From the earliest days of film to today’s digital media landscape, women have played a critical role in shaping how we tell stories on screen. Yet, their contributions have often been overshadowed. In honor of International Women’s Day 2025, et’s take a journey through time, celebrating the pioneering women who made history in filmmaking, editing, advertising, and online video content.
Early Pioneers in Film Production and Direction (1900s–1930s)
Alice Guy-Blaché – The First Female Filmmaker
If you’ve never heard of Alice Guy-Blaché, you’re not alone. But, you should know her name. She wasn’t just any filmmaker; she was one of the first filmmakers, period. Between 1896 and 1920, she directed over 1,000 films, helping to pioneer narrative fiction and special effects. And she wasn’t just behind the camera, she was also one of the first women to own and run a film studio, Solax Studios, in the 1910s. At a time when women were expected to take a backseat, she took charge.
Lois Weber – The First Woman to Run Her Own Studio
Lois Weber was another silent-era powerhouse, running her own studio in 1917, a major feat at a time when Hollywood was overwhelmingly male. Not only was she one of the highest-profile directors of the 1910s, but she also pushed boundaries with her films, addressing social issues like poverty and birth control. Plus, she was a technical innovator, pioneering the split-screen technique and experimenting with sound in film as early as 1913. Weber proved that women weren’t just capable of directing—they could lead the industry.
Mary Pickford – The Actress-Turned-Hollywood Mogul
Mary Pickford, known as “America’s Sweetheart,” was more than just a silent film star. In 1919, she co-founded United Artists alongside Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith. This gave artists more control over their films, challenging the studio system. She was also one of the 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Pickford showed that female actors could wield power behind the scenes, shaping the future of Hollywood.
Dorothy Arzner – The Studio Era’s Only Female Director
During the 1930s, Hollywood’s studio system made it nearly impossible for women to direct, but Dorothy Arzner did it anyway. She directed over 20 films, launching the careers of stars like Katharine Hepburn and Lucille Ball. Arzner was also an inventor, creating the first boom microphone by suspending a mic on a fishing rod so actors could move freely. Her technical and creative influence paved the way for women directors in Hollywood.
Innovators in Film Editing
Margaret Booth – The First “Film Editor”
Editing wasn’t always seen as a creative role. Early Hollywood called editors “cutters.” But Margaret Booth changed that. She started as a “cutter” for D.W. Griffith and later became MGM’s supervising editor, where she shaped the way films were put together. In fact, Hollywood producer Irving Thalberg officially called her a “film editor,” a title that stuck. In 1977, the Academy honored her with an honorary Oscar for her 62-year career, recognizing her lasting influence on the craft of editing.
Thelma Schoonmaker – The Scorsese Legend
If you love a Martin Scorsese film, you owe a huge thanks to Thelma Schoonmaker. She has been his go-to editor for decades, winning three Academy Awards for Best Editing (for Raging Bull, The Aviator, and The Departed). Schoonmaker’s sharp editing style has defined some of the greatest films of all time, making her one of the most respected names in the industry.
Trailblazers in Advertising and Video Marketing
Mary Wells Lawrence – The Queen of TV Commercials
Mary Wells Lawrence wasn’t just an ad executive. She was a visionary. She founded the agency Wells Rich Greene in the 1960s and became the first female CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. She revolutionized advertising by bringing cinematic storytelling to TV commercials, creating unforgettable campaigns like Alka-Seltzer’s “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz” and Ford’s “Quality Is Job 1.” She proved that video advertising could be just as engaging as Hollywood films.
Linda Kaplan Thaler – The Jingle Genius
If you’ve ever found yourself humming “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us Kid,” you have Linda Kaplan Thaler to thank. As co-founder of the Kaplan Thaler Group, she crafted some of the most memorable advertising campaigns, from the Aflac Duck to Clairol’s “Yes, Yes, Yes” Herbal Essences ads. Her knack for blending humor, music, and storytelling made her one of the most influential figures in video marketing.
Media and Tech Leaders Shaping Video Content
Susan Wojcicki – The Woman Who Built YouTube
Susan Wojcicki might be one of the most important people in the history of online video. As Google’s first marketing manager, she played a key role in Google’s acquisition of YouTube in 2006. When she became YouTube’s CEO in 2014, she transformed it into a platform with billions of users and an essential tool for businesses, creators, and marketers. Under her leadership, YouTube created its Partner Program, enabling creators to make a living from their videos. She helped turn online video into a dominant force in digital marketing and entertainment.
Victoria Alonso – The Marvel Studios Powerhouse
Victoria Alonso was instrumental in shaping the look of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the executive vice president of visual effects and post-production at Marvel Studios, she oversaw visual effects, post-production, and digital innovations that made Marvel films some of the most visually stunning in history. She also championed diversity in film production, pushing for more representation behind the camera.
The Legacy of Women in Film and Video
From silent film pioneers to digital video leaders, women have continuously shaped the way we create and consume visual stories. They’ve directed groundbreaking films, redefined advertising, and built platforms that power the future of video. Their influence isn’t just history, it’s happening right now. As more women take on leadership roles in media and technology, they continue to break barriers and innovate in ways that will shape the future of film and video for generations to come.