Behind the Scenes of Generation Nerd Girl

The accomplishments of women scientists have been overshadowed in history. Telling the story of women in science and giving women visibility is fundamental to provide the credit that they deserve and inspire future generations. AWIS-Boston will host Bobette Buster (award-winning producer and author) and Karen Johnson (award-winning producer and director), with bios below, to discuss their vision for “Generation Nerd Girl”. “Generation Nerd Girl” is an inspirational feature documentary exploring the exciting generational change taking place for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). The documentary was awarded with The Roy W. Dean Film Grant, to a film that is unique and contributes to society.

Panelist Bio(s)

Bobette Buster is an acclaimed lecturer, award-winning producer and author, whose workshops are sought after by top media companies and corporations alike, from Disney/Pixar, Sony, BBC to Google and SoulCycle. Her groundbreaking philosophy and process give people the ability to uncover and tell their own stories, often with the result of creating connection and community. She is the writer/producer of the feature documentary, Generation Nerd Girl, with Karen Johnson, director/producer., as well as, the Writer/Producer of the feature documentary, Making Waves:  The Art of Cinematic Sound, (premiers: the Tribeca Film Festival, Festival de Cannes, BFI London Film Festival, among others), with Karen Johnson and Midge Costin (Director). This film will be broadcast on PBS beginning in May. She is now writing her third book based on 25 years of experience as a Hollywood Creative Executive and professor of storytelling (Broadleaf Press, 2023). She is the author of DO STORY: How to Tell Your Story So the World Listens (Do Book Co.UK, 2013, Amazon), and DO LISTEN: Understand What’s Really Being Said, Find A New Way Forwards (Do Book Co. UK, 2018, Amazon).  She is currently serving on the Visiting Faculty of Tufts University’s Graduate Engineering, teaching both workshops and the semester-long course, “Finding Your Voice: The Power of Science and Storytelling.” Her TEDx lecture, The Radical Act of Storytelling, is available on YouTube.

Producer and Director Karen Johnson’s mission for 20+ years has been to elevate women’s stories and women storytellers, specifically challenging the stereotypes of women and girls via entertainment media. She has produced a number of features with women directors and writers, including 2019 Tribeca/Cannes documentary Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, with Midge Costin (Director/Producer ) and Bobette Buster (Producer/Writer); 2018 Sundance documentary  Kusama: Infinity with Producer/Director/Writer Heather Lenz; and 2005 Toronto documentary Double Dare with Director/Cinematographer Amanda Micheli and Producer Danielle Renfrew.

Registration: $5 for MASS AWIS members,  $15 for non-members

Registration deadline: Sunday, April 23, 2023, by 1:30 PM EST