Paul Feig is, once again, using his power and status to support women. The “Simple Favor” director is hosting an incubator for women filmmakers via his and Laura Fischer’s digital content company, Powderkeg, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Named Powderkeg: Fuse, the program will begin with the production of six short films helmed by women.
The projects, all set in Los Angeles, are Hannah Levy and Adriana Robles’ “Francis 2.0”; Jess dela Merced’s “Phony”; Thembi Banks’ “Baldwin Beauty”; Talia Osteen’s “Shabbos Goy”; Lizzy Sanford’s “Freckle and the Shih Tzu”; and Jeanne Jo’s “Rachel From New York.”
Set to begin production this week, the shorts will be bundled as a half-hour’s worth of “thematically tied content” and distributed as part of Fuse Anthology. Each project will also serve as a proof of concept for an original series, which Powderkeg will produce.
The “Fuse” participants were selected after Powderkeg put out a call for stories that highlight LA’s diversity. Forty women were invited to pitch their concepts. The final six received mentorship from Feig and partnered with top producers and casting directors to prep their shorts.
“Each of these women has a very unique comedic voice and aesthetic and we are thrilled to be able to bring their short films to life,” said Feig and Fischer. “These are talented directors ready for the next step in their careers and we hope this is the beginning of a long working relationship with each of the them.”
Suburban comedic thriller “A Simple Favor” is Feig’s latest film. In theaters now, the pic sees Anna Kendrick play a mommy blogger who investigates her glamorous friend’s (Blake Lively) mysterious disappearance. The Athena Film Fest Leading Man Award winner has also directed “Bridesmaids,” “Spy,” and the gender-flipped “Ghostbusters,” among other films.
Feig is one of the original members of ReFrame, an initiative committed to boosting gender equality and inclusivity in the entertainment industry. “A Simple Favor,” along with 14 other 2018-released films, received the ReFrame Stamp, a symbol that the project is gender-balanced on-screen and off.
Powderkeg greenlit “East of La Brea,” a digital shortform series about two young 20-something Muslim women of color, this summer.
