Wellywood Woman

In Aotearoa New Zealand we're keen on movies with women protagonists, in a variety of genres. At the box office last time I looked,  seven out of the top ten had women at their centre. But women wrote and directed only  two  of them. Just two more had women as co-writers– *1. Ocean’s 8 $746,780 (dir Gary Ross, wr *Olivia Milch, Gary Ross; distr Roadshow) 2. Solo: A Star Wars Story $220,207 (dir Ron Howard, wr Jon Kasdan, Lawrence Kasdan; distr Walt Disney) 3. Deadpool 2 $207,067 (dir David Leitch, wr Drew Goddard, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick; distr Fox) *4. Hereditary $130,750 (dir/wr Ari Aster; distr Studiocanal) *5. Tea With The Dames $106,154 (dir Roger Michell; distr Transmission) 6. Avengers: Infinity War $75,320 (dir Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, wr Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeeley; distr Walt Disney) *7. The Bookshop $62,748 (wr/dir *Isabel Coixet from novel by Penelope Fitzgerald; distr Transmission) *8. Veere Di Wedding $47,967 (dir Shashan...

Cathy Munroe Hotes I've wanted to know more about Japanese women filmmakers and women's film festivals, for ages. Like Korean women filmmakers and  women's festivals , they're just across the Pacific/ Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. So I was delighted to find Cathy Munroe Hotes'  Japanese Women Behind the Scenes wiki.  This rich, fascinating resource  offers information about Japanese women writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, art directors, continuity editors, animators, editors, experimental filmmakers and more.  I was even more delighted when Cathy agreed to  answer some questions. Where I can, I've linked each woman she mentions to her page on Cathy's website. For the few who don't have a page there, I've linked to their website or another online resource. How did your study of Japanese women directors begin?  I have always had an interest in women directors.  In my native Canada, I was drawn to directors like Pa...