How Learning to Love My Body in a Bikini Helped Me Make a Movie

How Learning to Love My Body in a Bikini Helped Me Make a Movie

You wouldn't think that body positivity and independent filmmaking have much in common. But as someone who was once told Hollywood would be too fatphobic for someone like me, learning to love the skin I'm in was the ultimate game-changer for my career. Stepping into my power as a queer, fat woman didn't just give me the confidence to wear a bikini at the beach — it gave me the confidence to go to law school, pitch to professionals, write best-selling books like Because Fat Girl, and finally step behind the camera as a director. If the culture can be wrong about our bodies, they can be wrong about who is allowed to tell stories. I'm making my upcoming short film, No Animals Harmed, on my own terms — because the world needs our stories now more than ever. 🚀 RESOURCES TO BUILD YOUR BOLDLY CREATIVE LIFE 🔗 Learn more about the Creative Life Blueprint: http://creativelifeblueprint.com/ [http://creativelifeblueprint.com/] 🔗 Learn more about 33 Asks®: https://33asks.com/ [https://33asks.com/] 🔗 Learn more about Write Your Friggin' Book Already®: http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com/ [http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com/] 📚 LAUREN'S BOOKS 🔗 Read Because Fat Girl: http://becausefatgirl.com [http://becausefatgirl.com] 🔗 Read Bawdy Love: http://bawdylove.com/ [http://bawdylove.com/] ✨ JOIN THE UNSCRIPTED JOURNEY ✍️ Subscribe on Substack: https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/ [https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/] 📷 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/ [https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/] ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming [https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming] Because the world needs our stories now more than ever. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe [https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

How a Cancelled UCLA Class Accidentally Gave Me My First Short Film Script

How a Cancelled UCLA Class Accidentally Gave Me My First Short Film Script For 20 years I wanted to make a short film — and for 20 years I let having no idea what I'd write about stop me from making that dream happen. Then a cancelled UCLA class accidentally handed me my perfect script. In this episode, I walk you through exactly how it happened: *The sketch comedy class I almost didn't take, *The four beats of sketch comedy that unlocked my storytelling brain. *The moment my teacher told me to stop trying to cut my sketch down and turn it into a short film instead. I also talk about why I walked away from Hollywood after film school, how writing a novel secretly prepared me to write a script, and why Roger Bannister's four-minute mile is the best metaphor I know for doing the creative thing you've convinced yourself is impossible. What you'll learn: * The four beats of sketch comedy (and why they work for short films too) * Why the skills you already have are more transferable than you think * How to recognize when you've been limiting yourself before you even tried Follow the full filmmaking journey: Substack: unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com [http://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com] Instagram: instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/ [https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/]  YouTube: youtube.com/laurenmariefleming [https://www.youtube.com/laurenmariefleming] Because the world needs our stories now more than ever. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe [https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Grim Reality for Women in Film (And Why I’m Coming Back Anyway)

In this episode, Lauren shares what she learned after spending a weekend with the Alliance of Women Directors — and why she left more convinced than ever that women are changing the film industry from the ground up, with or without Hollywood's permission. 🎬 A shocking statistic: in 2025, women held just 16% of directing roles and 7% of cinematographer roles in Hollywood 🎬 Lauren's backstory: entering film school in 2001, leaving in 2006 convinced she could never make it as a queer, fat woman in the industry 🎬 What changed after Because Fat Girl hit airports and bookstores nationwide 🎬 Inside the Alliance of Women Directors conference: collaboration over competition, zero gatekeeping, and a room unlike any she'd been in before 🎬 The two things every woman told her when she shared her story — and why both mattered 🎬 What "no gatekeeping" actually looked like: producers, software, grants, funding, even cinematography workout routines, all shared freely 🎬 Lauren's promise to keep sharing everything she learns as she returns to filmmaking 🔗 Learn more about the Creative Life Blueprint: http://creativelifeblueprint.com/ [http://creativelifeblueprint.com/] 🔗 Learn more about 33 Asks®: https://33asks.com/ [https://33asks.com/] 🔗 Learn more about Write Your Friggin' Book Already®: http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com/ [http://writeyourfrigginbookalready.com/] 📷 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/ [https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariefleming/] ✍️ Subscribe on Substack: https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/ [https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/] ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming [https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMarieFleming] Because the world needs our stories now more than ever. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe [https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

I Have No Idea What I'm Doing, But I'm Not Going to Let That Stop Me.

Dear friend, As I start to cast, hire crew, and crowdfund for my first film [https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/p/im-making-a-queer-short-film-in-san], I’m scared that I have no idea what I’m doing. It feels even scarier to publicly admit that (so scary, in fact, I’ve put off sending this email for over a week now). If fear is holding you back, I have some good news, and I have some bad news. Bad news, it’s not going away. Good news, you’re not alone. Bravery is a glorious and magical cycle. You just need someone to take the first step and get it started. So, here I am, saying that I’m scared shitless I’m going to mess this short film up, but I’m doing it anyway, because I want to live a boldly creative life. What about you? Where are you feeling brave these days? Let me know in the comments. Let’s inspire each other to go out there and do it scared. Because the world needs our stories now more than ever. With love, Lauren P.S. I’m working on the crowdfunding incentives for my short film. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them! Picking the incentives is, hilariously, the scariest part of crowdfunding to me right now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe [https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Am I Too Old for This?

Dear friend, Do you ever feel like you’re just too old? Lately, I’ve found myself worrying that I’m “past my prime” — which is hilarious considering I’m only 43. Statistically speaking, I’m only halfway through my life, and with my family’s genes, I could live to be 45 or 105. You never know. What I do know is that life is too short to wait to go after your dreams [https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/p/how-a-one-page-sticker-chart-changed]. In today's episode, I talk about the joys of being "over the hill" and encourage you to go after your dreams – no matter what your age. Are you trying something new in your life? Reply and let me know, I’d love to cheer you on. Lauren ____ Sharing Is Caring If you’re interested in making movies, or just love to hear about the process, these books are great to pick up: * Story by Robert McKee [https://amzn.to/4dso8pW] – the book everyone in the industry insists you read and truly a great one for any storytellers out there, regardless of your genre * Dialogue by Robert McKee [https://amzn.to/3Rt0kux] – this gave me such great tips for writing better scenes between characters * The Original by Priya Parmar [https://amzn.to/3RqOGjL]– I love how queer this book is and how wonderfully alive Hollywood feels in this novel If you found this post to be inspiring, you’ll love my books: * The Writer’s Career Guide: How to Build a Sustainable Creative Life on Your Terms [https://amzn.to/3RdJVKn] – if you want to start a writing career and get paid for your creative work, I put everything I know into this book * Bawdy Love: 10 Steps to Profoundly Loving Your Body [https://amzn.to/4uKVMhp] – with its journal prompts and coloring pages, this book is fun and healing * Because Fat Girl [https://amzn.to/3PKCvhg]– a perfect summer read if you want to escape into a world of filmmaking that has fabulous fashion and a happy ending for all Some of these are affiliate links, meaning I get a % if you buy through this link. It’s an easy way to support my work and get a great new read. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe [https://unscripted.laurenmariefleming.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]