Julie White (l) and Theresa Rebeck
I am so sick and tired of all the stories about how women compete against each other (lots of them bullshit designed, I believe, to keep women from working together) that it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate when we get a good, positive story about how women work together with much success. In the NY Times this past weekend there was a great piece on the long-time friendship and collaboration between playwright Theresa Rebeck and actress Julie White.
“Sometimes I feel that my job on earth is to put Julie White through horrible things, watch her writhe and then recover,” the playwright Theresa Rebeck said with a laugh the other day.”
Although they are theatrical alter egos, they joke about their differences. Ms. Rebeck has a doctorate in English, while Ms. White just got her bachelor’s degree recently, about 25 years after dropping out of college to work. “She’ll be up in the middle of the night watching Chris Matthews,” Ms. White said of Ms. Rebeck, “and I’ll be up watching ‘The Dog Whisperer.’ ”
This story led me to try and think of some other female creative partnerships. I came up with producer Jan Chapman and director Jane Campion and director Deborah Warner and actress Fiona Shaw.
There have got to be many others. What other female creative partnerships are there? Let’s make a list.
One Writes, the Other Acts. Sparks Fly. (NY Times)
We’ve been writing and producing short films together for 10 years. Different viewpoints. Different strengths. Common goals. Can’t imagine making movies any other way.
Can’t wait to hear more about other female creative teams out there.
Julie Keck & Jessica King, King is a Fink Productions
Drew Barrymore and her producing partner, Nancy Juvonen
Director Mira Nair and producer Lydia Pilcher
Emma Thompson and producer Lindsay Doran have collaborated on several films
And, of course, the sister teams: Nora and Delia Ephron; Suzanne and Jennifer Todd
Think Lucy and Ethel after those deadbeats, Fred and Ricky, Laverne and Shirley all grown up and haired over or The Smothers Brothers with bosoms.
We’re here to tell you that it’s okay to love/hate your elders, your teenage children, one of your siblings or the grocery store cashier. Stop screaming into your pillows in the pantry…come OUT and Join us in dialog about our profane, insane, comedic outlook on just about everything.
We’re two boomer sisters from Texas. “And, two who are harmoniously focused and connected to the Energy Stream brings about a co-creative endeavor that cannot be matched by anything else in all the Universe.”
KK and SalGal
the Fempire !!!
The executive producers of Venice the web series: Kim Turrisi (writer), Crystal Chappell (actress, some directing), Hope Royaltey (director, website manager).
http://www.venicetheseries.com/
There are some great female writing partnerships. (Obviously I think first of my writing partner, Elizabeth Craft, and me!) Alison Schapker and Monica Breen are wonderful writers and have been a team for many years. And Marti Noxon is working with Dawn Parouse these days on a show for Diane Keaton.
What a great discussion!
I’m thinking about writer/director Deborah Kampmeier and exec-producer/actor Robin Wright Penn. They’re a super team.
Also writer/direct Nikki Caro (of Whale Rider) made another film with Keisha Castle-Hughes. I was excited about them continuing to work together.
I directed my first feature this past summer and could not have done it without my producing partner Inna Braude. She was my ROCK.
Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders