BY Women and Hollywood
Trailer Watch: Dirty Girl
Looks way better than I thought it would be. Kind of cute. I like the title because really what is a dirty girl? A girl who doesn’t act like she is expected? Is it a girl who is in touch with her...
Interview with Bobbie Birleffi and and Beverly Kopf: Directors of Wish Me Away
Wish Me Away is the incredibly moving coming out story of country music star Chely Wright. When I read a little over a year ago that Wright had come out my first reaction was “so what”. After you...
Trailer Watch: Haywire
Steven Soderberg does a movie with a female lead who kicks ass. Her look reminds me a little (a very little bit) of Noomi Rapace in The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo. Film stars Gina Carano, a well...
Producer’s Corner: Adele Romanski — The Myth of the American Sleepover by Serena Donadoni
It’s been three years since producer Adele Romanski was in the blue collar suburbs just north of Detroit with writer and director David Robert Mitchell trying to capture the fleeting moments of...
Kristen Stewart as a Way More Interesting Snow White
After Lily Collins’ docile Snow White showed up at Comic Con, not to outdone Snow White and the Huntsman debuted much darker photos making the film look way more interesting to me. The premise is...
New Pariah Trailer
I saw this new trailer for Pariah this past weekend at New Fest in NYC. The release date is still slated for Winter. When I know more, you will.
Sarah’s Key Author Tatiana de Rosnay Answers Questions As the Film Opens Today
There have been several generations of Holocaust films by now. Most of the films focus on the Nazis and the Germans. But Sarah’s Key the film, based on the best-selling novel by Tatiana de Rosnay...
Snow White Hits Comic Con
Hollywood descended on San Diego this weekend for the annual geek fest known as Comic Con. This is where the big tent pole films and high profile kicks ass TV shows come to make sure all the TV...
Another Earth — Co-Written By Brit Marling
Another Earth is one of the coolest movies I’ve seen in a long time. One reason it’s cool is because there is a girl science geek at its center. Brit Marling — this year’s so-called...
25 New Face of Independent Film: The Women
Not a bad job on representing both genders. Here’s the editors talking about creating the list: Welcome to the 14th edition of Filmmaker’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film.” When we...
Guest Post: Things You Should Know: 5 Lessons for Young Female Directors by Elena Rossini
The movie business is just like a mafia family: incredibly powerful, for the most part inaccessible (unless you have family ties), it’s a patriarchal system that keeps its status by enforcing...
John Stewart Tries to do a Wambach
Just one more awesome post World Cup appearance by the team. I love how men have been behind this team. And by the way I literally ran into team player Heather O’Reilly last night in NYC and I’m...
Missing the Point: Daniel Craig Likes Tattoo Boob Poster Because Mara “Looks Great”
Daniel Craig was out shilling his new film Cowboys and Aliens and in between questions about his wedding to Rachel Weisz (the press is still incredulous that they dared do it privately) he was also...
Sexism Watch: Sigourney Weaver Can’t Be An Action Star But Harrison Ford Can
Sigourney Weaver is the mother of the female action hero. Her Ellen Ripley gave us a woman who was not afraid to be a woman and to kick some serious ass. As the second film (and best in my humble...
Rachel Maddow Hosts Members of US Women’s Soccer Team
Rachel went all crazy fan last night as she hosted several members of the US women’s soccer team. It’s so great that the women are making the rounds of TV shows. Hope Solo and Abby Wambach were...
Guest Post: A Woman at the Typewriter by Susan Bernofsky
If you’ve ever seen a movie about a writer, chances are the writer was a man. Think the maniac with writer’s block in The Shining, or the novelist in Misery who is held prisoner by a fan from...
Hollywood Feminist of the Day: Brit Marling
Brit Marling is the co-writer and star of Another Earth which opens on Friday. I really liked the film. It has a totally different female lead — an astrophysicist student. How cool. Aside from...
Guest Post: Why we Need More “Warrior Princesses” Like Hermione Granger by Natalie Wilson
Don’t hate me Potterites, but I would have preferred the Harry Potter series had been instead the Hermione Granger series. Yes, I know J.K. Rowling says Harry popped into her head as wizarding...
Thelma and Louise Panel in NYC
Hey all. I’m going to be on a great panel to talk about the 20th anniversary of Thelma and Louise. Details: Tue, Aug 2, 7:30 pm, $12, 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street THELMA AND LOUISE + PANEL...
Final Thoughts on the Women’s World Cup
If that game wasn’t entertainment then nothing is. A nail biter and while I love the US women, the Japanese played yesterday like the US had been playing all tournament. Scrappy and coming from...
QVC Bans Jane Fonda From Promoting Her New Book
It’s not like Jane Fonda was going to go on QVC to promote god-forbid feminist issues, she was going on QVC to promote her new book Prime Time: Love; Health; Sex; Fitness; Friendship; Spirit;...
The Tree — Written and Directed by Julie Bertuccelli Opens Today
The Tree is a lament on love, loss and family. It’s a movie about trying to find a way through your grief to see some light on the other side. One of the stars of the film is this gigantic Moreton...
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a story of female friendship. The relationships are about dedication and life long commitment no matter what happens. Based on the novel by Lisa See, the film is...
Guest Post: Damages Returns by Serena Donadoni
The relationship between Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) and Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) on Damages has typically been described as that of a mentor and protégé, but itʼs even deeper and thornier. The...
2011 Emmy Nominations: The Women
For me, the Emmy nominations is an opportunity to take that annual look as to how women are faring in the TV business. I’m not talking about the acting categories. There are some great women...
Guest Post: Women Filmmakers and Screenwriters At The Action on Film Film Fest by Caitlin McCarthy
When it comes to film festivals, I’ve been around the block, having won awards and received nominations in over 60 international screenplay competitions and labs. Some are cold and cliquey. Some...
Locarno Film Festival: The Women
The 64th edition will take place August 3–13 in Locarno Switzerland. There are 6 films directed by women (one is co-directed) out of 20 in competition. That’s 30%. There is also only one female...
Trailer Watch: The Family Tree — Directed by Vivi Friedman
Film opens August 26 The Family Tree
Roseanne Shows Her Nuts on TV
I am not a person who watches reality shows regularly. I want to slit my wrists when I am at the gym and those Housewives or Kardashians come on. But I have to say I was very intrigued to see that...
Hollywood Feminist of the Day: Emma Watson
I saw the final Harry Potter film last night and there is one moment where you see Emma Watson in a scenes from the first film and it makes you remember how young all these actors were when they took...
The Bridesmaids Effect: Kristen Wiig Gets the Green Light for Imogene
Multiple sources are reporting that Bridesmaids star Kristin Wiig will next take on the dark comedy Imogene written by Michelle Morgan and to be directed by American Splendor directors Shari Springer...
Lisa Kudrow is Back on TV
Lisa Kudrow talks to CBS about her web series Web Therapy which has transferred to TV and will premiere on Showtime on July 19
Guest Post: Interview with Sophia Takal — Writer/Director of Green by Melissa Silvestri
Actress/writer Sophia Takal’s directorial debut, Green, is a film that is both dark in its themes of jealousy, yet shines with a natural ease depicting the burgeoning friendship of two very...
Trailer Watch: Higher Ground — Directed by Vera Farmiga
Film opens on August 26th. A terrific directorial debut by Farmiga who also stars in the film.
Guest Post: Interview with Sophia Takal – Writer/Director of Green by Melissa Silvestri
Actress/writer Sophia Takal’s directorial debut, Green, is a film that is both dark in its themes of jealousy, yet shines with a natural ease depicting the burgeoning friendship of two very...
The Love Crimes of Kabul Directed by Tanaz Eshaghian Premieres Tonight on HBO
If you want to see the lack of progress the US investment in women in Afghanistan, check out the Love Crimes of Kabul. This is the true story of women (and some girls) being held in the Badam Bagh...
Sometimes Real Life is Even Better Than The Movie
They couldn’t have scripted it better. It was a storybook weekend for women’s soccer. While most of the US press was focused on Derek Jeter’s 3,000 hit (at least that’s what it looks like...
Marsha Norman to Write Play Dealing with Plight of Women and Girls
The United Nations Department of Public Information, through its Creative Community Outreach Initiative (CCOI) has joined forces with Theatre for Humans a producing entity out of LA to create a play...
Guest Review: The Sleeping Beauty — directed by Catherine Breillat by Emilie Spiegel
There was no way I wasn’t going to love Catherine Breillat’s latest film, The Sleeping Beauty (La belle endormie). It covers all my bases: female-centric (check), arty and lusciously imagined...
Producers Corner: Jami Gertz and Stacey Lubliner Talk About A Better Life
Actress Jami Gertz and former agent Stacey Lubliner set up a production company Lime Orchard Productions in order to produce films about the human condition. Their first film out of the gate as...
Two Women Get Directing Gigs — Drew Barrymore and Jerusha Hess
Drew Barrymore and Jerusha Hess (the co-writer of Napoleon Dynamite) have both signed up for directing gigs. Barrymore will produce and direct Heist Society to be adapted by Shauna Cross (Whip It)....
How Fun Would It Be To Have Both Glenn Close and Meryl Streep Up for an Oscar
I know that this is so very far away, but a girl can dream. We already know that Meryl Streep will be in The Iron Lady opening in December, and now comes word that Glenn Close’s film Albert Nobbs...
Teaser Trailer: The Iron Lady
Here’s a teaser trailer for the UK version of the film which will open in the US in December and the UK in January 2012. http://vds.rightster.com/v/01z13vb3x2qxu0 Rightster – This video is...
Forbes 2011 List of the Highest Paid Actresses
It’s that time of year when we get to see who is scoring in the pay department in Hollywood. It’s no surprise to anyone that the highest paid actress in Hollywood is Angelina Jolie. She’s...
Guest Post: Raven Symone Plays Georgia…Sticky Issue for Feminists? by Emilie Spiegel
Last week, the Raven Symone series created by chick-lit author Jennifer Weiner, State of Georgia, premiered on ABC Family. Symone plays Georgia, a young woman who’s recently moved to NYC to pursue...
Sex, Sexuality and Women’s Sports
I’ve been obsessively watching the great coverage on ESPN of the Women’s World Cup soccer tournament. Yes, folks women do play soccer just like the men and they are quite good. While the US seems...
About Women and Hollywood
Melissa Silverstein is a writer, blogger and marketing consultant with an expertise in the area of social media regarding women and Hollywood. She is the founder and editor of Women and Hollywood,...
Guest Post: Selena Gomez Takes It To The Next Level By Serena Donadoni
Meeting Selena Gomez, itʼs hard not to notice what she doesnʼt do as much as what she does: she doesnʼt slouch or hesitate answering questions; sheʼs not testy or fatigued on this last stop of a...
Hollywood Feminist of the Day: Romola Garai
The 28-year-old busy actress (soon to be seen in One Day) is now appearing onstage in London at the Royal Court in The Village Bike by Penelope Skinner. In an interview with the London Evening...
Funny Chicks Best Funny Nerds at The Box Office
Sometime this weekend (or maybe even by tonight) in a theatre somewhere in America a person will buy a movie ticket to see Bridesmaids and that ticket will take the domestic box office tally of...
Catherine Hardwicke and Noomi Rapace Team Up for Film
To me this is an awesome team. Twilight director teaming up with the original Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Catherine Hardwicke and Noomi Rapace. How cool. The news is that Rapace will star in a bio...