A trailer I created for American Cinematheque’s 10th Annual Focus on Female Directors Program won an honorable mention, and therefore was screened at The Egyptian Theatre!! This was the first time my work has ever been shown on such a historic screen, so although it was only two minutes of footage, I was thrilled.

My trailer got several laughs and inspired me to finally figure out a way to put all the interviews I shot last year into a longer narrative doc piece. I captured so much comedic gold in those sessions, plus very insightful conversations on the state of female directors. I need to get it together before I get crazy busy again. Oh wait, I’m always crazy busy =p

A Q&A with the filmmakers Helen Hood Scheer, Alexis O. Korycinski, Amy Lee Ketchum, Lydia Hyslop, and Rose McGowan followed the screening. I was surprised during the panel when two of the filmmakers rejected the title of “director.” Amy Lee Ketchum is an animator and prefers to be called an artist, which I would agree with since her short film was more an installation piece.  Helen Hood Scheer said she considered herself a documentarian, which is true since her film The Apothecary was a very well done slice of life portrayal and it didn’t incorporate persuasive cartoon cutaways or presentations that most big name documentaries with “directors” are prone to do (Fahrenheit 9/11, An Inconvenient Truth).

After the other filmmakers weighed in, it seemed like the definition of “director” included being able to tell people what to do. Ketchum stated that she felt uncomfortable bossing others, and preferred to work on collaborations. In contrast, the other filmmakers who considered themselves directors explained that they enjoyed being in charge. It’s a distinction worth noting,and may provide some explanation as to the death of female directors working in Hollywood. Being in charge on a Hollywood set requires a desire to dominate and make other people see your vision. However, it can be a very uncomfortable position when there is resistance from a majority-male crew. Thank god these women continue to pioneer and move us forward!