Celebrating Women in Film, TV, and Advertising: Lauren Orlowski, Director of Post Production at Paramount Pictures

In our series spotlighting International Women’s Day, Sohonet had the pleasure of catching up with Lauren Orlowski, Director of Post Production at Paramount Pictures. Since joining Paramount in 2016, Lauren has carved out a remarkable career, and we had the chance to chat about the pivotal moments that have shaped her professional journey and the valuable lessons she's gathered along the way.

Lauren, What inspired you to pursue a career in this industry and your field

 L: If I had to truly distill it, I’d say it was Ginger Roger’s dresses. Being a little girl, watching Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire dance across a room made me swoon, and as I began thinking about a career, there was nothing else I could think to pursue besides storytelling. It was that drumbeat of Hollywood that led me to making short films and web series, and ultimately to my career in post production at Paramount. While I may not be wearing Ginger’s dresses to work, I have the privilege of working on projects that are beautiful, inspiring, and nuanced, and I feel very grateful to have carved my spot in this industry. 

Was there a key moment in your career that influenced your professional path?

L: When I was hired by Stephanie Ito, President of Post Production at Paramount, my career trajectory changed forever. It was my first foray into studio-level filmmaking and she’s been an incredible mentor. Getting a front-row seat to see how a woman at the top manages, negotiates, and strategizes has been an incredible learning experience.

As a young woman starting out, it seems like you must choose the professional over the personal or vice versa, but seeing working mothers at the tops of their field is truly awe-inspiring and makes me believe that I can do it too.

‘To fail is to succeed’ - What's the most unexpected lesson you've learned from a failure or setback in your career?

L: I think those moments when you’re younger, searching for your path, working at jobs that aren’t meeting your potential can really challenge someone and make them wonder if they’re on the right path. For myself, I can see how all of those “wrong” jobs have made me a better filmmaker today. There’s something to be learned everywhere and if you can capitalize on those skills, they can benefit you when you make it to the “right” career.

What do you think are the most significant barriers for women in our industry, and how can we work together to overcome them?

L: I think the fear of learning an area of the industry that feels male-dominated can hold a lot of women back.Post production can feel like the STEM of filmmaking – more technical, less creative, but that’s not been my experience. The crews are a lot smaller in post production, so there’s an opportunity for a larger impact.I’ve been fortunate to be exposed to many female pioneers in post supervision, editing, sound, and color, though, there’s still work to be done to get more female voices amplified.

In the trades, we see a lot about the actors/directors/writers/producers, but there’s so many different jobs in the film industry, so when I talk to young people, I try to get them to think outside the box – what are their skills and what else can they do besides the obvious? There’s so many great, niche jobs out there, and I’m definitely a proponent of women working in post production. Let’s get more women in the room.

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be? 

L: Trust the process and keep learning.