Wellywood Woman

I've been reflecting on webseries in Aotearoa New Zealand, because I believe they're central to our development of a diverse and sophisticated female protagonism. I'll write about some of them soon; having Louise Hutt's extraordinary and pioneering Online Heroines as a reference point will make a big difference. Ngā mihi nui, Louise. Louise Hutt, director of  Online Heroines by Louise Hutt In New Zealand, we like to think of our film industry as pioneering. We’ve got Weta Workshop, Peter Jackson, Taika Waititi, Andrew Adamson—who made Shrek and Narnia —and Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords . But it also has a dark underside that we don’t like to talk about. When people play devil’s advocate and ask if gender discrimination is even a problem in our industry, I ask if they can name a woman director from New Zealand. On a good day, they’ve heard of Jane Campion. However, I’m still yet to find anyone who can name a second. If you’re a woman who...

Those women's marches were amazing. And so is the #womeninfilm movement, where women filmmakers' strategies for change are becoming ever more diverse and sophisticated. Writer/actor/producer Naomi McDougall Jones is one of the most thoughtful and energetic change agents around and Danielle Winston and the women of  Agnès Films (named in honor of Agnès Varda)  continue their own significant contributions with this excellent interview with her, copy-edited by Elena Chronick.  Warm thanks to them all.  Naomi McDougall Jones DW On a frosty January afternoon, I met with with writer/actress/producer, Naomi McDougall Jones. Our hangout, a little pie shop called Four & Twenty Blackbirds, was quirky enough to have been the backdrop for a  Gilmore Girls  scene if not for being around the corner from the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Gowanus Brooklyn. As we shared slices of buttery lemon blackout pie, Naomi, a self-possessed woman with crimson h...

Catherine Eaton and The Sounding illustrate all that excites me about the 'new' women's filmmaking– sophisticated and engaging concepts; the rise of the actor/writer/director; writer/director/producer associations with #womeninfilm support groups; crowd-funding; a beautiful, thoughtful, confidence; principled choices; visual pleasures. Catherine has Native-American heritage, so for me her project also celebrates the rise and wonderful diversity of indigenous women’s filmmaking. Catherine has performed on Broadway and on screen and written two television projects (both finalists for the Sundance Episodic Labs), and is a 2016 Tribeca & Channel Women’s Filmmaker Award winner. The Sounding 's  immaculate crowdfunding campaign for finishing funds gives us two days left to get behind a winner! I'm delighted to share this engaging Danielle Winston interview, with warm thanks to Agnès Films, where it was first published . Catherine Eaton and team. Photo b...

I missed the BRITS. And regretted it. Because it took a while to find the full version of Lorde's glorious Life on Mars , with David Bowie's very own band. Here she is after she sang, I think. So, I don't want to miss Lorde if she sings at #Oscars16 (& the performer lists all add 'so far', so are not definitive). Especially as her fabulous mother, Sonja Yelich, posted this golden picture this morning, with the note– old shot of #Lorde – don't even know who took it – don't even know where it was – only know that I steamed it before every show #goldencape O wow, she *steamed* that cape *before every show*: my admiration for Sonja Yelich deepened even further. And then she posted another image. Are they connected?