Wellywood Woman

#DirectedByWomen #Aotearoa is back, this time in collaboration with Wellington’s Emerging Women Filmmakers Network ; and generous assistance from those listed in the credits!  The multi-dimensional programme celebrates the visits of Maria Giese, Hope Dickson Leach and Nasreen Alkhateeb to Wellington, after they participate in the Power of Inclusion Summit . Thanks to Māoriland , Maria and Nasreen will also attend a screening in Ōtaki. ------------ Maria Giese is the Nipmuc/US director who initiated the ongoing Federal investigation into Hollywood’s discrimination against women directors. Hope Dickson Leach , UK director, co-founded Raising Films  — an organisation that advocates for parents/carers working in the screen industry, and develops practices to support them. Nasreen Alkhateeb , US director, leads diverse broadcast, digital and film storytelling projects that empower new voices and advocate for gender/racial/ability rights and climate change issues...

Hang Time still Hang time is a new world wine term for the length of a vine’s growing season; the longer the grapes hang on the vine before harvest, the greater depth of flavour in the final wine. This also applies to our three heroes, who each need a little more time on the vine. – Hang Time writer/director/producer Casey Zilbert and producer Steve Barr Steve and Casey at work  Casey Zilbert inspires me. One of those filmmaking and feminist Women Who Do It. Who does it with speed and style and skill, with warmth and humour and joy and consummate kindness. Who consistently supports other #womeninfilm (*&* some blokes!) in very beautiful ways. Her first feature, Hang Time , is a wine-fuelled comedy for the new ‘lost generation’– millennials. It’s about millennials having a quarter-life crisis, premieres in Marlborough this weekend and then tours the country. Inspired by classic Ernest Hemingway novel Fiesta (aka The Sun Also Rises ) about drunken expats...

The Mount Eden War memorial Hall: Where SWAG made history this week! This week, the Screen Women’s Action Group (SWAG) held two forums for women in the screen industries, in Auckland and Wellington. I went to part of the Auckland forum, where a large group of women from the screen industry filled the Mount Eden War Memorial Hall. I long for a War Against Women Memorial Hall, for this battle for our safety to be *over*, but these forums are a huge step forward, as for the first time screen women begin to speak publicly about their experiences, without fear of being blacklisted. Again, congratulations and warm thanks to SWAG for what they’re doing and the thorough, heart-warming and inspiring way they do it. The group’s accessed impressive support from various government agencies and NGOs and presented a carefully considered programme with a diverse and engaging panel to introduce us to some key people and ideas, in a safe environment: there was a counsellor on hand and food to ...

An actor going to movie premier "attends", an actress "showcases her lithe body" - what I'm saying is: how do I showcase my lithe body? — Jemaine Clement (@AJemaineClement) October 26, 2015 You make me smile. I love it when I see you in the neighbourhood. Once every couple of years or so. Wheeling the most elegant little pale blue bike I've ever seen, past New World. At the polling booth at Clyde Quay School. Striding past me, outside the fish and chippery in Majoribanks Street. I love the way you show the neighbourhood, in  What We Do in the Shadows . The first horror I ever watched (I am a wuss , a generic ancient person with shopping bags, waiting for the number 20 bus to go up Hawker Street; eating spicy eggplant at Cha; buying double ice cream cones at Kaffee Eis; in and out of the Paramount and the Embassy. ) I loved your Cure Kids project . And I totally loved your work in People Places Things – kept reaching for '...

Merata Mita Aotearoa New Zealand (mostly 'Aotearoa' in this post) held its annual Big Screen Symposium in Auckland last weekend, focusing on 'strengthening our collaborative spirit'. It's run by Script to Screen, a trust whose mandate is to develop 'the craft and culture of storytelling for the screen in Aotearoa New Zealand'. Many women participated on panels. Jane Campion took a masterclass and spoke with her Top of the Lake producer Philippa Campbell in the final session. I was catching up at home, so followed as well as I could via tweets and tumblr posts. ( If I've missed something vital, please let me know?) In his 'state of the nation' address, Dave Gibson, the chief executive of the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) referred to the NZFC's gender policy. Big sigh. According to the latest figures I've seen, women are already in Aotearoa's industry: 44% of those who work there. The 'female' issue is ...