OFFSCREEN with Jillian and Sophia

For the OFFSCREEN Season 2 finale, we want to take a look back and re-emphasize the big ideas of the conversations we've had over the course of this season. Inclusivity and Authenticity, Identity, and the importance of  Emphasizing rather than Objectifying marginalized groups have served as some of the main themes of the season, and in this episode, we want to discuss some of our major takeaways from season 2 of OFFSCREEN with Jillian and Sophia. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian

Anthony Abaci, founder of MIASEEN, joins Jillian and Sophia to discuss how he got into the entertainment industry and his experience as an Armenian in Hollywood, what inspires him, the ins and outs of his new media startup MIASEEN, and his goals for the future. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian @miaseen_inc

Roza Melkumyan returns to discuss her experience as a member of the diaspora coming to Armenia, connecting with her Armenian roots and family in new ways, rediscovering her identity and finding herself in the midst of a war. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian

Armen Karaoghlanian, founder of the Armenian Film Society joins Jillian and Sophia to explore the Armenian identity through film, beyond the stories of tragedy, highlighting the aspects of Armenian identity and culture that are so dynamic and beautiful. They discuss the work of three Armenian filmmakers, with three different perspectives and backgrounds: Naré Mkrtchyan, Oksana Mirzoyan, and Jivan Avetisyan. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian @armenianfilmsociety

This week marks the beginning of our celebration of Armenian History Month! In this episode, we want to re-introduce ourselves and tell you a bit more about our stories and experiences growing up as Armenian-Americans– and how our identities have shifted and changed as we've gotten older. This year was a very difficult one for Armenians around the world and led both of us to re-examine what it means to be Armenian. Now, more than ever is time for us to put everything aside and put our homeland first. At the end of the day, what matters the most isn't if you go to church every Sunday or if you can speak the language perfectly. What we've learned over this year is that those things don't matter if you don't do the work to support your country and to support your people and your community. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian

Jan Lisa Huttner and Amelie Lasker join us to discuss International SWAN day, its past, present, and future. The WITASWAN project, or Women In The Audience Supporting Women Artists Now, was created by Jan in 2002 with the Illinois division of the American Association of University Women. In 2007, with the help of WomenArts Founder and Executive Director Martha Richards, the project went global, and International SWAN Day was conceived. SWAN Day/Support Women Artists Now Day, celebrated on the last Saturday of March,  is an international initiative designed to showcase the power and diversity of women's creativity. There have been thousands of events worldwide in over 35 countries since its inception. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian @ff2media

International and intersectional perspectives and stories are essential to learning and understanding more about each other as women- and we have a responsibility to be aware of the experiences of women across the world. Women abroad endure hurdles or dangers to have their voices heard and their stories told. These stories can highlight not only differences that we weren't aware of, but also shared experiences that can open our eyes to similarities we may not have ever thought we'd relate to. Katusha Jin and Dayna Hagewood join us to discuss four international films that are directed by women. Two of these films focus on young women in their home countries: The 2014 Saudi Arabian Film, Wadjda, Written and Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour, also the First Female-Directed Saudi Film, and the 2008 Argentinian Film, XXY, Written and Directed by Lucía Puenzo. The other two films shed light on the experiences of young women dealing with the consequences of emigration: The 2017 Norwegian-Pakistani Film, What Will People Say, written and directed by Norwegian-Pakistani screenwriter and director Iram Haq, and The 2009 German Film, Desert Flower, directed by Sherry Hormann. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian @ff2media

When we think of film, and often when we reward a film, we focus on and think about the actors, directors, and writers being the ones who bring a world to life, and take it from an idea to a reality. But less often recognized is the work of costume designers, makeup artists, hairdressers, special effects artists, set designers and those who work on the craft behind the film. They are the ones who build the world that is brought to life on screen, who curate the physicality of the characters, and communicate details that tell the story whether we notice them or not. The work of costume designers can illustrate the personality or growth of a character, while also giving the viewers information about the time period, socioeconomic class, and location of the characters in the story being told. The creation of the body and the space that the body is in is essential to setting the stage of the story being told. In this episode special guests FF2 contributor Roza Melkumyan, and Media Associate, Nicole Ackmanwe join us to highlight the work of costume designers in the film industry and just how important it is to recognize the work that is often performed by women behind the scenes, and often overlooked by audiences and critics. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian @ff2media

As a part of our celebration for Women's History Month, we are so excited to be partnering with FF2 media to bring you some special episodes that highlight the incredible achievements and contributions of women to film, music, and the entertainment industry at large. Joining our discussion are two very special guests, FF2 Founder & Editor in Chief , Jan Lisa Huttner, and Social Media Coordinator, Timberley Torcato.In today's episode, we look through cases of female director and actress collaborations that illustrate how a female director is able to bring out the qualities and characteristics often absent in female characters directed and written by men. Over the last few years, we've seen an explosion of female directors breaking onto the scene and with them, their muses, the actresses that inspire them. This partnership between the female director and actress allows them to explore and present the female perspective on screen in film and TV.  Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian @ff2media

This week marks the beginning of Women's History Month, and to celebrate here at OFFSCREEN, we will be dedicating the month of March to Women. To kick off the month, we will be having a conversation on the topic of media misogyny in the early 2000s. The new millennium saw the creation of a multi-million dollar industry dedicated to harassing and exploiting young women in Hollywood. Paparazzi who would do anything to get the money shot led many stars to breakdowns and some, tragically to their deaths. And the celebrity industrial complex's exploitation of young women didn't just stop there, it cultivated a society that was more than comfortable shaming women and turning vulnerable and talented young ladies into punchlines. Marked by reigning starlets like Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, and Paris Hilton, the early 2000s tabloids and media at large had a special way of sexualizing underage girls, stigmatizing mental health issues, capitalizing on women's insecurities, and letting men off the hook. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Sarah Baldino, marketing buff, joins Jillian and Sophia to discuss how the role of celebrities in the consumer market has shifted dramatically in recent years, from endorsements to brand deals to entrepreneurial ventures. Instagram and its influencers have created a whole new celebrity arena it seems, and mainstream media wants a slice for itself. But after a year like 2020, normal people are now more aware than ever of the luxuries celebrities flaunt. In the economy's current state, will celebrities continue to peddle their fit teas and makeup lines, or will the consumer demand for authenticity get in the way? Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @sarahbaldino @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Henry Long, friend of the show, joins us to discuss the recent controversy surrounding The Weeknd's Grammy snub, and what it reveals about corruption within the Recording Academy as well as its longstanding history of racist and elitist behavior. From snubs to scandals, the antiquated Grammys as we know them are on the outs, and we consider what the future of music recognition and upper-echelon accolades look like in the dynamic landscape of music today. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @henyrlong @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Camila Alvarez Bisbe joins Jillian and Sophia to examine how the depictions we see in media influence American audiences, and can truly become dangerous when they perpetuate xenophobic attitudes and stereotypes. Hollywood doesn't always paint the most accurate picture, especially when it comes to stories and points of view that we're not used to seeing.  Will these progressive streaming platforms force Hollywood to broaden its horizons and step away from tired tropes? Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @camilalvarezb @jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Melody Wan, a K-pop expert, joins Jillian and Sophia to discuss the origins and rise of K-pop (Korean Pop) and its Idols, considering what makes KPOP so enticing, and how it became a worldwide phenomenon. Melody provides insight on how the multi-billion dollar industry works, Korean soft power and international influences, and the ins and outs of fandom culture. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @melodynaw @jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Henry Long, music fan and friend of the show, joins Jillian and Sophia for the first episode of Season 2. The three of them discuss each of their personal top 5 albums of the most unforgettable year, 2020. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Mike De Angelis. Music Produced by Stoic For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com Follow us: @offscreenwithjillandsoph @henyrlong @Jillianchilingerian @sophia.badalian --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We share our thoughts and opinions on all the snubs and surprises in the 2020 Emmy nominations. Nominations mean more than just an award- they can make and break careers. In the history of awards shows there has been a constant lack of diversity in nominees but after the events of the Black Lives Matter protests, #MeToo and #Oscarssowhite there is pressure on voting bodies to be more inclusive on who they nominate. We touch on what representation really means for the voters and winners, and how diversity is shifting in recent years. Created and produced by Jillian Chilingerian & Sophia Badalian Artwork by Alex DaSilva --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we will be discussing the Career and impact of iconic hip/hop rap group - the Beastie Boys.  We walk through their rise to fame, their evolution, and the influence of their music, as well as their political stances and humanitarian efforts. The Spike Jonze directed, Apple TV exclusive documentary gives viewers a personal look into their journey as friends and collaborators, breaking musical boundaries, and setting the stage for all future alternative hip-hop artists. With artists such as Jay Z, Lil Wayne, Nas, Eminem, Rage Against the Machine, Sublime, Korn, and Blur citing them as an influence, the Beastie Boys have left an undeniable legacy on both the hip hop and rock music scenes. Their maturation as artists and activists have left a mark on the music industry that will last the test of time- so let's take a look at how the Beastie Boys transformed themselves from party bros to human rights activists. Help Armenia: helparmenians.carrd.co Follow @offscreenwithjillandsoph Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian Artwork by Alex Da Silva --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Over the last few years, Youtube transformed from funny videos to a place where you can launch your own career. Sydney Valentine, hometown friend and former badminton partner, joins Jillian in today's episode to discuss how Youtubers have redefined celebrity and entered mainstream media.  Most of these creators started off in their childhood bedrooms and now own million-dollar homes in Hollywood and have launched businesses. With this new fame, Youtubers have found themselves in a position where they have influence over millions of people, mostly Gen Z.   In these last few months, we have seen Twitter erupt with screenshots of past tweets, DM, texts, and emails from content creators calling them out for bad behavior. The rise of Youtubers has created a blur between the character they portray on our screens and them as an individual. Sydney and I discuss at one point is someone canceled from mistakes and what does that really mean. We also jump into how it is important for public figures to use their platforms to speak about major issues and not stay silent as they have the power to influence millions of people and spread awareness.  Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian Artwork by Alex Da Silva --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we will be telling a tragic tale of misinterpretation, disrespect, and the difficulties of being a woman in Hollywood. Who is a better example of being done dirty than early-two thousand icon and sex symbol, Megan Fox? We discuss the beginnings of her career in the industry and where it all went wrong for her. From the misrepresentation of her iconic role in Jennifer's Body, a female written and directed cult classic ahead of its time, to her experiences on set working with director Michael Bay, and the interview that sealed her casket so to speak. Long story short: this is how the entertainment industry failed Megan Fox. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jillian and Sophia bring friend and fellow music enthusiast, Tanji S Chavez on the show to discuss the rise of Latin music in America. The global expansion of Latin music, propelled by genre-blurring collaborations and the impacts of streaming on taste, has led to historic representation of the Latin community in the U.S. They address topics including the impact of streaming on Latin artists and songs, the significance of the Shakira and Jennifer Lopez headlined Super Bowl 54 halftime show, the influence of other genres on Latin artists, and representation of Latin artists at the Grammy's. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Jillian and Sophia continue their series on amplifying Black voices in the entertainment industry, with a focus on music. They discuss the works and influence of outspoken and political artists such as J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Noname, Solange, Donald Glover, Janelle Monae, and more. They also mention some of the revolutionary tracks released recently in the wake of George Floyd's murder and the Black Lives Matter protests. Jillian and Sophia hope to give their listeners a resource to incorporate different voices, perspectives, and experiences into their daily listening. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph

Here at OFFSCREEN, we believe that art, like film and music, is one of the best ways to see, hear, and understand the experiences of people who are different from us. In light of recent events, Sophia and I want to use our platform to educate our audiences and share resources of works that illustrate the black experience in America. Although we will never fully understand what the African American community experiences without being in their shoes, films, and music are the closest way for us to see these stories from their perspectives, and see their stories the way they want them to be told. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph

Hello everyone! I'm Jillian, and I'm Sophia and you're listening to OFFSCREEN the show where two Armenian women discuss the intersectionality of social issues and media. Jillian is a film and TV enthusiast and critic. She started OFFSCREEN as a blog and platform to shed light on new genres, cultures, and creators. Sophia is a musician and she's always on the lookout for under-the-radar artists and ideas. I met her in 2019 volunteering, and we connected through our shared curiosity and passion for exploration. Our heritage…alongside our international affairs major… influences our story selection and the way we approach them when we share them with you. Our goal is to have important conversations that unravel misunderstood perspectives in music, television, film, and everything in between. Follow us on Instagram @offscreenwithjillandsoph.

In this episode  Sophia is on vacation so Jillian sits down with her sister, Jessica Chilingerian, a Brand Marketing Coordinator at Levi's to discuss how fashion in Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen movies has influenced her current style. They also talk about how some of their favorite movies that they remember from childhood don't hold up as well and don't feel as culturally relevant as they used to be. They discuss some of their early childhood role models and their evolution over time..  Jessica goes into detail about a costume design course she took in college where she learned the importance of costume design in the storytelling of television, movies, and the stage.  Jillian and Jessica also talk about the differences in the content they like to consume and Jessica goes into depth on what she consumes challenges and educates her to learn the importance of speaking out and talking to others.   Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Jillian and Sophia discuss Ryan Murphy's newest Netflix miniseries, Hollywood, which is a piece of revisionist history showing us, the viewers, what 1940s Hollywood could have looked like if it had embraced diversity and equality in its golden age.  They go into depth on the series's attempt to tackle racism, sexism, and homosexuality in the span of 8 episodes as well as how easy conflicts were resolved and dreams were achieved. Later in the episode, they make a comparison to the 2019 film Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. They talk about some of the takeaways of the series, and their opinions on what producers Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, and Janet Mock got right, and what they got wrong. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Jillian and Sophia continue the conversation on independent vs mainstream production in entertainment. They are lucky to have with a special guest, Kiyoka Rhodes (also known as "Kex") is a writer, producer, and director of films, commercials, and branded content. She is also the Founder and Creative Director of Kex Studios. Kiyoka discusses the challenges of financing and distributing indie films, the rise of indie films as well as how she gets her inspiration and the process of starting her own production company. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Jillian and Sophia discuss the new streaming service Quibi. Quibi was thought to be the merge between Hollywood and Silicon Valley through its "quick bite" content only accessible through phones with over $2 billion in funding and major A-Listers attached like Jennifer Lopez, Sophie Turner, Steven Spielberg and more.  Our hosts discuss what worked and didn't work and how it was poorly executed. It can be described as "The Fyre Festival of Streaming Services." Jillian and Sophia discuss other possibilities that could have made the platform better such as sticking to unscripted shows, attaching digital creators who know-how to make the most out of short-form content better than actors, six minutes isn't enough to create a story and its similarity to Snapchat technology. Was this project rushed? Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we discuss the independent vs mainstream system in the film and music industries, what it means to be an independent creator, and what are the positive and negative aspects of both approaches of production. We talk about The Farewell director's, Lulu Wang, journey to making her film and how small production companies like Big Beach allowed her to bring her vision to life. Independent production companies have allowed creatives to share their vision with no interference like the traditional studio as well as reimagine classic genres and allow new voices and representation to appear on theater screens and in award categories. In music, we discuss the success of Chance the Rapper and how streaming platforms have allowed anyone to share their music with the world. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Jillian and Sophia cover the topic of nepotism and what it means for the entertainment industry. Is talent really everything? They discuss dynasties like the Coppolas, the Smiths and new artists like Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas, as well as some celebrities you may not know have connections in the entertainment business. Our hosts also cover why people are drawn to nostalgia and how it fuels nepotism. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto. Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Live from Quarantine! In this episode, Jillian and Sophia cover the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic on the entertainment industry.  They discuss tour and live experience cancellations, how this will change the format of the movie theater experience in favor of streaming services and the recent uprising of live entertainment on Instagram and other services with artists taking the initiative to provide people entertainment from their homes during this time.  Our hosts also give their favorite shows and music to stream while being at home. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian. Artwork by Alex DaSilva. Music Produced by Smino.  Follow us @offscreenwithjillandsoph --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we're going to be tackling the topic of “Men Who Champion Women” trend that's been emphasized by the recent “Me Too” movement. Movies made in the past few years (Roger Ailes, Harvey Weinstein) that center around women who are supported by male industry moguls, as well as noticing, for example, Fox News anchors who are women, but their roles and positions come with the price of exploitation. These roles are limited in scope and range and tend to typecast these actresses as objects.  We also discuss the trend on the music side of the industry and how a lot of female artists including Demi Lovato, Kesha, and many others are impacted by this system.  Follow us on Instagram @offscreenwithjillandsoph, @jillianchilingerian, and @sophia.badalian. For reviews and playlists check us out on offscreen.weebly.com. Created and Produced by Jillian Chilingerian and Sophia Badalian.  Artwork by Alex Dasilva. Music Produced by Kiyoto --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app