Expensive friends-
Just a little over 15 years in the past I had a loopy thought: to attempt to begin a dialog asking the place the ladies have been in entrance of the digital camera and behind the scenes in Hollywood. I known as my weblog Ladies and Hollywood as a result of to me, Hollywood is in every single place. My exploration grew right into a calling that I by no means anticipated. It allowed me to journey throughout the globe talking with others who have been passionate about this concern. The work helped delivery the Athena Movie Competition, which is now a full-fledged teenager at 13 years previous.
Fifteen years later, the dialog is absolutely embedded in our tradition and is roofed by mainstream shops. Ladies, a few of whom acquired their begin at Ladies and Hollywood, are working in all kinds of roles throughout the business. It was not too way back that it was all the time a shock when a collection had a lady director as a part of its season. Now, it’s unacceptable in the event that they don’t. The work just isn’t finished, removed from it, however so as to proceed the revolution, evolution is important.
It’s time for Ladies and Hollywood 2.0.
As of April 1, The Ladies and Hollywood weblog will now not be publishing authentic tales. We are going to hold the positioning reside as a result of it has turn out to be an important useful resource, significantly for college kids of the business.
Haven’t any concern: I’ll nonetheless be launching the reality bombs and amplifying ladies’s voices. However it will likely be otherwise. In Her Voice: A Ladies and Hollywood Podcast will launch in April and it will likely be a spot the place I’ll cowl information and interview creatives. I’m excited to get again to speaking to the ladies who’re effecting change and nicely as these whose inventive visions are coming to our screens.
We are going to proceed the weekly publication of the Ladies and Hollywood Publication of content material by and about ladies and non-binary individuals opening in theaters and streaming. The Ladies Membership, our group for ladies and nonbinary creatives to attach and help one another, is flourishing.
Over time, significantly by my work within the Inventive Growth Program on the Athena Movie Competition, I’ve realized that I not solely wish to talk about the change that we have to see, however I wish to be part of it. To that finish, I will probably be launching the Inventive Doula Program. Half strategic marketing consultant, half doula, we would be the inventive advocates for these proficient voices and tasks written by ladies or non-binary writers which have ladies/ladies on the heart of the tales.
There are various individuals to thank for the success of Ladies and Hollywood. First thanks goes to the Dobkin Household Basis for its continued help. There can be no Ladies and Hollywood with out the Dobkin Household Basis. The group – writers, editors, fellows, interns, social media professionals. No person does this work alone. I’ve been so fortunate to have individuals who cared in regards to the work as passionately as I did, significantly Laura Berger, who satisfied me virtually a decade in the past that I wanted an intern and is now in command of the whole lot that goes on the positioning. Everybody who has been part of the work over time has had an immense contribution in maintaining ladies entrance and heart within the narrative.
I wouldn’t have the ability to make this shift if I didn’t consider that I’d completed what I got down to do 15 years in the past. I couldn’t be extra thrilled that the dialog is flourishing and sturdy and {that a} new era has taken up the mantle and is pushing for an increasing number of change. I’m so excited to proceed to be part of this motion.
Onward,
Melissa
