Mel Damski, producer of television shows such as "Psych" and "M*A*S*H*", looks to renowned director Stanley Kramer as his mentor. When Damski was first accepted into film school, he enrolled in the apprenticeship program and had the opportunity to work with Kramer. Damski was on set everyday of prep and every day of shooting.

“I learned so much just by observing. I had no idea, I was just a journalist and documentary filmmaker, I had no idea how to make that kind of narrative film. It was incredibly valuable,” said Damski, as he reflects on his time with Kramer. From his experience with Kramer, Damski believes shadowing is a great way to learn and gain valuable experience. Damaski has a shadow with him on every show so others can experience what a day in the life of creating a television show is like. By shadowing someone on set, you absorb all the work that goes into a production. However, Damski believed that in order to be a great director, “you have to have an instinct for storytelling because that is not something you can teach someone.”

Leslie Ann Coles, founder and director of the Female Eye Film Festival, reflects on her first film for an inspiring mentor who has helped her in her career. When Coles was creating her first film, her producer requested a mentor on set because she did not feel that she had the skills to produce the film Coles wanted to make. Cole's producer brought on another producer, Julian Grant. Grant, who was also a director, became the executive producer of the film and taught Coles the ins-and-outs of creating a great film. Coles reflects, “I learned a lot from watching him work on set.”

Another place of mentoring is the Female Eye Film Festival. In 2006, the Female Eye Film Festival received a grant to educate and mentor high school girls on the film industry. The young girls learned how to edit and shoot film, along with all other essential aspects of film making with the mentoring of successful female film makers. To date, they have produced 36 short films directed by female youth. The films created by the young females are then premiered at the Female Eye Film Festival, giving young girls an opportunity to showcase their work and show the world what they can do.

Ariadna Ochrymovych, a producer and documentary director, did not begin her career in film. Ochrymovych pursed a degree in French and Spanish literature. Through her degree, she read novels, poems and short stories, and grew to love the art of storytelling. In addition to her new-found love of storytelling, she also realized she had a good visual eye. Thus began her desire to pursue film making and photography. Beginning in props, Ochrymovych worked her way up to assistant director and production manager. She worked with a production company, producing children’s films as the assistant director and production manager. After three years with them, Ochrymovych wanted to branch out on her own and tell her stories. The production company not only mentored her, but supported her in her personal film endeavors.

As college students, it is easy to get discouraged and feel that you are stuck after working tirelessly for hours on essays, projects and tests. Step back and take a look at your own life. Who has inspired you or pushed you to do your best?