.: Jodie Myers :.
Jodie Myers is a talented video artist who films births (”not birds … births!”)
1. What is your current occupation?
Childbirth Video Artist.
2. How long have you been in your current field?
The first birth I filmed was in 2001, but only in the past year and a half, I chose filming births as a career.
3. How would you describe yourself to someone who doesn’t know you?
I’m easygoing, creative, love traveling, dancing, yoga, live music. I have an eclectic group of friends, and keep a pretty active social life. I’m a late bloomer and look quite young for my age, which allows me to get a way with… perhaps I shouldn’t have said that… lol… Yeah, and I can be goofy at times and serious when needed.
4. What is it about your career that you particularly like or enjoy?
I get to share and witness one of the most amazing moments in life - the birth of a child. I also enjoy seeing the inspiration my work gives to people.
5. What do you bring to your work that makes you unique?
I bring my talent in capturing these sacred moments with sensitivity, patience and respect, and then creatively edit what I filmed into a beautifully woven story. I am calm and peaceful when I work, very present and focused, yet unobtrusive. That is very important when filming such a private moment.
6. What is your educational background?
BA in Film from Florida State University.
7. What do you consider to be your biggest achievement in life?
Not selling out, conforming or choosing the path of least resistance is an achievement in my life, but by all means not the biggest. I haven’t reached my biggest achievement yet. However, being flexible and open to the flow of life and what it has to offer has allowed me to find my path and career. I still have much to learn, and I’m enjoying the journey.
8. What do you hope to achieve in the near future? in your lifetime?
In the near future, I hope to complete my documentary about natural childbirth and have it aired on The Baby Network, TLC, or any venue that will give it wide exposure. I wouldn’t mind being on Oprah either.
In my lifetime, one of my aspirations is to film births around the world and then create a montage celebrating life and diversity. I feel a film like this could help people put their differences aside and open their hearts, encouraging the will of life over death and peace over war, destruction, suffering and hatred.
9. How did you hear about the Israeli Business Network and what helped you decide to join?
Avi Albek, need I say more? He invited me to a meeting at Miriam Wizman’s home a couple of years ago. The food was great, so I joined.
10. What has been the most beneficial part of this organization for you?
The connections I’ve made through IBN have helped me on a personal level as well as professionally. At one of the IBN meeting I met Moshe Barzilai who wrote a feature article about my work for Shalom LA. One of my biggest promoters is a wonderful Hypnobirthing® instructor, Alisha Tamburri, who I was referred to by one of IBN’s guest speakers, Nancy Irwin, a Hypnotherapist. Sometimes your best connections come from a few degrees of separation.
11. What is the best advice that you ever received about your career path?
You’ve got talent and a great niche, the world needs to see your work, keep on doing it, think big and outside the box.
12. What would you recommend to newcomers to IBN?
If you don’t speak Hebrew, learn it or at least feel comfortable around it. After all, it is the Israeli Business Network.
Come to the meetings often and consistently, so other members get to know you and not only what you do.
Don’t try to sell your service or product to other members. Our meetings have a very social atmosphere; sales pitches would simply take the joy out and push people away. Instead share with us what it is you do, with passion, with joy and with authenticity.
13. What is an interesting fact about you?
Not sure I can share the most interesting things… 
But some people find it interesting that my father is from South Africa, my mom from Zimbabwe (Rhodesia), my two brothers and I were born in New York, grew up in Israel, and now one lives in Israel, one in Iceland and I’m in Los Angeles.
Oh, and I sang in a professional girls choir for 5 years in Israel.
14. Do you have any funny habits or interesting hobbies?
Funny habits - I often make goofy faces when a camera is turned my way. Probably because I’m more comfortable on the other side of the lens.
Hobbies - I crochet funky hats.
15. How long have you been doing what you do and how did you get into it?
As I mentioned earlier, the first birth I filmed was in 2001. My friends, who were having their first child, were planning a home water birth and invited me to be with them and film their birthing journey. I didn’t even own a video camera or editing equipment at the time. Two years later, another couple of friends were planning a home water birth and also asked that I film theirs. By then, I had a MiniDV camera and I was able to edit the birth. So now I had two amazing edited home water births. The Hollywood Birthing Center was using them in their classes, and I was receiving a lot of positive feedback from everyone. That is when I realized what a special thing I was doing and decided to make a career of it.
16. Who has influenced or inspired you in your career and/or in your life?
In my present career, the first inspirations were my friends Maya and Ronit who invited me to film their births. It was an eye opening and even spiritual experience. Their courage, strength, trust, grace and beauty through their birthing journey were amazing and inspiring on every level. All the wonderful midwives, doulas, and childbirth educators that I’ve met since, have been a tremendous inspiration and influence on my career path as well. My parents (all three of them) have been supportive and encouraging with every step I took. And my cousin Tal, after seeing my work and with great passion said to me, “every moment that your natural childbirth documentary is not out, is another moment that my sister will choose the ‘conventional way’ of childbirth over taking the natural path. You need to finish this film and soon, because she’s trying to get pregnant again.” I’m working on it Tal!
17. Do you have a website? How can people contact you for more information?
My website is: www.mybirthmovie.com and my contact information is on my website.
18. Any other thoughts you might like to add?
Having your birth filmed does take some open-mindness. It’s not for everyone. Sometimes people react with a bit of resistance to what I do. “Why would anyone want THAT filmed?,” is what some say, or “Who would want to see THAT!?” I had a father who was very resistant at first to having me film their birth even though he has seen my work. The wife insisted on having me film, so he reluctantly agreed. He asked that I try not to film him, as he didn’t feel comfortable. By the end of their birth he was so grateful that I was there. He was elated holding his newborn and gazing deep into his eyes. He told me that not once did he feel uncomfortable or conscious of my filming. He couldn’t wait to see the edited birth and share it with their older son and family. They both cried when they saw the birth for the first time.
The birth movies I create are not graphic or hard to watch. Contrary, I’ve seen many men get emotional while viewing them. A birth is not about the actual moment of a newborn entering our world. It’s about what ever happens on that very special day. It’s about the parents’ journey. It’s about their connection, the excitement, the movement, the interactions, and the feelings. It’s about the birth, but also about the baby finding his or her way to the mother’s breast and the first eye contact they make with their father and mother. It’s about that instant falling in love with this new little person, and I know it’s something every parent will cherish forever.
I thank everyone involved in The Israeli Business Network for creating this special group.
Add comment November 1, 2006
ent occupation?
