Statistics on women in positions to influence the public

At BlogHer '08, talk about the lack of female voices in the political arena reminds me that our difficulties getting our films to be included in the entertainment industry are part of a larger social issue.

The following liveblog of the political blog panel, Top-Notch Political Commentary, lays out the numbers.

Statistics on public debate:
85% are mostly privileged (Harvard and Yale graduate) white male debates. 85% of Hollywood producers and radio producers are men. Only 2 of the 19 major syndicated radio talk show hosts are women. 84% Congress is male.

1 out of 20 of top political blogs are written by women. Great to have our voices out there, but even better to have our voices out there in a place where it can be heard. Half of our nation's best brains are missing in national conversation.

2008 Festival Awards

FILM AWARDS

Best Feature

Creating Karma by Jill Wisoff

Best Short

Las Perdidas by Laura Somers and Lauren Costa

Best No-Budget Short

You're Too by Meg Weidner

Best Documentary

Pursepectives by Wendy Cohen

Audience Award

The Pussycats by Jill Broadfoot

Audience Award Honorable Mentions

Oh, Sammy! by Susan Deming

Red Flag by Victoria Cordova

SCREENPLAY AWARDS

Short Screenplay

Citizen Rose by Anne Kruse

Character Comedy

The Happy Dance by Pamela Rodeheaver and Lisa Katz

Ensemble Comedy

Tongue Tide by Gwen Baer and Linda Yandell

Romantic Comedy  (co-winners)

Izzy and Allie by Suzanne Studer Iselt

Pomona Mona by Constance Brenner

Farce

What Do You Thinx of Madeline Minx? by Noemi Zeigler

Teleplay

Suspicious Minds - Pilot by Roxanne Marciniak

 

Babes at Sea

The broads were invited for a quick turn in the bay by Odyssey Yacht Charters and we had a chance to plan for the future of Broad Humor and all the broads while sipping mimosas and sunning on deck.

The day was sweet.  The company was fun.  The mood was pure 'can do.'  

Submissions Are Closed

To all the broads and the broad-minded:

Submissions have closed for the Broad Humor Film Festival, and while a few entries that have gotten mis-routed or sent from other countries may yet trickle in, the first stage of this first year is now complete.  We met and surpassed our goal of 100 submissions and we’re now planning how best to showcase and support the filmmakers and screenwriters.  By the end of this week, I personally will have reviewed every entry. Then the entries go to the other members of the team for viewing or reading.  And we will make our selections in a couple of weeks. 

I must stay I am stunned by the energy that everyone has put into telling stories for the purpose of laughter.  Even those of you who did not make or write comedies but sent your films or scripts anyway must be commended on the product.  The number of people who wish to write a screenplay or make a movie are legion;  the ones who actually do it are rare and in my opinion should be honored for that very fact.  So I say congratulations to you all.

Sadly, we cannot show all the films nor honor all the screenplays. Selection is not objective, cannot ever be completely fair, and will not do justice to the work you have done.  As we begin selecting films and screenplays this weekend, there will be horse-trading among us. One person’s favorite might lose out in favor of three broads’ general approval.  I can’t predict.

What I can do is talk to you.  So, after the festival ( not before - I will not have the time), if you want to email me and set up a time, we can talk about your work if you want.  I will be happy to tell you both what I liked about the film or screenplay and where I got confused or just found myself out of the story.  I will not tell you how to fix it, or how to get a production deal, or what to do next.  I do not do coverage.  I do talk about stories and how they work for me and what I saw of value.  We all need to keep focused on what we do best and fan those flames.  If you want, I will do that with you about your work. 

Three or four of our sponsors have announcements they would like to send out to you. We are not selling your names, but would like to pass them along to a few resources that might be of use to you.  In addition, we have received requests from companies looking for content.  If you do not want to receive these emails,  reply to info@broadhumor.com and put “remove from mailing list” in the subject line. 

We will do our best to keep you all informed as we move forward.

Susan di Rende

Executive Director

Lovely Lucca

Donna Discover, a women's travel event in Lucca, invited Broad Humor to show some shorts and teach a workshop.  Filmmaker Donna Wheeler joined festival director Susan di Rende for three days of fun, film and foodfoodfood.

Going to Lucca

We've been invited back to Italy - Lucca this time - to exhibit shorts from the festival at the 4th annual Women Traveller's Weekend. All the films exhibited will have to be subtitled in Italian, so we're planning on showing a combination of the films that screened last year in Lucarno and a few new ones. Stay tuned for more info.

Viva Roma!

Broad Humor - Rome edition, sponsored by the English Theatre of Rome, invited us to screen films from the festival at L'Arciliuto, a theater in the heart of the historic center. The theater is in an ancient workshop space with walls dating back almost two thousand years.  The screenings were a hit and the filmmakers who were able to come had a blast.

Saturday afternoon, the broads took time out to do a little sightseeing and to  -what else? - shoot some footage.

The audiences were appreciative, the conversations lively, and the whole experience was something we will all treasure.