Since its inception in 2009, the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative has been responsible for facilitating numerous film, television and media projects right here in the Berkshires. Heading Berkshire Film is Diane Pearlman and she is assisted in this endeavor by Laura Gratz. Diane is a veteran of the film industry who has worked on visual effects for a number of high-budget blockbuster films. Laura has only been in the film industry for two years and has a background in teaching. When these two women from such diverse backgrounds came together, film magic happened.
Diane Pearlman is the Executive Director of Berkshire Film and has been in the film and media business for over 20 years. She worked on films including The Matrix, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and much more. The first film she worked on in the Berkshires was Judge Dredd in 1995 and she continued working on projects in and out the Berkshires for the next decade. After the effects studio she worked at moved to California, Diane decided to stay in the Berkshires with her husband and continue the great legacy of films in our region.
“We could have lived anywhere in the world, but we chose here,” Diane says. “The Berkshires has great services, food and drink, cultural landmarks, and is close to New York City where my family lives.”
Her leadership of Berkshire Film has brought many great projects to the area and has been lauded by both the Board of Directors and the many people that she has worked with over the years.
Laura Gratz is the Administrative Director of Berkshire Film and has become the driving force behind many of their educational programs since she joined the collaborative two years ago. With a background in teaching, she brings a whole different skillset than Diane. Her first real experience in the film industry came earlier this year when she and Diane were deeply involved with the production of “A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud” working with Karen Allen to bring a classic short story to the big screen.
“For Diane and Laura to run Berkshire Film and develop all of the programs here in Western Mass is incredible,” says Julia Dixon the Creative Economy Specialist at 1Berkshire. “The Berkshires and the creative economy as a whole are lucky to have them.”
One of their most successful programs returns later this month with the 3rd Annual Western MA Film & Media Exchange on October 19. This program is one of the driving forces behind the thriving film and media industry in the region, and we urge anyone interested in going to attend. We are honored to have these two amazing women working on behalf of the Berkshires and are happy to spotlight them during Women in Business month.