Filmmakers Making A Social Impact: Why & How Miranda Spigener-Sapon of Noirtainment Productions Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Edward Sylvan
“Finding the Light in the Darkness” and at Noirtainment we make content that has a noir aesthetic, but it also entertains, enlightens, empowers and inspires change.
As a part of our series about filmmakers who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Miranda Spigener-Sapon.
Miranda is an award-winning writer/director, producer and showrunner. She founded her independent production company Noirtainment in 2019 alongside her best friend and colleague from her early in her career DeVonna Prinzi that serves as VP of Development and Creative Affairs. Noirtainment is a company that makes film and TV with the through-line of shining a light in the darkness. Miranda also works regularly with producer/actor Andrew Flores and author turned producer Kristin Ruggaber. “Surround yourself with light and people who care not just about you and your dreams, but how we can help each other and make this world a better place,” says Miranda. Spigener-Sapon became an author when she accepted an offer of a 4-Book Deal on the Marisa Romanov Stories, from Winterwolf Press. The first book Charles is due out in 2022. Miranda directed the Venice TV Award Nominee in contention documentary feature Masculinity That Inspires Change, written by Gunter Swoboda for Amazon Prime.
Recently, Miranda became the showrunner and creator of Haisley, an animated mixed with a live-action show that was ordered to series and is in production on the first season. In early 2022 she will direct the award-winning, vigilante justice thriller Red Scarlett, a feature film written by Gary Piazza and Allie Escaffi and will start filming the documentary limited series Crisis of Man with Gunter Swoboda. A Texas native, Miranda Spigener-Sapon lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Felipe.
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Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
Thank you so much for having me. I have always been a creative artist probably since I learned to read. I was reading by age 4 because my dad always read to me, and I think maybe that was an early trigger to the creative process. Just being fascinated by stories and the power of words. From then I was always writing little stories and creating my own “plays” with a few friends or just me and my toys. Eventually, that evolved to where I’m at today and I’m truly grateful for every opportunity I was given as a writer and artist.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you during your career? What was the lesson or takeaway you took out of that story?
So many interesting stories, but I guess one is back when I was Director of PR at an NYC publishing house. I had the opportunity to really see the potential in the power of PR and networking. I got the opportunity to travel to NYC for Book Expo America, an international trade-show conference for the literary world. I have always known that trade shows were great to be at for your career. I first learned this when I was Business Manager of USA Operations for an international oil services company, and I’d attend the Oil Technology Conference (OTC) every year. Trade shows are an opportunity to not just meet and greet with the “powers at be” in your industry and in my case as an up-and-coming writer, I got to get to know through all the meetings, the parties (always fun part) and just walking the show, I got to meet and make life-changing connections with editors, publishers, press, etc. Since I was attending as the company’s PR executive, I also got to meet face to face with the authors we published and, in this business, a book festival or conference trade show is the only time you get to meet the people that you work for and with daily. I cannot help but urge my colleagues, friends and the next generations to savor the in-person connection. In these global pandemic times, the power of the human connection is so important, even if we must apply some caution and social distancing, or whatever. Don’t take anything for granted. Let’s be smart and wise and embrace connection. We must evolve always. Do whatever it takes safely and healthy living-wise so that we can have some level of normalcy and strive to be better. There is something organic about just shaking a client or colleagues’ hand or just giving someone a hug when you see them. You never know who you will meet in this journey of life…so always hold strong to every human connection that you get.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
I say just get out there, be tenacious and tell your story. There will always be things or people who may get in the way or may not have your best interests at heart but stay strong and just tell the story…do not let anything stop you from doing or saying what you want to do. Only the Universe is the limit, and I would say that is a wide net of opportunity.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
I mentioned my dad and how he always read to me and took time to help me see things with fresh perspectives and not be judgmental, but I’d also have to say, my great-grandmother. At an early age, she would play along with me when I would create my own stories and then she would also enroll me in early art classes to help fuel my creativity. I am also a classically trained violinist and while I only play for me now, my stepmom helped get my first violin and lessons and I even played with the symphony for a while. My Aunt Amy, who is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whom I find much creative encouragement.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
I grew up with the motto to always treat others as we would want to be treated and to also leave a place in better condition than we found it. We have one life, and we should always strive to empathically make things better for our fellow humans. Life is too short to spend on thoughts of what we don’t have when we can look for ways to improve not just our situation, but the world around us. One of my dear colleagues and now friends is a psychologist and author Gunter Swoboda, he has a fantastic movement called Making Good Men Great and together we have got the attention of some major thought-leaders across the globe. We have a documentary series going into production soon called Crisis of Man and I produce a podcast that he hosts called Inspire Change. We have reached millions of subscribers and listeners across all the major podcast platforms, and we are now about to start our 4th season in 2022. My current TV series in production started out small when we were all put in the worldwide lockdown in April of 2020 because of Covid-19. My team and literary reps came up with a plan to do something that would keep us all creative during these dark times, but also expand the growth of my independent production studio, Noirtainment. The motto of my company is “Finding the Light in the Darkness” and at Noirtainment we make content that has a noir aesthetic, but it also entertains, enlightens, empowers and inspires change. Our first animation mixed with live-action is a family/children’s series called Haisley. It is currently in active production for season 1 and the tone and theme it’s a show that showcases what it means to be human and alters the way you see life.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this cause?
Gunter was a client, but I always preferred to take on clients that have a like-minded and a sense of mindfulness in everything they do. In these times we are living in, a movement like Making Good Men Great is not just timely, but essential in helping make our world a better place. We need to strive for balance and moderation in everything we do. So, I guess the story is in the story, it’s just like-minded folks coming together to truly inspire change and make a mindful difference empathically in the world.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
Rather than single out any one person and for the sake of individual privacy, we have received lots of my praise and requests from people from all cultures and walks of life that want to be a part of what we are doing. This is what life is all about. While we are still in the early stages, I see every day from whether it’s our listeners to the podcast, our audiences that have read the books and articles or watch the documentary, or just in the intimate conversation we have day to day to promote and spread the word on the cause.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
At the end of the day, we are all human, no matter race, color, part of the world we’re from, our families, upbringing or who we choose to love…we are all human and as a society and that includes the government and authorities in that we all need to be mindful and respect each other. We all live, we all breathe the same air and walk on the same ground. Just living your best life, while trying to also do your part in helping others. If we all did a little of that, I believe that would solve many of our problems. Living a life in balance and moderation is really a simple concept, but so many struggles. Just let go, contemplate something beautiful and embrace mindfulness.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”?
You know, I like to focus on the five things I’m doing now:
- Be Tenacious as it will get you very far.
- Be Resilient even when you feel like you at you a low point.
- Be Kind ALWAYS, even when people are not kind to you or may have betrayed you, just do your part in offering a moment of quiet sensitivity.
- Love like like it’s going out of style (I know cheesy, but it’s true, try it!).
- Apply Empathy…as a highly intuitive, sensitive and empathic person who wears her heart on her sleeve a lot…if you apply empathy and use this quality for the greater good, you’ll unlock some of the greatest things life has to offer and you’ll see the world with fresh eyes each day.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I want to continue to promote and encourage others to follow Gunter Swoboda’s Making Good Men Great Movement. This movement inspires change, inclusiveness and gender equality. While Gunter focuses on his work with men, it is very inclusive to filling in the missing pieces that society needs to maintain a balanced lifestyle and how women and men can equally and respectfully work together for change.
Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!
One would be Writer/Director David Lynch. He is one of the master creators in finding the light in the darkness through his work in cinema and through his David Lynch Foundation, which uses mediation to promote well-being. The other would-be Colin Farrell as he shows kindness to others and promotes equality, empathy and the importance of Mental Health Awareness and what it means to be human. A simple coffee and conversation with either of them would be an honor and I would love to discuss ways we can all work together to make the world a better, kinder and more empathic place.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
“You have to live spherically — in many directions…never lose your childish enthusiasm and things will come your way.” — Federico Fellini
Yes, full circle! That child innocence is a treasure and no matter what you’ve been through always take a moment to hold onto that and you’ll go far. Sometimes as adults we forget, even when things are moving fast , always grab that innocence and cherish it in your heart then SHARE it with others.
“There is an ocean of creativity within every human being.” ~ David Lynch
This is so true, if you just sit still, even for a moment to contemplate something lovely…there is peace in that, and you also open yourself up to endless potential.
“I’m just myself, I stick by my guns, and I treat people the way I think they should be treated, regardless of their status. And I just have a laugh.” — Colin Farrell
We all have our little idiosyncrasies and things that make up who we are, but if you just stop, smile, be kind and just treat our fellow humans as we’d like to be treated then those simple little things like balance and peace are not so hard to accomplish. It’s been there in front of us all along.
Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?
Twitter.com/mirandaspigener
Instagram.com/TenaciousMiranda Facebook.com/MirandaSapon linkedin.com/in/mirandaks/ www.Noirtainment.com
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!
Filmmakers Making A Social Impact: Why & How Miranda Spigener-Sapon of Noirtainment Productions Is… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.