What makes you fall in love with, and embrace, a project? What motivates you with the passion to help it see the light?

We choose films based on what will affect people on an emotional, physical and psychic level, and based on what will make their lives better in a holistic way. We choose films that will affect our states, our schools and our culture at large, taking on subjects to build awareness and ultimately change protocol and legislation. We consider films that will change our accepted social norms, especially when we’re looking at gender bias in our media and our corporate workplaces. And while we’re so much about women and empowerment for young girls, we don’t forget about the young boys — they, too, need the opportunity to be protected, to heal, to learn, to evolve and to do better.

How do you see your films as a resource for people on their post-trauma healing journey?

Our films shed light on issues that, for so many years and for so many reasons, have been buried. Our films illuminate shame, violence and silence in the culture. Those are the three things that oppress people mentally, emotionally and physically. They’re what keep our culture and our society oppressed and entrapped. Our films are about breaking the silence and lifting the shame.

On the societal level, what kind of impact do you strive to have in terms of “touching” the most people? Can you speak to some of the legislation that’s changed as a result of Artemis Rising being involved?

MISS REPRESENTATION was a film that was made in 2011. It didn’t win an Academy Award. It wasn’t even nominated. But, since its debut, MISS REPRESENTATION has been screened all over this country and the world, in 52 other countries. It has a curriculum that’s designed to go along with it. And, to this day, it’s still changing lives. Another example that illustrates the impact of our films: THE INVISIBLE WAR. That film was made in 2012. Today, so far, there have been 35 pieces of legislation enacted thanks to that film. And, like MISS REPRESENTATION, it’s still changing lives. Many new recruits in the military have to watch that film now.

Our films are all catalysts for change because they deal with universal themes — themes like recovering from abuse and trauma, becoming whole and healing old wounds. Whether you speak Spanish, Italian, Chinese or Arabic, these films will speak to you and they translate — many of them have been literally translated into many languages and shared across the globe.

As a pioneer of this new wave of socially-conscious filmmaking, are you excited about the potential to connect with people via new platforms? What do you see as the future for Artemis Rising?

We launched Artemis Rising Foundation to transform our culture through the arts, media and education. We began doing this through documentary film — films about 84 to 90 minutes long, accompanied by a curriculum. What we’ve realized is that, with people’s busy lives and trying to fit our movies into blocks of class time, that format doesn’t always work. So, in addition to traditional feature films, we’re also exploring new possibilities and distribution platforms with Netflix, Amazon Studios, Hulu and all the episodic television options that are now just booming. We’re founding sponsors of TedWomen, working with them to launch short digital films, videos and episodic programs. We’re also the founding sponsor of the Athena Film Festival at Barnard College that supports the inspiring films and extraordinary stories of fierce and fearless female leaders. The festival also hosts master classes and film labs. In journalism, the Women’s Media Center is training a new generation of women to report using short-form video and other storytelling tools to get out the message in a range of meaningful ways. Artemis Rising is very much involved in sponsoring different organizations and individuals storytelling across new formats and new platforms.

Regina began her career in media in public relations, where she got her start working for multinational corporations before founding RPR Marketing Communications, an acclaimed New York City-based agency. Today, in addition to Artemis Rising Foundation, Scully sits on the boards of Stanford University’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, Project ALS, Harvard Women’s Leadership Board, V-Day, The Representation Project, Women’s Media Center and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. An education reformer, she has helped launch some of the most successful charter schools in the United States, including the Success Academy and Making Waves Academy Schools.