Making It Work, Successful Women in the Works

One of the things I do best is put together and moderate panels of notable women in the entertainment industry. One such film festival event, Making It Work: Successful Women in the Works was set up for the inaugural Tri State Film Festival in Matamoras, PA. No need to get the GPS out, Matamoras is between Port Jervis, NY and Milford, PA– two hours from New York City, amid a backdrop of mountains, intertwining rivers and a burgeoning creative community hot spot for artists, writers, filmmakers and visionaries.

Very cool. After waiting out the months and weeks, the day arrived early enough. Coffee. Where’s the coffee? For first time film festivals, 11 a.m. Saturday morning can be a tough time for many working men and women who have the day scheduled for errands, athletics (their children’s sports teams) and shopping. Who has time to watch films and listen in on a panel discussion? There were many who quickly stopped in on their way to whatever it is they deemed most pressing, but those that did stop and stay, were privy to an insider’s look at some great shorts coming out of the Women in Film & Television International (WiFTI) Showcase, 2012. The films, selected from submissions by Women in Film Chapters from around the world, were excellent in their storytelling and production value and very entertaining.

Right after the film screening, the panel assembled amicably, settling into the director’s chairs and  introductions began. One of the things that make me cringe when I go to see a panel is watching the inexperienced moderator fumble through index cards; therefore, establishing the context through panelists’ bios is one of my favorite ways to get the conversation going. It’s all about listening to what these panelists have to say, AND with such incredibly notable women present, it was going to be easy to have an hour or so conversation on current topics and the ever-changing business of a billion dollar entertainment industry.

Tri State Film Festival used three words to describe their mission innovation, illumination and inspiration. And that’s where we started. Kimberly Skyrme, casting director and president of the board for Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI) began with innovation– defining the ways technology is changing the filmmaking industry and reaching audiences online, as well as connecting professional organization chapters such as New York Women in Film & Television (NYWiFT) and creating a resurgence of the WiFTI Showcase of short films from international chapters highlighting the talent and teamwork.

Kristi Zea, acclaimed filmmaker and recipient of NYWiFT’s Muse Award (2004) discussed her work as producer including a red carpet story after a point about media outlets’ focus on rising young stars, their latest interludes and wardrobes (malfunctioning wardrobes get the most hits). She, on the other hand, took opportunity to put herself in front of the cameras and film journalists on the red carpet and for the moment became the center of attention. In her opinion, “Women don’t put themselves out there into the spotlight often enough or as well as men do and most say they would rather stay behind the camera.” Her comments throughout the panel were insightful and inspirational. I wanted to keep this going forever…

But, there’s more! Melissa Silverstein, founder and editor of Women and Hollywood and Artistic Director and co founder of the Athena Film Festival brought her expertise in the area of social media regarding women as well as experience interviewing women directors such as veteran Penny Marshall. She was taken aback by Marshall’s expressed disinterest in the inequity of women versus men directors, possibly because her own career took off without the obstacles and she felt there were no issues to comment on. As for Katherine Bigelow, Academy Award winner for Best Director in Hurt Locker, she directed an action film about soldiers in war and not involved in “all things women” as one of the notable women panelists professes in her bio.

Amy Ferris, author, screenwriter and editor includes she primarily writes about “all things women” and is also on the advisory board of the Women’s Media Center. Her published memoirs, Marrying George Clooney: Confessions From a Midlife Crisis has been made into an off-Broadway play to the delight of a group of professional women who started meeting at a local spot, Bar Louis (renamed Bar Louisa for the evening) at the Hotel Fauchere in Milford, PA. She explained that Pike County can be remote and not an easy destination for spontaneous gatherings so, working with Sean Strub, co-owner of the hotel and Opening Night After Party sponsor of the Tri State Film Festival, she arranged an evening for tri-state women to do inner and inter-explorations at an event dubbed Diva Night. What happens during Diva Night? Similar to what was happening on this panel –conversation and collaboration.

Ingrid Price, working primarily as a costume designer for film and television since 1980, was a recent recipient of NYWiFT Designing Women Award (2011) for her work as part of the Nurse Jackie wardrobe, hair and makeup team. She stressed the collaboration aspect of her work with all in agreement that women tend to be better collaborators. Experiences like these helped in Ingrid’s venture as a producer of a short film, Mother’s House. While making a short film on a shoestring budget (it’s still expensive) is challenging enough with all filmmaking processes, the work continues with the added jobs of marketing and distribution.

Kimberly Skyrme, Wonder Wheel Entertainment, added her own insights as a casting director and producer as well as a continuous advocate of films made by women or coming from a women’s perspective. Short films become calling cards for the filmmakers who gain a reputation depending on their successful runs at film festivals. When their feature films are made the opening weekend box office numbers dictate the amount of time the films remain on a theatrical schedule. “Buy a ticket opening weekend even if you can’t make the screening and support the films,” she remarked, “the best way to show support is through our pocketbooks.”

The panel discussion spilled out of the theater setting into the hospitality area and after another hour continued as we migrated to a local place for lunch punctuated with great stories, new and ongoing project updates, upcoming events, business card exchanges and a promise to show up for illumination at the next Diva Night. I can’t wait.