12. Who gets to be gifted and why? Meet THE G WORD Director & Producer Marc Smolowitz

Dec 21

Marc Smolowitz is a multi-award-winning director, producer and executive producer who has been significantly involved in 50+ successful independent films wearing many hats across the film and entertainment business In 2009, Marc founded 13th Gen, a San Francisco based film company that works with a dynamic range of independent film partners globally to oversee the financing, production, post-production, marketing, sales, and distribution efforts of a vibrant portfolio of films and filmmakers. In 2016, he received one of the prestigious IFP Fellowships to attend the Cannes Film Festival’s Producers Network and Marche du Film marking him as one of the USA’s most influential independent film producers.

Currently, Marc is working on the upcoming documentary THE G WORD. Defying popular myths that assume most gifted people are wealthy, white, and will do fine on their own, THE G WORD reveals the economic, cultural, and gender diversity of our nation’s gifted and talented population at every stage of life, highlighting their educational challenges, social isolation, deep emotional sensitivities, and complex, neurodiverse brains. It puts a face to the physical threats experienced by many in our schools and society-at-large, while also revealing a large and lively community of people working hard to meet their needs while challenging the prejudice and trauma that comes with being labeled “smart” in the 21st century.

TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

#TheShowMustBePaused in this turbulent year, let’s take time to reflect and take a conscious break and for the global experience of this pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement across the globe.
Giftedness is also a question about diversity, inclusion and equity
Who gets to be gifted in America and Why?
It takes a lot of fearlessness to take on difficult subjects such as poverty, PTSD, LGBTQ+ & civil rights, HIV & AIDS
THE G WORD movie is the first of its kind
There is a lot of misunderstanding, stereotypes and trauma associated with the term giftedness
IQ is measured on a vertical line rather than a horizontal line
Neurodiversity is the backbone of THE G WORD movie
Words matter and words mean different things to different people
Movies are able to change hearts & minds about powerful and important issues
THE G WORD is intended to create impact through the impact enterprise which takes the movie from the screen into the communities
You need to have an open mind immersing yourself in the topic of giftedness
#TheFutureIsGifted join the conversation and use this hashtag on social media