Life Behind the LENS Filmmaker Kerri Yost blazes a trail in her life and work By Jennifer Herseim Photo by Anastasia Pottinger Getting through the door was the easy part for Kerri Yost and her Scottish friend. After bribing the employees ofa film studio to let them use equipment for afm project after hours, the tough part for the two young wornen ‘was corwincing the male employees that they knew what they were doing. “They hung around for about an hour to make sure we knew how to work things,” Yost said. “Once they figured we could do it they left us alone. OF course we had no idea what we were doing.” ‘Yost has come a long way from the curious, young American gi! fving in Poland who persuaded employees to let her borrow equipment. She stil has that ‘sense of curiosity for things she doesn’t Understand and eagerness to figure them ‘out. Now she isthe associate professor of film studies at Stephen's College, the ‘only female college in the nation with 2 film department. She has produced several docurnentary films of her own that have won her both local and national recogni: tion, including a series following Bosnian refugees and a short film, “Bill,” about homeless man living in the Midwest. After graduating from the Univesity cof Missouri Yost moved to London to pursue writing, but struggled with her ‘raft until she discovered film while living ‘with several male filmmakers. “Writing | always grappled with it,” Yost explained. It consumed my life and depressed me, i it didn’t work out. But | gravitated toward film, and | didn't take it as seriously, which ‘was probably why | was better ati ‘She was in London teaching English to immigrants and working ata local coffee shop owned by a Yugoslavian family, when conflict and war erupted in Bosnia, “That's ‘hen | fist got interested inthis career, ARTIST SNAPSHOL | Yost said of documentary film. “I knew people who had come from those counties. It was ‘a way that I could help them Not honor it, but help people understand it, give people the reality of what refugees go through.” ‘ter studying film in London, she moved to Krakow, Poland, an artistic city under communist rule. The everyday artistic atmosphere in which she lived found its way into her films. “My fl were mare likely to be shown in 2 galley than a theatre. | id very odd films," Yost said, “| was very connected to the at side of it ‘Yost sat the head of Stephen's fim department, leading a generation of young, female filmmakers break into a traditionally male-dominated industry. Oniy 15 percent of drec- tots, executive producers, writers and editors working inthe U.S. are women. The reasons behind the discouraging figure caused Yost to put the topic of women in fi front and center, In conjunction with Stephens College, Yost is hosting 2 fernae film symposium ‘October 17th through October 13th, called the Citizen Jane Film Festival Tt took Yost a long time to recognize the hardships women face inthe film industry. In Europe her naivety and her energetic nature, pushed her forward when she faced chat lenges, but now she discusses the choices women make in pursuing a film career. * seems to be a combination of cultural things,” Yost sai of the issues behind the lack of women in film. “Film i 3 business soit is reflective of other businesses t00...but, litte alarming because film is actually way worse than alot of seemingly stereotypical fields there are more women truck dives, women represented in congress and senate ~ than female directors. And whatis really disturbing is their numbers are decreasing.” it's an unspoken topic amongst women in the film industry that having a family will delay or end a film career, Yost said. Besides showing films by female filmmakers, the festival will offer workshops and symposiums to discuss some of the reasons there are so few women in the industry. in Yost’ office, underneath posters of foreign films and beside a desk spilling over with assignments stands a crib. Yostis nine months pregnant with her frst child. “We'l ee, Yost replied when asked how she'll combine being a mother with her film projects. “Part of me is really lucky because | teach at a women’s college and my artis incorporated into my job. Alot of it has to do wit the support you have, because | don't think | would have entertained this idea without it. My husband’ really supportive, and he also understands having artistic outlets. ‘COLUMBIA HOME S LIFESTYLE 63