Leading Woman Films Presents
They Call Me The Tattoo Witch
The Tattoo Witch: A Short Documentary
In Hanoi, Vietnam, tattoo artist Tran Ngoc specializes in the rare and challenging art of tattooing over scars. Despite the social stigma surrounding tattoos in Vietnam, Ngoc empowers her clients, including breast cancer survivors and women with self-harm scars, to reclaim their bodies, demonstrating that her work is a profound act of compassion and resilience.
Inspiration
They Call Me the Tattoo Witch began with an inspiring discovery of Tran Ngoc, a maverick tattoo artist featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. Moved by Ngoc’s profound impact on her clients, director Lindsay Nyman reached out to share this story, collaborating with an all-female crew from Hanoi who brought unique perspectives to capture the film’s cultural depth. This short documentary celebrates the strength and resilience of women both in front of and behind the camera.
Leading Woman Films
A woman-led, ethical production company that sheds light on stories that reveal our shared humanity and interconnectedness. Through documentary filmmaking, Leading Woman Films challenges prevailing narratives and inspires social change by sharing the beauty, strength, and resilience of people and cultures across the globe.
Lindsay Nyman: Director and Producer
Lindsay Nyman began her career as a theater actress before transitioning to writing and directing, studying at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. An ally and advocate for disability visibility in the arts, Lindsay founded Film By The Blind in Los Angeles, an initiative supporting filmmakers who are blind.
Her passion for documentary filmmaking developed while creating video content for a women-driven social impact venture in Kuala Lumpur. Lindsay’s debut documentary short, They Call Me The Tattoo Witch, was filmed in Hanoi, Vietnam, where she assembled and led a local, all-female crew. She directed and produced the film, which has earned multiple festival wins and is currently making its way through the circuit. Lindsay is now completing a short documentary on peace leadership and is focused on developing future projects that amplify the stories of women changemakers around the globe.
Lindsay Nyman
Founder of Leading Woman Films