Filmmaker Julia Hart says being a mom 'empowered' her to become a movie director

Julia Hart was a high school teacher for eight years before switching careers and becoming a filmmaker. In Yahoo Entertainment’s new series, “Game Changers,” she says motherhood allowed her to take the leap. “It wasn’t until I became a mom that I felt empowered to do so.” After teaching, she began screenwriting and the first screenplay she wrote, “The Keeping Room,” was directed by a man. It was at that moment she told herself, “I should be doing this.” Hart, who recently directed the Disney+ film “Stargirl” says, “We as woman don’t give ourselves permission because society doesn’t often give us permission to take on leadership roles and it wasn’t until I was watching someone else tell my story that I felt empowered to do it myself.” Hart credits her husband, film producer Jordan Horowitz (producer of 2016’s “La La Land”), for helping her make the transition from teaching to filmmaking. “It really is about putting in the time and investing in yourself, but it also definitely helped that I had a really supportive partner who knew the industry.” “Stargirl” is available on Disney+ and for more of Julia Hart’s story check out the video above.