After graduating, Vanessa pursued a career in show business and started studying filmmaking by joining a team. Her mother had a big influence on her decision.
She began producing short documentaries once she got enough experience in cinematography from working on many productions.
Additionally, Vanessa made several cinematic appearances, including in the 1993 historical drama “The Last Party,” which starred Bill Clinton, Robert Downey Jr., and Ann Palmer.
Along with James Canty, Ian Svenoniun, and Steve Gamboa, Vanessa was a member of the cast of the 1997 short documentary “Blue is Beautiful” about the infamous gospel-punk band The Make-Up from Washington, DC.
She was also the producer, cinematographer, and editor of her first short documentary, “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend,” which she directed in 2002.
She hasn’t worked in the film industry since because she became interested in environmental issues. As an environmental activist, Vanessa contributes pieces to several websites, such as “The Daily Beast” and “Mother Nature Network.”
Although Vanessa was absent from the play “Jane Fonda in Five Acts,” which was based on her mother, her mother later apologized and said that the reason was that she and Vanessa had grown apart due to personal issues.
