Celebrating VAGRANTS' Ladies: The Beating Heart of the Studio

As International Women's Month comes to a close, the Boston-based creative production studio, VAGRANTS, wanted to give an everlasting shoutout to the powerhouse women who have made the studio the creative, bold, and innovative force it is.

From heads of department to editors, directors and producers, these women aren't just celebrated during this month but year-round at VAGRANTS. They make everything happen, leading with passion, dedication and an unmistakable energy that drives the company's storytelling.

"The one question I get all the time is: 'How have you guys built Vagrants?' - obviously, referring to Winston Macdonald and I," says Dustin Devlin, co-founder at VAGRANTS. "The answer is: Us guys didn't build Vagrants. These ladies built Vagrants. Anybody who has worked with us knows this."

He adds, "The lady Vagrants are the beating heart of our creative studio. Without the leadership of our producers, Jill Wyman Shaw and Colleen Crandall, and the creative output of our female editors and directors, the Vagrants would fade into the abyss of other dime-a-dozen studios headed by bearded, IPA-gulping white dudes (there are all too many).

"So, no. We're not just celebrating women this month. We celebrate them every day."

Let’s meet them:

Jill Shaw

Head of production

Jill Shaw, a true Massachusetts native, is a go-to problem-solver, always making sure things are on time, under budget and filled with good vibes. Whether she’s running marathons, shredding on skis, or belting out tunes, Jill’s energy is infectious. She brings years of experience from both the agency and brand side, cutting her teeth in production at Hill Holiday, and then transitioning to Reebok for three years.

With her nurturing, down-to-earth attitude and wicked sense of humour, Jill’s the kind of person who makes work feel like an adventure—and she’s always ready for the next challenge.

Sacred Pact (Jacqueline Davis and Sunny Lee)

Director duo

The newest edition to the VAGRANTS fam, Sacred Pact is a director duo like no other. Life-long best friends with an affinity for creating purposeful and striking stories that champion diversity and authenticity, Jacqueline Davis and Sunny Lee are unstoppable.

Some of their favorite projects have been their work with the WNBA, Adidas, Rag&Bone, and Vogue.

Colleen Crandall

Post producer

Colleen Crandall is the anchor of the post-production team at VAGRANTS. Starting off in local news, she learned how to wear all different hats, adapting and thriving in fast-paced environments, before transitioning into PR and marketing, and then joining VAGRANTS.

A creative force and badass former athlete, she brings dedication, passion and attention to detail to everything she does, whether it's keeping timelines on track, creating the perfect list, or executing different creative campaigns.

When not post-producing, you can find her outdoors -- hiking, snowboarding or hanging out with her dog, Bongo.

Nadia Healey

Editor and art director

VAGRANTS' very own movie-loving social media queen, Nadia Healey has an eye for design. With a special talent for making everything she touches shine, she brings a perfect mix of creativity, humour, and flair.

Most recently, Nadia has applied that design eye to directing social content for clients Liberty Mutual and Ugly Books. If you’re ever looking for her, chances are she’s on the
karaoke stage, singing her heart out.

Sara Robin

Director

World traveller, filmmaker and screenplay writer, Sara Robin is a jack of all trades, with a special place in her heart for her first love: music. Currently, Sara is in the post-production phase of her feature documentary, 'Your Attention Please' after months of travelling the world to hear people’s stories and authentically capture them.

When she isn’t in filmmaking mode, Sara can be found eating bread, climbing walls and unicycling - no kidding about that jack of all trades thing.

Anabel Stavrand

Junior Producer

If you ever need a concert-loving, event planning extraordinaire, Anabel Stavrand is your girl. Always juggling a million tasks, keeping everything running smoothly, and supplying the office with the best snacks, Anabel brings positivity and optimism to every project she touches, managing the chaos effortlessly.

No matter the challenge, Anabel’s got it covered.

Stacy Buchanan

Producer

Stacy Buchanan carries a joy and energy that can be felt from across state lines. Her relentless ambition fuels her, and she’s always chasing new challenges, working on all different kinds of projects from commercial to documentary to narrative pieces.

She most recently produced a film called 'After' for Vagrants Originals. And she consistently disproves any theories that horror movie fanaticism and organic bath product creation must be mutually exclusive hobbies.

This month and every month, VAGRANTS celebrates the badass women who make Vagrants all that it is.

Check out all of Vagrants' work on ​their site.​