O'Leary's Reel Life

It’s been 3 years ago today since I wrote this guest post for @seedandspark about my Yearlong Film Viewing Balancing Act, which inspired the creation of the #DirectedbyWomen Worldwide Film Viewing Party initiative.  At that time I was just shy of halfway through the yearlong process. 

“Through A Yearlong Film Viewing Balancing Act I’m making an unshakable commitment to be awake to what films I’m experiencing.  I’m noticing and honoring who made them.  The film world responds to viewer demand–not instantaneously, but over time–and I’m doing my part to call forth balance.  Gender balance is not the only balance I value, but I’m inviting it to serve as a grounding force for balance in all other aspects of life.” 

It’s been an incredible journey. Thank you to everyone who has joined in. We’re building a deep culture of appreciation within the global film community. I’m noticing that at the time I had a list of just over 2,000 women directors.  Today I’m grown that list to 9,500 women who have directed film and am aiming to reach 10,000 by the end of 2016!  

munay,

This morning I was engaged in my ongoing practice of gathering information to enhance the growing list of Women Who Have Directed Film on the #DirectedbyWomen website. I came upon this description on Wikipedia:

“Tanuja Chandra is an Indian film director and writer. She is known for frequently directing woman-oriented films where the heroines are the main protagonists of her films.“ I looked around a bit on Wikipedia and didn’t notice any descriptions that remark on film directors who frequently direct men-oriented films where the heroes are the main protagonists.  It might be interesting to do a little research to see how prevalent this imbalance is... and perhaps edit some listings for men directors to highlight that they do in fact “frequently direct men-oriented films where the heroes are the main protagonists.”   I’m busy with #DirectedbyWomen activities... including preparing for the September 1-30, 2016 Worldwide Film Viewing Party (you’re joining in this year aren’t you?) so I can’t do this... but I thought I’d put that thought out there and see if anyone else feels inspired!  And maybe edit Chandra’s listing while you’re at it? 

Mad Hot Ballroom (2005) DIRECTED BY Marilyn Agrelo

Although my main area of film viewing emphasis this year is focused on films from the past 10 years (2007 and beyond), I circled back the other day to see Marilyn Agrelo’s Mad Hot Ballroom.  I tend to like to watch dance films and movies about children competing in dance competitions constitute a sub genre that particularly intrigues me. I danced a lot when I was a girl.  Films like this one stir up a lot of conflicting emotions for me.  The emphasis on competition always saddens me. The scene I loved most was the group dialogue partway through where the children evaluate the experience of being judged. Such clarity! Have you seen Mad Hot Ballroom?  It’s streaming on Netflix. Also available on Amazon and iTunes.

Fifi Howls From Happiness || Fifi az khoshhali zooze mikeshad DIRECTED BY Mitra Farahani Streamed on Fandor earlier this week. Just now getting a chance to share about the experience. Missed it when it played in Bloomington at The Ryder Film Series. So glad I finally saw it. I love documentaries that explore the lives and creative processes of artists of all types. 

I was engaged throughout but the final few minutes absolutely riveted me.  So moving! 

Day 1 of A Yearlong Film Viewing Balancing Act (#YFVBA2016) I began with Kimberly Levin’s feature film debut Runoff, streamed on Netflix, It is also available on iTunes, Amazon or Vimeo on Demand. 

The film started off at a leisurely pace, but down the stretch I was grateful to be able to hit the pause button as the film’s climax triggered a deep sense of dread at the intense, emotionally charged dynamics unfolding on screen.   

A Yearlong Film Viewing Balancing Act 2016 ... 

As I prepare to step into 2016... I also gear up for another Yearlong Film Viewing Balancing Act (YFVBA). The original YFVBA led to the creation of the #DirectedbyWomen Worldwide Film Viewing Party! It also inspired me to make the experimental short Attention to Detail Guides the Dreamer! I’m eager to see what arises as I move through THIS year’s YFVBA. As before... my intention is to deepen my practice of inviting authentic creative expression to flourish in the world in a balanced and harmonious way by once again bringing my attention to - and opening to receive - the creative motion picture outpourings of women and men film directors in equal measure.  This year I’m focusing on feature films from the past 10 years: 2007 - 2016. Well, that’s 9 years now but by the end of 2016 it will be 10! 

I’m setting no daily film viewing requirements this time around and I’m leaving short films out of the equation. I will balance my film viewing by type - documentary, experimental, narrative - and by method of viewing - cinema, festival, streaming, disc, etc. 

In addition to balancing my film viewing within the 2007 - 2016 time frame, for every film I watch that was directed by a man prior to 2007 I’ll watch 2 films by women from any time period in cinema history. That feels harmonious to me. I’ll prioritize films by women directors whose work I’ve not yet experienced and I’ll also delve deeper into filmographies of some of my favorite directors. I’ll happily revisit films I’ve seen before as well.  My scope will be global.  As always I’m looking to experience work from around the world and from as many different kinds of women film directors as possible.

I will celebrate each film director and share about what I’m seeing... outside the context of critique or judgment. What interests me is putting my attention on the work... not ascribing value or attempting to define the work in any way. 

Although I will not attempt to view a balance of work by women cinematographers, writers, producers, actors, designers, etc. during this process, I will relish their contributions to the films I see and share as I go along.  I’ll also explore and note my awareness of how the films I see - whether directed by women or men - align with the Bechdel-Wallace Test, A-rating, F-rating, etc. 

Meanwhile I’ll continue to engage the #DirectedbyWomen initiative, building content on the Directedby list, expanding the Film Viewing Possibilities, and redesigning the website to facilitate sharing events, interviews, lists, articles, wayfinder tributes, and other content. I invite collaborators. I look forward to hearing from you. 

I hope you’ll join the fun as we celebrate the work of women directors all year... and particularly as film lovers everywhere prepare to supersaturate the world with screenings and viewings of as many women directed films as we can possibly mobilize in a single month.  Mark your calendars...  #DirectedbyWomen2016:  September 1-30, 2016.

I repeat what I shared in 2013.. as it continues to be relevant... “I’m experiencing this as an adventure, an exploration. I’ll find out what happens along the way, but I’m envisioning opportunities to share and converse with a wide range of people about their own awarenesses about whose creative expressions they are opening to receive, what they themselves are sharing in response, etc. I’ll invite people to dialogue with me about their awakening awarenesses and the choices they are making in their film viewing lives… and in their film creation processes as well. The emphasis is on honoring and engaging the creative storytelling/vision sharing powers of women and men in a way that will support the thriving of both yin and yang energies in my life, in cinema, and in the world at large.  And will inspire a flourishing of authentic creative expression in my life and in the world in a beautifully unrestricted way.  I’ll make no assumptions (or as few as I can!) about the nature of this experiment.  I’ll see what arises.I’ll remain open to allowing creativity to flow to me, through me, and from me.  I’ll share here about my own creative processes that arise as I move through this year.If you feel inspired to engage in a film viewing balancing act of your own, I look forward to hearing how it unfolds.I’m anticipating a great unfolding of awareness and a deepening into authenticity.”

Thank you for joining me on this journey...

”... we understand that the world we live in is the world we create everyday...”

Heartland Film Festival goers.... here’s another film to look forward to during the Short Program 6: An Ashortment of Sorts... Annie Silverstein’s Skunk. If you’re not in the greater Indianapolis, Indiana area, keep this one on your radar.  “Annie Silverstein gracefully carves such honesty and heartbreak from her characters and her worlds.” Kat Candler (Hellion, Black Metal) “SKUNK is a bold and refreshingly confrontational film…A striking glimpse of a girl’s first fumbling stabs at defining herself as a woman.”-David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, Pioneer)

Appreciating Australian writer/director Madeleine Parker’s Tough & Cookies, which receives its world premiere at Heartland Film Festival October 19th as part of Short Program 6: An Ashortment of Sorts.... 

Find out more about the film and filmmaker here:  HFF 2015 Interview: Tough & Cookie Writer/Director Madeleine Parker