Member Spotlight – Donna Linsell
The WVFG Board is excited to feature member Donna Linsell as our 2018 2Q Member Spotlight!
Having left her Information Technology position with the Federal Government in 2009, Donna was looking to expand her photography hobby. She was also involved with the local Actors Guild of Parkersburg, and through those contacts, she secured her first film gig as an unpaid behind-the-scenes photographer! She shares, “Although it was not even a “no-low”….more like a “no-none”….a new interest was born!”
Donna also shares, “Parkersburg, West Virginia is not what you would call a film hub. Not even close. So to be interested in this business and live in this location means travel. I only worked on one other local film in Marietta, Ohio, and again it was a “no-none.”
Since that first film, however, Donna has worked her way up…. in continuity as Script Supervisor and also as 2nd AD, 1st AD, Line Producer, and Production Manager. Her previous education, training, and work experience in project management have lent themselves easily to managing actors, film crews, budgets, and schedules.
The largest budget, and thus largest crew Donna worked with, was on Hollow Creek, written and produced by Floridian Guisela Moro. It was shot in two counties in West Virginia and also shot in Florida. Donna began the first day of shooting, once again, as a behind-the-scenes photographer. She had taken the job voluntarily because it was a great opportunity. By the end of the day, she was hired as a paid Script Supervisor. By the second half of the film, she was the Production Manager, and her small photography business became the pass-through entity for the film’s expenses.
Donna encourages others with her story. “I tell this story to many beginning film enthusiasts. Don’t skip over a job just because it’s not paid. There’s experience to be gained. There’s networking to be done. There could be a paid job behind it.”
Donna currently live in Mineral Wells, WV; near Parkersburg. She enjoys her quiet on a dead-end road (they are the last house) in the country with her husband Erik, dog Angus, cats Cassie and Torrie, and four chickens named Breakfast, Lunch, Supper, and Dinner.
Donna says she gets to work on 1 to 3 movies a year. “Things have slowed down since the Film Office has closed.” Meanwhile, she takes pictures, sells jewelry, does crafts and paints, and plays with her five grandchildren. In closing, she says, “Guisela and I are kicking around the idea of another movie…” And we look forward to hearing about it!
Member Spotlight Nominations
We would love to receive nominations from you for our quarterly Member Spotlight Feature! If you have someone you’d like to nominate, please email us at [email protected].
Please provide the name of your nomination and include two to three sentences as to why you are nominating the individual.
We look forward to receiving your nominations!
