It’s not every day students and film lovers in Sarasota get to hear firsthand from a Hollywood star. But on Saturday, actress, director and producer Heather Graham visited Sarasota’s Burns Court Cinema for a screening of her latest film, Chosen Family, followed by an in-person Q&A led by David Shapiro, founder of Semkhor Productions.

Graham's visit was part of the Creative Empowerment Project (CEP), a partnership between Semkhor Productions, Booker High School, Suncoast Technical College and Florida Winefest/Caring for Children Charities, aimed at fostering independent film production and creative careers for Sarasota youth.

Graham, whose filmography spans Boogie Nights to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, was candid about the realities of filmmaking. Describing her experience writing, directing and starring in Chosen Family, she emphasized the multifaceted challenges of independent film.

"As an actor, you focus on your role," she says. "But when you’re directing and producing, you’re thinking about everything—what’s the theme? How do all the characters connect? How do we get the funding? How do we budget this?"

Shot over 14 days on a $1.2 million budget, the film—which also stars Julia Stiles and John Brotherton—was a lesson in creative resourcefulness. "I was told I needed to cast a really famous guy, which I wasn’t able to do," Graham says. "But when Julia Stiles committed, a financier came on board. We ended up deferring my salary to put money back into the movie. Otherwise, we would’ve had to cast only local actors because we couldn’t afford to fly people in. Independent filmmaking is a lot of begging people for favors."

Beyond the logistics, Graham spoke to the importance of relationships and resilience in the industry. "You have to nurture connections with people who can help," she says. "It’s about keeping the faith while detaching from the results. It’s fun and creatively fulfilling, so you just keep going even when you don’t know what will happen."

Graham’s insights also extended to broader industry issues, particularly gender disparities in Hollywood. "Most movies are made by men, starring men and financed by men," she says. "Female directors make up about 7 percent of the industry. There’s an underserved market of women who aren’t getting content—and male audiences can enjoy women-led films, too. Growing up in the business, I was often cast as the guy’s girlfriend or love interest—rarely the protagonist. Watching films where women lead is empowering to me, and I believe it is for other women, as well. I hope to see more stories from a female perspective."

She also highlighted the behind-the-scenes, less glamorous mechanics of how making a film happens—for example, how location incentives shape production decisions. "Not a lot is shot in L.A. anymore—it’s mostly about where the tax credits are," she says, citing Kentucky, Louisiana and Rhode Island, where Chosen Family was shot, as examples. 

Reflecting on her path to Hollywood, Graham shared stories of her upbringing and early career, including that she's taken acting classes since she was child. "My dad was in the FBI, and when I was nine, we moved from outside Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles. I was depressed about it at the time, but it turned out to be the place to be for acting," she says. 

At 16, she persuaded her conservative family to let her audition for parts. "I started with commercials, got my SAG card, and then my driver’s license," she recalls. "Driving onto the 20th Century Fox lot was so exciting—I was meeting all these arty, interesting people, and it felt like I’d found my community." 

Despite often being cast in roles that project a wild or glamorous image, Graham described herself as the opposite growing up. "I wasn’t considered attractive, I had a high GPA and I was kind of a nerd," she says. When she got to Hollywood, "meeting Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, and Frank Oz was surreal," she says. "I grew up watching The Muppets so meeting Frank Oz felt especially wild."

The details Graham shared about her family make sense after screening the film. The comedy-drama follows Ann (Heather Graham), a yoga instructor striving for inner peace amid a chaotic family life and a series of failed relationships. The film delves into themes of self-discovery, the complexities of modern relationships and the families we choose and create for ourselves.

While Chosen Family explores themes of connection and personal growth, Graham’s message for the students in attendance was that creativity is a journey—one that requires persistence, adaptability and a willingness to learn from both success and failure. She told the audience that being open to criticism is key, and that sharing scripts with other writers for feedback is a big part of her own creative process.

As part of the broader goals of the Creative Empowerment Project, the event underscored the importance of giving young people practical insights into creative careers. "Technology is changing the pipeline," says Shapiro, noting that the program’s rapid training and potential future dual-credit options at Booker High and other schools aim to provide viable alternatives for aspiring creators. "We want to build a sustainable creative community here. Events like this are a step in that direction."

"Every artist creates differently—through dance, visual art, animation or other forms—but there’s no single path to success," he continues. "Building confidence and hearing others’ stories is key. We offer training in digital tools shaping today’s industry." He calls that "automated intelligence"—streamlining production and helping independent creators work like production companies while keeping a project's scope realistic.

"The industry may look glamorous, but it’s hard work, and most people lack the financial resources to break in," Shapiro says. "Finding your own path is essential. Many talented students can’t afford a four-year college track, and self-motivated individuals often learn from platforms like YouTube. Exposing them to working creators and industry developments is invaluable. Partnering with public schools allows for fast, effective training and is crucial for disciplines where success hinges on self-drive."

Next up in the Creative Empowerment Project series: Kevin Smith, who's scheduled to speak here next month. Sarasota’s budding artists are being given a front-row seat—and sometimes, a direct line—to the industry they dream of joining.