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Filmmaking

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Foot Trouble

Stream now on NoBudge.

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Foot Trouble takes a walk in 16 yr old Jade’s uncomfortable shoes - through gym class, an awkward encounter with a crush, and ultimately to a confrontation with the grossest things of all - feelings and her mom’s new boyfriend. A short film co-written and directed by Vanessa Meyer (2022). Produced by Yellow Bear Films. The film is award winning and has been selected at such festivals as: The Santa Fe Film Festival (2023), Chattanooga Film Festival (2023), Geneva Downtown Film Festival (2024), and Nitehawk Shorts Festival (2024). It is currently streaming on NoBudge.
View full cast & crew credits.

  • Main character Jade in the film Foot Trouble is listening to music with headphones in front of a gas station.
  • The actor who plays the character Jade behind the scenes holding a clapboard.
  • A teenage boy breakdancing in front of a school entrance.
  • Overhead shot of two people's feet-one wearing white socks and the other wearing black dress shoes.
  • Main character Jade and an emo teenanger character sit side-by-side on pool side bleachers.
  • A row of students in swimsuits line up along the edge of an indoor swimming pool.
  • Vanessa directing behind the camera with colleagues.
  • Main character Jade sitting at the dinner table having dinner with her parents in the film Foot Trouble.
  • Main character jade wearing a pink shirt that reads "I'm crying".
  • Main character Jade in her bedroom staring at her reflection in the mirror.
  • Main character Jade sitting on the edge of her bed in her room, recording herself.
  • Side profile of the mom character's face in front of a starry background.
  • Vanessa talking with colleagues, behind the scenes at an indoor pool.

Everybody Gets Sad

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Everybody Gets Sad is a documentary film about a young woman struggling to find her voice as a filmmaker and as a person in the world. She does this by trying to communicate with her mother over an 8 year period. (Written, directed, edited by Vanessa Meyer 2020). This film is the practice based contribution to my doctoral thesis (along with two other documentaries). It is a work-in-progress and will likely remain one forever, because sometimes that happens when you make a film about your relationship with your mother.
Read my full dissertation.

Foot Love

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A music video for the song Foot Love by Sucrose Sucrose Brown (aka. Vanessa Meyer & Rachel Idelson, best friends). Directed by Vanessa Meyer and starring Vanessa Meyer & Rachel Idelson (2015). Listen to more of Sucrose Sucrose Brown on SoundCloud. This video was selected as a part of The Humorous Disruptions Colloquium at Concordia University, presented by Synoptique.

CUP U

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CUP U. is a short documentary about the menstrual cup, as told via found footage and a collection of interviews with friends. (Written, directed, and edited by Vanessa Meyer, 2011)

The film was featured on Jezebel.com and was described by Dodai Stewart as “The Best Documentary on Menstrual Cups.” It was also selected to screen at the NYFA funded Unmentionables: Film Festival (2015).

The Hemispheres

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The Hemispheres is a short documentary about my grandparents and their condo complex in Hallandale Florida. (Written, directed, and edited by Vanessa Meyer, 2010)

This film is distributed by Groupe Intervention Video and has screened at Maison De La Culture (2011) and The Montreal Underground Film Festival (2011).

Some kind words about Vanessa and her work

  • Vanessa Meyer has heart. She sees people deeply and cares for them through her work. This comes through from her professionalism and near-psychic tact while handling talent, to her adept and searching depiction of humanity on the page. She’s an asset to the performing arts, in all the ways she engages with them.

    Tracy Hurren, Senior Editor/Drawn & Quarterly

  • Vanessa is extremely reliable and smart in all aspects of working on film - from narrative development to production. She helped me find the perfect editor for a film which set the stage for one of my most successful projects. She also is creative and hard-working in spades. She is able to easily grasp the most unusual projects, which is rare.

    Rachel Mason, Filmmaker/Performer

  • Vanessa was described as a "wild and talented new voice".

    Chattanooga Film Festival.

  • Dodai Stewart, from the late but great Jezebel.com, described Vanessa's short film CUP U. as "the best documentary about menstrual cups."

    Dodai Stewart, Writer NYT

  • Vanessa brings a gift of empathy and openness to any conversation, and it is a superpower. She is the first person I send a draft of a script and/or a cut of a film to. She is trustworthy, and she can see the work for what it is, dissect the good and the bad, and help carve a path forward regardless of the project’s scope. She is also an artist in every sense of the word. I hope to work with Vanessa in any way that I can, and I hope other creatives can be as lucky as I am to have met her.

    Jeff Ryan, Filmmaker/Actor

  • Vanessa doesn't give you shallow, nit-picky feedback on your work-- she dives deep into the soul and heart of your story. She asks the questions that others don't. She helps you find purpose in your work. Long story short, Vanessa has improved me as a writer, as a director, and most importantly, as a storyteller. I will continue seeking Vanessa's advice as both a mentor and artist moving forward.

    Shannon Walsh, Filmmaker/Actor