Bright red lipstick is the first thing you would notice about Daniella Bumbacco and Catrina Franzoi while they are on set working as LadyMeta Movement, the production company the two UWindsor communications, media, and film grads started over a year ago.

“The first rule of LadyMeta is, at all times red lipstick must be worn on set,” said Franzoi. “We started it on our first set in 2011 and have kept it going, almost like our identifier.”

The pair has found that running their own company gives them the power to maintain artistic freedom.

Since 2011 the two women have been working on building up their portfolio. In January the pair began a project called “Le Twelve” in which they chose one band for each month in 2012 to have a music video done for free. They have released four of the videos and are currently in the process of finishing a video for Windsor band Pulp City Inn.

“We don’t have to work under anybody and we are in control of our successes and failures,” said Bumbacco. “I wouldn’t be happy creating someone else’s dreams when I could be creating my own.”

It’s a position endorsed by communications professor Tony Lau.

Besides the ability to create original work, he said, starting a company gives students coming right out of school an entry in an industry—like film­—that is hard to break into.

“Owning your own company will give you the option of creating work, while making money and building your portfolio,” he said.

Anne Forrest, director of the women’s studies program at the University of Windsor, said that current economic conditions make it hard for young people to get a job with any business, so at least starting their own company gives Bumbacco and Franzoi the ability to have their names on something.

“It’s also a trade-off for the number of people who will see your work and the amount of money you will make by working for a larger corporation,” said Dr. Forrest.

The principals of LadyMeta Movement believe there is no better time than right now to be starting out in film production, with new opportunities for women in the male-dominated industry.

“A few women are creating beautiful films and proving to be just as amazing as the men that have been dominating the industry for years,” Bumbacco said. “We are excited to be doing this at a time when this change is happening.”

Check out LadyMeta Movement’s work on its Vimeo site and Facebook page.

— by Jessica Hoffman