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    Director Megan Stowe joins ONE at Optimus

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments847 Views
    Megan Stowe
    CHICAGO --

    ONE at Optimus has added LGBTQIA+ commercial/TV/film director Megan Stowe to its talent roster. 

    An alum of SHOOT’s 2023 New Directors Showcase, Stowe has a body of work which spans LGBTQIA+ storytelling, documentary filmmaking, and commercial directing. Stowe is described by ONE at Optimus executive producer and head of production Dave Buehrle as “an empathetic, story-driven director with a talent for capturing people in an authentic way on screen. I love her passion for work that uplifts unique and underrepresented voices.” 

    Stowe has garnered assorted accolades throughout her career including Gold Telly Awards, shortlist distinction for a Clio Award in Film Craft (Direction), a People’s Voice Webby Award and multiple Mid-America Emmys presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She was also honored as one of The Verywell Mind’s 25 Health Champions, alongside influential figures like Selena Gomez, Brené Brown, and Carson Daly. One of Stowe’s most notable achievements was directing the award-winning short film Learn with Love, that focused on changing hearts and minds about the experiences of trans and nonbinary youth.

    Drawing inspiration from her own experiences as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Stowe actively explores narratives that address themes like identity, acceptance, and the shared humanity that connects us all. The timing of her signing with ONE at Optimus–during Pride Month 2024–is apropos. She is adept at directing real people as well as actors, eliciting authentic performances. Her art touches the hearts and minds of viewers, fostering empathy and understanding while celebrating the diverse and interconnected nature of our human experience.

    “As an LGBTQIA+ female commercial/TV/film director, I aspire to craft stories that resonate deeply, enabling audiences to forge connections with characters, emotions, and ideas that touch the essence of being a human,” said Stowe. “Whether through a 30-second commercial, a five-minute piece of branded content, or a feature film, I evoke empathy, provoke thought, and inspire change. I’m excited to bring my expertise in visual storytelling and authentic representation to ONE at Optimus, where I can continue to create meaningful, impactful content.”

    Tags:Dve BuehrleMegan StoweONE at OptimusSHOOT New Directors Showcase



    Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

    Saturday, December 21, 2024
    Suchir Balaji poses for a photo in Hawaii in 2018. Balaji was a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who died in November 2024. (Balaji Ramamurthy via AP)

    Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26.

    Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products.

    "We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir's loved ones during this difficult time," said a statement from OpenAI.

    Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said "appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation." The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide.

    His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a "happy, smart and brave young man" who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends.

    Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT.

    "Suchir's contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn't have succeeded without him," said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what... Read More

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