International Women’s Day may have passed, but recognizing women’s contributions extends far beyond a single day.
That’s why we’re continuing the conversation by showcasing industry leaders whose insights, experiences, and leadership continue to shape the world around them.
Next up, we talk with Jenny Crabb, Executive Producer, and Regional BDM Asia, Sweetshop.
When asked what drew her to the industry, it was, like many movie lovers, the magic of Steven Spielberg. “I fell in love with filmmaking—very unoriginally—through watching the trifecta of Steven Spielberg classics: Jaws, Close Encounters, and E.T.”
The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” What does that mean to you professionally and personally?
Coming from a family of strong women (my mother is a novelist and my sister runs a feminist theatre company), I couldn’t help but respect and acknowledge the unique perspective of female voices and watch this in action everyday.
I am happy to say I do not experience sexism very often at all anymore, although like most of us, I have been witness to the evolution of female professional empowerment over the years from what was back then a very male-dominated industry.
Coming from a family of strong women, I couldn’t help but respect and acknowledge the unique perspective of female voices and watch this in action every day.
I love to see how so many positions of influence and creativity are now held by women compared to those early days, from below the line crew roles up to CEO. I feel lucky to have been supported and championed by some very wonderful men as well as women along the way, which more than balanced out the occasional bad experiences.
What first drew you to the industry? Was there a defining moment or experience that shaped your path?
I fell in love with filmmaking – very unoriginally – through watching the trifecta of Steven Spielberg classics: Jaws, Close Encounters, and E.T. which ignited my imagination and endlessly fascinated me.
My parents eventually bought me a book about filmmaking when I was about 11 or 12 I think, and there was a behind the scenes picture of a film set which I loved and dreamed about – basically, I knew from that point forward I was going to find a way to work in this industry somehow.
A defining moment in my early career was when I started as a runner making coffees in a post house in London, and was exposed to all these incredible, funny, humble, hardworking professionals working on cool broadcast shows and documentaries.
A defining moment in my early career was when I started as a runner making coffees in a post house in London, and was exposed to all these incredible, funny, humble, hardworking professionals working on cool broadcast shows and documentaries. My first professional decade working in high-end post houses truly taught me so much which has gone on to help me in every other aspect of my professional career.
Is there a person or persons who inspired you professionally on your career journey?
As cliché as it sounds, the more you know in this line of work, the more you realise how little you know and how many stone cold professionals are out there working around you. So watching other people be at the top of their game is endlessly inspiring.
What’s a key lesson you’ve learned in your career that has shaped how you work today?
Find your like-minded creative and technical collaborators, and treasure them – they will take you far. This is an industry built on teamwork and everyone playing their part in the ecosystem.
Always try to work with people who know how lucky they are to have a job working in this industry, even as you might curse the long hours and instability that seems to always come along with it. Surround yourself with people who care about craft as much as you do.
Nothing is ever as scary as it might seem in the moment—preparation, attention to detail, and teamwork will overcome all challenges.
Nothing is ever as scary as it might seem in the moment, and preparation plus attention to detail plus teamwork will overcome all challenges.
How has mentorship played a role in your career – both as someone receiving guidance and as a mentor to others? What have been your most meaningful takeaways from these relationships?
I was taught how to use old school 90s editing equipment to hack together silly little videos after hours by a junior editor at the first company I worked at, introducing me to all the tricks of editing, compositing and VFX used to do his job – it blew my mind at the time and gave me an appreciation of technical craft to add to my existing love for the creative storytelling process.
I know this person’s patience and generosity in passing on knowledge really helped accelerate me onto my path and encourage my dreams in an otherwise tough and competitive environment.
This is why I have never been a gatekeeper of professional knowledge to anyone coming up behind me – I wholeheartedly believe you should share what you have learned generously with those who truly want to learn and to help mentor the next generation.
How can organizations effectively champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the face of current challenges? What specific strategies have you found effective?
I feel I have such an advantage when it comes to a certain type of inclusion here since Sweetshop is a female-led global company (our co-CEOs and founders are two amazing women – Melanie Bridge and Sharlene George. Our Bangkok office is also run by a small tight-knit team of badass ladies – my co-EP Penny Woo and Head of Production Aui Thamma, and we work with directors from all over the world, from different ethnicities, and bringing different perspectives.
Thailand is somewhat progressive in many ways when it comes to the expression of gender and sexuality, as is New Zealand, where our head office sits. Where we could do better is in continuing to look for talented directors in some of the more underrepresented backgrounds to work with, that is just going to be an ongoing goal for us.
Inclusion is really simple in principle—look out for those voices you might be missing in the conversation, and remember to include them when you can.
Inclusion is really simple in principle, look out for those voices you might be missing in the conversation, and remember to include them when you can. Practically speaking, it’s a little tricker – but fostering a calm and safe workplace where everyone feels comfortable to be heard is probably the first step.
Production is a necessary hierarchy in terms of the chain of command on sets, but that does not mean it is ok to demean or undermine others. More and more, from male and female directors equally – I hear a variation on ‘I just want to work with smart people, no big egos, no power plays, let’s just make something really good’…and that is a great place to start I reckon!
Quick Hits:
A trend you are excited about:
I’m excited to see how the tech continues to evolve around integrating AI into live-action campaigns in a mindful, ethical and artistic way.
