Ladies, our day is here. Lost in Translation, a film written, directed and produced by a woman, stands nominated for four Academy Awards, including best picture and director. In a world of growing professional equality, filmmaking has remained one of the last bastions of male dominance. Sofia Coppola joins only two other women ever to have been nominated for an Oscar in the directing category.
But Coppola had a name and a trust fund to get her in the door. Is there any recourse for less fortunate aspiring female filmmakers?
Ms. Films, an organization founded by women in the Triangle arts community, hopes to level the playing field. "The cost and time commitment of getting an education in film creates a barrier," says Niku Arabi, the foundation's coordinator. Women curious about the movie industry see no way to get involved at an "intermediate level." At the end of this month, Ms. Films will host its annual festival here in Durham, offering what Arabi hopes will be that first step for would-be Coppolas.
The festival will feature three days of movie screenings and filmmaking workshops, fulfilling Ms. Films' two main goals: to showcase existing femmes of film and train new ones. The idea is to not only raise awareness and excitement about female filmmakers, but to provide the resources to help participants funnel their newfound energy into workable projects.
"Many women are intimidated by the technical aspects of filmmaking," Arabi explains. "With the right information, it's actually relatively easy for anyone to make their own movie." Workshops will instruct attendees in all elements of film production--including screenwriting, camera techniques and sound editing--but equally important is the opportunity the festival provides for networking among the filmmaking community. Film, even at local levels, is often as much about who you know as how much talent you have: A vision is nothing without access to cameras, editing equipment and places to send the finished product. Although most newcomers would have no idea where to begin, the Triangle offers a surprising number of resources for fledgling filmmakers. By making these local avenues less formidable, Ms. Films hopes to give women of all ages the skills and knowledge necessary to go home and immediately get started putting their stories on film.
"The festival is not an end in itself," insists Arabi. The goal, rather, is to create an environment where existing female role-models can nurture up-and-comers. "We wanted the festival to be useful to women at all levels as more than just a three day event," Arabi adds. Those already established in the industry can both learn from one another and share their expertise by presenting workshops or submitting films. As an extension of this knowledge exchange, the festival's organizers have compiled a booklet of information on area filmmaking. "The down-and-dirty, do-it-yourself MOVIEMAKING GUIDE for film girls and video vixens," (available at the festival or from the Regulator on Ninth Street) offers everything from technical how-to's to public resources for ladies looking to break into the biz.
As for the ladies behind Ms. Films, they've been able to transfer their own vision into reality through the support of the Triangle community. The festival is possible thanks to a facility grant from the Durham Arts Council, as well as aid from various Duke departments, including the John Hope Franklin Center. Perhaps the most exciting stage of their fundraising, though, will come this Saturday, when the Ms. Films Benefit Show rocks into Duke's own East Campus Coffee House. The show, which starts at 9 p.m., will feature a wide array of musical talents including Cantwell Gomez & Jordan, Gerty, Fluff Chick and Natasha.
Maybe this is the year for a female director to finally claim the Oscar, maybe it isn't. But thanks to Ms. Films, there will be plenty of video vixens from the next generation ready to make another go at it.
The Ms. Films festival will run Feb. 27 to 29 at the Durham Arts Council. Visit its website at www.msfilms.org for details.
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