Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Director Today
…and that is just one of Becky Smith’s many accomplishments
Today, at noon central time, you have the opportunity to virtually meet a woman I consider a real ‘find’ as I put together the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat faculty. She’s from the area originally, and still returns regularly, and will be with us in September for the retreat (September 28-October 1).
Becky Smith is an Emmy-winning filmmaker and visionary educator whose dynamic career spans writing, directing, and producing for television, independent feature films and award-winning educational media. As a tenured Professor at UCLA’s Film School, she designed and taught core courses in screenwriting and film production, supervised both MFA thesis and undergraduate capstone films, and mentored a generation of storytellers—many of whom have gone on to win Student Academy Awards, Student Emmys and DGA student honors, and to premiere at Sundance, Berlin, SXSW, Tribeca, Toronto and beyond.
Television & Series Work
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: Directed 18 episodes of the original series, which won the Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program—and earned Smith her own Emmy nomination for Best Director (the first reality director to be nominated).
Network Credits: Helmed a dozen-plus episodes and specials for MTV, BRAVO, NBC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel, History Channel, Lifetime and PBS, bringing her signature blend of warmth, wit and visual flair to every frame - including the beloved children’s show “Bug Juice” and the early LGBTQ reality show “The Boy Next Door”.
Feature Films
16 to Life: A standout comedy distributed by Warner Brothers Digital that has reached over 85 million American homes; it has been a top-drawing title on Hulu, Netflix, Amazon and numerous other platforms. It stars Theresa Russell (Black Widow, The Hunger, Bad Timing) and Hallee Hirsh (ER, You’ve Got Mail, JAG, Dharma and Greg) .
August in Berlin: Shot on location in Germany’s capital, this critically acclaimed drama screened at two dozen festivals across North America, winning “Best of Festival,” “Best Director,” the Orson Welles Award and more.
Global Educator & Speaker
Master Classes & Workshops: From Beijing to Murmansk, Smith has led workshops and had her films screened in China, South Korea, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Tunisia, Russia and France, as well as across the US, including Iowa City, Seattle, Los Angeles, and other cities.
Documentary Film Workshop for Jordanian Journalists: Under UCLA’s auspices, Becky designed and taught a hands-on master class empowering journalists in Jordan to use documentary storytelling for social impact.
Okoboji Writers’ Retreat: Regular faculty member, guiding writers and filmmakers through the art—and the business—of screen storytelling.
Professional Affiliations & Advocacy
Alumnus, AFI Directing Workshop for Women
Member, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Member, Alliance of Women Directors & Women in Film
Guest juror and panelist for the Murmansk Int’l Feature Film Festival in Russia, the Ashland Int’l Film Festival in Oregon, the Landlocked Film Festival in Iowa City, and other festivals.
Current & Upcoming Projects
Feature Development: Actively writing and developing narrative features—a mother-daughter road-trip comedy about memory and aging, as well as a small-town dramady of four daughters coming of age and two unadult-parents in crisis.
Script Consultations: Providing one-on-one story and production guidance for emerging writers and producers, with a focus on underrepresented voices.
Post-Production Advising: Critiques and support on narrative shorts and features in post.
With a deep commitment to amplifying underheard perspectives in film and television, Becky Smith continues to bridge the worlds of art and education—proving that great storytelling knows no borders, and that every voice deserves its close-up.
And there’s even more to Becky’s unfolding story:
Champion of Innovation & New Media
An early adopter, Becky dove into digital streaming when most were still untangling VHS tapes—producing interactive web series experiments in the late 2000s, including a collaborative web series with Carson Kressley and Panasonic to teach best filming practices for still photographers.
Okoboji
Last chance! Tomorrow is the final day to grab the Early Bird discount for the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat. Some of you generously wait to pay full price — and we’re grateful. Your support helps cover rising costs and fund scholarships. But if it helps the budget to save $100, enroll before midnight tomorrow.
A big thanks to the anonymous donor who made it possible for 10 nonprofit staffers to attend. They believe — as we do — that better communicators make stronger communities.
We’re also welcoming emerging writers on partial scholarships. Their voices enrich the retreat, and the impact is mutual.
Read about the current faculty coming:
Join us before midnight tomorrow night and save $100.
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Invites Our Paid Subscribers to Join us in Winterset
Come meet some of your favorite Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members in Winterset on July 26. We are holding a thank-you event for those who are paid subscribers to any of our members, or this roundup.
Starting at 3:00 p.m., our paid subscribers are invited to join the screening of the film Storm Lake, a documentary about the struggles a family-owned newspaper in Iowa faces. The focus of this story is
, who will be on hand to meet y’all.There will be an after-party, too.
All you need to do to come is RSVP, and be a paid subscriber to any one of us. Still lurking? May we suggest you start with our Madison County hosts, Marianne Fons, Deb Engle, or Vicki Minor.
Barry Piatt will be joining us, trekking back to his home state from Washington, D.C., Dennis Goldford, Robert Leonard, Wini Moranville, Jane Burns, David Thoreson,
, Marianne Fons, Vicki Minor, Debra Engle, Julie Gammack, Laura Belin, Dave Busiek, Jane Nguyen, Douglas Burns, Connie Taylor, , , , , , , , , andWe are eager to meet this amazing community of readers from across the state.
Please let us know if you are coming. We need to make sure we have enough popcorn!
Thank you the paid subscribers of this column. Your support is gratifying, and funds help support those who need financial assistance to attend the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat. Together, we are changing lives.
Always a pleasant surprise to see who’s your next guest interview. These remind me of the Dick Cavett and David Frost shows which were consistently informative and entertaining.