Pioneering Women of the Air with Film Producer Heather Taylor

 With just a compass and a road map to guide them, Amelia Earhart and nineteen other brave female pilots defied convention by taking to the skies and racing across the country for the first Womenʼs National Air Derby.  The women navigated through rough weather, mechanical failures, public scrutiny, cultural stereotypes and rumors of sabotage.  It was the golden age of aviation when technology was developing at a rapid pace, the mechanics of the aircraft was changing daily and the social environment, especially for women, was emerging into a new era.     Wearing breeches and goggles in the day and ball gowns in the evening, the women challenged stereotypes by proving women could be independent, competitive, self-sufficient, intelligent, competent, graceful and above all, really good pilots.  This story has largely been ignored until now.  The documentary Breaking Through The Clouds: The First Womenʼs National Air Derby captures the womenʼs personalities and portrays the drama of the race, stressing the importance the derby made for women, aviation and the country as a whole.  These pilots were making a statement in a new era, with new technology and new dreams.     Expertly researched, beautifully shot and edited, and filled with never before seen footage from the actual derby, Breaking Through The Clouds is a character driven documentary showing the trials and tribulations the women endured as they took off in Santa Monica, California and raced towards the finish line in Cleveland, Ohio over nine days.  Breaking Through The Clouds includes aerial recreations and interviews with legendary pilots and historians. Taylor’s ambition is to capture and harness the light that comes alive in peoples’ eyes when they find their calling, inspiring others to find their own path.  The women portrayed in her documentary on women pilots are perfect role models for this objective. The desire and willpower these amazing pilots had to fly, despite all odds, will inspire viewers to follow their passion and re-examine personal dreams.      Breaking Through The Clouds: The First Womenʼs National Air Derby is written, produced and directed by Heather A. Taylor. She formed her production company Archetypal Images, LLC in 2007. Previous to starting her own company, Taylor worked at Discovery Communications where she managed thousands of programming hours including popular shows such as The Croc Hunter, Monster Garage, Deadliest Catch, Eukanuba Tournament of Champions, American Chopper and many more. She has also worked on national commercials, industrial videos and completed a tenure with the Tennessee Film Commission. She has a Masters Degree in Producing Film & Video from American University and an undergraduate degree from Hood College. The program takes place at the Lockheed Martin Auditorium, 2323 Eastern Blvd in Middle River, MD. Although the event is free, a photo ID is required for admission to the program venue. For additional information call 410-682-6122 or visit www.mdairmuseum.org.