The Big Picture

Join Perri Nemiroff in San Diego for the very first LIVE Collider Ladies Night!
Perri will hit the stage with Melissa Barrera, Katy O’Brian and more to discuss their journeys in Hollywood thus far, and their upcoming projects.
Collider Ladies Night Live will take place on Friday, July 26 at 2:00pm in Ballroom 20.

Collider Ladies Night has been my baby since 2019. Getting the opportunity to regularly celebrate the work of hugely talented women who are filling screens with high-quality storytelling while making an indelible positive impression on this industry in the process is a true dream come true. For the last five years, I’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with dozens of women in film and television for pre-recorded one-on-one conversations that offer unprecedented behind-the-scenes insight into the reality of finding one’s way in Hollywood, finding one’s voice in the process and then using that voice to change the industry for the better. Come July 26, 4,900 people will get the chance to join in on that conversation.

Collider Ladies Night will host its very first live episode at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 on Friday, July 26 in Ballroom 20 from 2:00 to 3:00pm. The panel will feature Melissa Barrera, Katy O’Brian, and more guests to be announced soon!

Katy O’Brian Is a Film Franchise Queen

One of the greatest joys of hosting Collider Ladies Night over the years has been meeting actors brimming with talent who you just know are about to see their stars skyrocket. That was the case last year with O’Brian when she swung by the studio to promote Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Opposite a number of MCU heavyweights, O’Brian had minimal screen time in comparison, but it didn’t matter. Her screen presence was undeniable, and she managed to make Jentorra a fan favorite. In The Mandalorian, O’Brian was merely credited as “Comms Officer” in Season 2. However, when she returned for Season 3, her character was not only given a name, Elia Kane, but also a significant role in the series storyline.

So at this point, O’Brian is in two of the biggest film franchises of all-time, Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But why stop there? She’s also in the upcoming Twister sequel, Twisters, and joins Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible 8. Even better? O’Brian is building a filmography of great diversity. In addition to a slew of blockbuster productions, O’Brian also stars opposite Kristen Stewart in one of the most intoxicating films of 2024 from visionary director Rose Glass, Love Lies Bleeding.

After chatting with O’Brian for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania last year, I walked away thinking, she’s bound for big things. Not only has she indeed done many big things since, but she’s also left me even more certain that there are many, many more to come.

Melissa Barrera to Become Collider Ladies Night’s First Four-Time Guest

I could work myself to the bone trying to build up Collider Ladies Night, and so could editor Adam Martignetti. But the truth of the matter is, a show like this cannot succeed without outside forces who believe in it, particularly potential guests. There’s a ton of wonderful outlets to turn to for interviews and only so many hours in the day. Making the choice to participate in a Ladies Night conversation is make-or-break for the series, and, over the course of the show’s run, there’s one person in particular who has chosen Ladies Night more than most. Melissa Barrera.

I had the pleasure of welcoming Barrera to Ladies Night for the very first time in 2022 to celebrate her starring role in a new installment of my favorite franchise, Scream. I was instantly captivated by her fight and complexity in the role of Sam Carpenter in the series’ fifth installment, but then, Barrera went on to exceed my expectations in the biggest possible way in Scream VI. Not only did she turn Sam into an even more electrifying character, but she also proved she has what it takes to headline the franchise. (And for someone who’s been deeply attached to Scream since 1996, that’s not an easy thing to achieve.)

Beyond Scream, Barrera’s continued to wow me with her work across the board. Most recently she returned to Collider Ladies Night for the release of Abigail, yet another blood-soaked production from Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett in which Barrera is an utter horror powerhouse. But on top of that, we’ve also had the pleasure of crossing paths for some festival gems. First it was Carmen at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, a downright stunning musical drama with a number of jaw-dropping dance sequences directed by choreographer Benjamin Millepied. After that, it was at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival for the World Premiere of Your Monster, a production that continues to confirm Barrera is a genre icon, but in a completely different way. Writer-director Caroline Lindy’s one-of-a-kind approach to crafting a genre-bending narrative allows Barrera to do everything — in a single feature film.

Covering Barrera’s professional accomplishments over the years has been a true joy, one, because she delivers big on screen each and every time, but also because she’s a person who radiates warmth and enthusiasm — not just for the project she’s promoting, but for every single person around her, myself included. Barrera is the type of Collider Ladies Night guest who makes me prouder and prouder of the show every time she appears on it. It’s the greatest honor to get to make this live show leap with her of all artists. With her appearance on Collider Ladies Night Live at SDCC 2024, Barrera will officially become the show’s first four-time guest!

We’ll see you in San Diego on July 26 with Barrera, O’Brian, and more soon-to-be-announced Collider Ladies Night Live guests.