Filmmaking / Directing : The Female voice behind the lens... by Parker Ronan

Parker, have you looked at Women In Film (www.wif.org)? It's a non-profit organisation running to help more women establish places within the industry.

Thank you CJ and Lyse, great advice and yes I've heard of WIF, id join but ill have to wait till i have a little money set aside to pay the whole membership thing. Lyse, the whole gender thing wasn't really complaining on where I'm at, if it was coming out like that, it was more so the fact that id like to work with more women on set. Instead of trying to be a part of the "Boys Club" id like there to be a semblance of a "Girls Club." Its been, almost on every occasion, that i work for a male DP who without knowing he's actually saying these things, is completely condescending and sexist. I roll with it because i'm a professional and a classy lady, but its still there. More roles for women behind the camera i think would start to change these occasions. Its not a load of shit, i absolutely appreciate your input and POV. Tenacity and motivation do count for a lot. Thank you.

While it can be tricky to work behind the lense as a woman, it just comes down to who's in the talent pool. The trick is to not think in terms of gender, but instead in talent. Be the person people think of when they're crewing up, try to PA under women in the industry you admire, then train up women you think have what it takes. These are not changes that happen overnight, they take time. When you lead by example, others will follow. That being said, I'm always down for screwing up gender biases. When are we putting a women's production company together?

Exactly why i started this thread... to open up the dialogue on how, whether we like it or not, or even notice it, we can change it. Yes, we can mentor under other women who'v come before us, but lets face it, the pickins' are slim and are probably taken up by women who are thinking just like us, in which case Great for Them!! Sure, we can say "Let's start by not thinking in terms of gender" but i think we'd be the only ones saying it. In terms of both sides of the isle we need men to engage in this as well and not stick to the norm of hiring their male cohorts and add some diversity. Problem is, in my experience, its easier for a guy to "shoot the shit" with someone he has common interests with, and thats who they'd want to work with day in and day out on set. Sometimes its easy to get your foot in the door of the "Boys Club" but staying there is an entirely different subject. Anyways, thats my opinion and little mirror glasses into my experience. Keep it coming.

Parker, I love you for asking this question. I come from an artist/activist background, and the laissez-faire attitude towards the institutionalized sexism and discrimination in this town makes me insane. It's not getting better - according to the data gathered by the Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media, it hasn't gotten better since the 40's. Being passive, being gracious, keeping your head down, isn't going to change things - it sure hasn't worked so far! So yes, I think it is well past time for women to make a conscious effort to help out other women in this business. If you hear of a job opening, ALWAYS refer another woman. If you are in the position to hire someone, give the job to a woman. And go out of your way to do things for other women in the business. Yes, we are all working our asses off, but go the extra mile for another woman. Work for free for another woman, even if you said you would never do that again. I wrote a blog post about that on my production company website here: http://vicariousfilms.dawnalden.com/2013/11/when-a-woman-calls-say-yes/ Create work that is by, for and about women, so that women's stories get told. Educate people about the Male Gaze in filmmaking, and how we need to shoot things from the Female Gaze as well. Speak out against sexism when you see it happen - if we don't call it out, then there is no reason whatsoever for the perpetrator to change his behavior. So how can I walk my talk? Let me give you the names of some Facebook groups that are for women in the biz here in LA - after all, they're free to join. Search for these groups on FB: Alliance of Women Filmmakers, REEL Ladies, LA Women's Film Crew Group, and Ms. In the Biz Community. Also, go to the website nextgenfemmes.com and fill out the application to get added to their Yahoo Group. It's a terrific group of women in the industry of all kinds, and a great place to network for work. You say you are networking like crazy, but are you networking off set as well as on? I have heard of and seen gratifyingly many shorts and features that are dedicated to having all female crews lately, and the way to get on those projects is to meet more producers. It's female producers that are putting together the all-female crews, and they are desperate to meet female crew people! I just heard through a friend yesterday of one such project that is searching for a female DP. Do you have a reel on-line? Give me the link and I'll forward it along to the producer. Hope that helps, and keep making noise. We've got to find and support each other in this town. It's the only way we can keep our heads above water.

Hi, I am new to this and would love to put my two cents in here. I have been in camera dept since 2000 and in the industry since the mid 90's. I just wrapped a film as a camera op which it has taken me years to even be given a shot at a film. I have worked mostly in TV live productions. I have needless to say put in for hundreds of camera jobs over the years from the different places available online. Out of all those and much time spent I have landed 2 gigs. I am all for more ladies in film but, as I see it we need to stand strong be patient and good things will come. If as women we whine about it nothing will happen we need to be proactive about it and the harder we are beat down the harder you come up swinging. Always remember we don't do the same work as men do we have to do more! Until unfortunately we prove ourselves as creative, dependable, and awesome cinematographer's, cam op's, PA's, or anything else that we do in this industry. it's so tough to get a door to open if your not apart of the good ol boys club. WE CAN DO IT !!!!!!