#Music
Trailer Watch: Aretha Franklin Brings the House Down in “Amazing Grace”
Aretha Franklin’s iconic pipes are the focus of a new trailer for “Amazing Grace.” Shot in 1972 over two nights at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in LA, the long-awaited...
Starr Parodi Elected as President of the Alliance for Women Film Composers
Women comprised six percent of composers working on the top 250 grossing films of 2018, according to research from Dr. Martha Lauzen and the Center for the Study of Women in Television &...
Trailer Watch: Elisabeth Moss Is a Self-Destructive Rock Star in “Her Smell”
Becky Something is, by her own admission, a persona and not a person, a user, and a deadbeat. A trailer has arrived for “Her Smell,” and it sees the punk rock superstar, played by...
Aretha Franklin to Be Subject of “Genius” Season 3, Suzan-Lori Parks Will Showrun
National Geographic is honoring Aretha Franklin’s “Genius.” The Queen of Soul will be the protagonist of “Genius” Season 3, Deadline reports. Each year the anthology...
Nisha Ganatra to Direct “Covers” for Universal and Working Title
Nisha Ganatra scored one of the biggest deals out of Sundance 2019 for “Late Night,” and the helmer will follow it up with another high profile project. She’s in negotiations to...
“The Hate U Give” Author Angie Thomas Re-Teaming with Fox for Adaption of Her Next Book
Angie Thomas’ new novel, “On the Come Up,” hits bookshelves today but the story is already on its way to the big screen. The author is re-teaming with Fox 2000, the studio behind...
Less Than 20% of Top Musical Artists in 2018 Were Women, Study Finds
A new Time’s Up/Annenberg Inclusion Initiative challenge might be in order. The latter has released its second “Inclusion in the Recording Studio?” report, a study of gender and race...
Gurinder Chadha’s “Blinded by the Light” Lands Biggest Deal of Sundance 2019
Gurinder Chadha and The Boss made magic. The British filmmaker’s tribute to Bruce Springsteen, fandom, and following your dreams is poised to secure the biggest deal out of Sundance 2019 so...
Sundance 2019 Women Directors: Meet Irene Taylor Brodsky – “Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements”
Irene Taylor Brodsky is an Oscar-nominated, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker. Her first feature film, “Hear and Now,” won the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award in 2007 as well as a...
“Mystic Pizza” Musical in the Works from Melissa Etheridge
Good news, ’80s movie fans and lovers of esoteric “30 Rock” references: a “Mystic Pizza” musical is on the way. According to Deadline, Melissa Etheridge will be writing...
Guest Post: Why My Sisters and I Shared Our Story of Childhood Sex Abuse in a Documentary
Guest Post by Desirae Brown In the fall of 2007 we were at the peak of our careers. All five of us, including our brothers Gregory and Ryan, had attended Juilliard, capturing the attention of The New...
Missy Elliott Becomes First Female Rapper to Be Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is getting its freak on. Hall of Fame Chairman Nile Rodgers announced its new inductees this weekend, and Missy Elliott is among them. She’s making history as the...
Christiani Pitts on Being the First WOC to Play Ann Darrow in Broadway’s “King Kong”
When Christiani Pitts was hired for “King Kong” on Broadway, she immediately felt the significance of the casting choice. Not only is she the first woman of color to ever take portray Ann Darrow,...
Trailer Watch: Natalie Portman Goes Back in Time and Sings Her Heart Out in “Vox Lux”
Natalie Portman is bringing it “back to where it all began” in a new trailer for “Vox Lux.” The spot takes us along as controversial pop sensation Celeste (Portman) travels...
1972 Aretha Franklin Doc Will Finally Receive Theatrical Release
The Queen of Soul’s “most transcendent” gospel performance will be making its way to theaters. Shot in 1972, the Aretha Franklin documentary “Amazing Grace” will receive...
Ava DuVernay Is Working with Netflix on a Prince Documentary
Ava DuVernay is making it rain purple at Netflix. The “Wrinkle in Time” helmer is working with the streamer on a Prince documentary, Deadline confirms. Set to cover the iconic...
Trailer Watch: Natalie Portman Is a Pop Star in Crisis in “Vox Lux”
Natalie Portman won an Oscar for her portrayal of an unhinged ballerina in “Black Swan,” but her character in the 2010 psychological thriller seems well-adjusted in comparison to her take...
The Women of “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” Discuss Their Camaraderie and Female Empowerment
Every night at Stage 42 in New York City, four women are bringing the house down in the musical “Smokey Joe’s Cafe”: Emma Degerstedt, Dionne D. Figgins, Nicole Vanessa Ortiz, and Alysha...
“Eighth Grade’s” Elsie Fisher Signs on to Musical “The Shaggs”
Elsie Fisher isn’t done making you cringe yet. After breaking out in the delightful and, at times, painfully awkward coming-of-age pic “Eighth Grade,” Fisher has booked a staring...
Amy Winehouse Biopic in the Works from Alison Owen and Debra Hayward’s Monumental Pictures
An Amy Winehouse biopic is on the way thanks to “Harlots” executive producers Alison Owen and Debra Hayward. Their production outfit, Monumental Pictures, signed a deal with the family of...
Martha Plimpton on How Non-Profit A is For Goes to Bat for Reproductive Rights
Six years ago, Emmy-winning and Tony-nominated actress Martha Plimpton co-founded A is For, a non-profit dedicated to advancing women’s reproductive rights and ending the stigma against abortion...
Abby Mueller of Broadway’s “Beautiful” Talks Playing a Rock Star Who Lives on Her Own Terms
Abby Mueller is currently inhabiting the world of Carole King in the Broadway musical “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.” The role is clearly a familiar one to the actress, who was the...
Rima Das’ “Village Rockstars” Is India’s Foreign-Language Oscar Pick
India is the latest country to submit a woman-directed film to the Academy. The Hindu reports that Rima Das’ “Village Rockstars” will represent the county as this year’s...
The Met Is Finally Commissioning Operas by Women
Today in this-is-2018-WTF?! news, the Metropolitan Opera has announced several new ventures intended to draw in audiences, including commissioning women to write operas for the first time ever. Yep,...
Trailer Watch: A Legend Sings Her Heart Out in “Maria By Callas”
“An artist develops. You do things by instinct, but we learn, we suffer, we mature. I have to feel what I do,” says Maria Callas in a trailer for a new doc about the iconic opera singer....
“Nashville” EPs Meredith Lavender & Marcie Ulin Have a New Music Drama in Development at NBC
Former “Nashville” scribes are working on bringing another story about a female musician to the small screen. Meredith Lavender and Marcie Ulin’s pitch for a one-hour drama scored a...
Sarah Jessica Parker-Starrer “Here and Now” Acquired
Sarah Jessica Parker’s showing off her vocal chops in “Here And Now.” The “Sex and the City” alumna plays a singer-songwriter in the pic, which just secured...
Trailer Watch: M.I.A. Shows Her Story in “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A”
“You want to hear my story? I’m going to show you my story,” says M.I.A. in the first trailer for “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.” The Sundance-winning doc features...
Sundance Winner “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.” Scores Distribution
A bonafide hustler continues to make her name. Fans of M.I.A. will be treated to a never-before-seen look into the life and career of the Oscar- and Grammy-nominated musician thanks...
Trailer Watch: An Aspiring DJ Lives in Minsk But Dreams of Chicago in “Crystal Swan”
Twenty-two-year-old Evelina (Alina Nasibullina), also known as Velya, is a law school grad who enjoys living in her native Minsk, Belarus. But, as Velya proudly announces in a trailer for...
Alicia Keys Announces Initiative for Female Advancement in the Record Biz
The “Girl on Fire” is looking to elevate and empower other women in the music industry. Alicia Keys has revealed that she’s working on a new initiative to “further female...
Barbra Streisand Strikes a Deal with Netflix
Barbra Streisand is taking her relationship with Netflix to the next level. The EGOT-holder premiered a new concert doc on the streamer last November, and now she’s signed a new content deal...
Billie Holiday Biopic on the Way, Suzan-Lori Parks to Write
Lady Day is getting another biopic treatment. Variety reports that a Billie Holiday film is in the works with R&B artist Andra Day possibly taking on the lead role. Suzan-Lori Parks is writing...
Dolly Parton-Inspired Anthology Coming to Netflix
The Queen of Country is heading to Netflix. The streamer has picked up a scripted anthology based on Dolly Parton songs, The Hollywood Reporter confirms. If the premise sounds familiar to you, take a...
Parkland Drama Teacher Melody Herzfeld to Be Honored at Tony Awards
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School drama teacher Melody Herzfeld, who survived the February 14 shooting in Parkland, Florida, will receive an education award at the Tonys on June 10, The New York...
Trailer Watch: Whitney Houston’s Public and Private Lives Collide in Cannes Doc “Whitney”
Whitney Houston is probably best known for her public persona: the passionate, bubbly, and crazy talented performing artist and actress. But as the new trailer for documentary “Whitney”...
Tina Tchen Names Members of Recording Academy’s Female Advancement Task Force
Time’s Up leader and former chief of staff to Michelle Obama Tina Tchen has unveiled the members of the Recording Academy’s Task Force for Female Advancement, of which she is chair....
New Tina Turner Doc Introduced at Cannes
Tina Turner is one of the best-selling artists of all time, but The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll has never been the subject of a feature-length documentary — until now. Variety reports...
Guest Post: Director Kandeyce Jorden’s Journey Through the World of Female DJs
When director Kandeyce Jorden found herself at a personal crossroads, she went looking for a creative project that would open her eyes to a new way of life–and she found it in the...
Video of the Day: Mod Carousel’s Gender Swapping Version of Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines
Check out Mod Carousel’s (a Seattle based boylesque troupe) reinvention of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”. The troupe rewrote the lyrics, re-recorded the song and redid...
Pussy Riot are Back with New Video
The ladies of Pussy Riot are back with a new video “Like a Red Prison.” The video is the first in over a year, since their anti-Putin protest which led to three of the members being...
Zooey Deschanel Directs New She & Him Music Video
Last week, Rashida Jones made her directorial debut with a music video for Sara Bareilles’ “Brave.” This week, Zooey Deschanel, announced her own directorial debut with the She...
Rashida Jones Makes Directorial Debut with Sara Bareilles ‘Brave’ Music Video
Rashida Jones announced her directorial debut with Sara Bareilles’ “Brave” music video on Twitter earlier this week.. It’s a bright, poppy song with an equally...
Interview with Judy Chaikin – Director of The Girls in the Band
The Girls in the Band opens for a one-week run in NYC on May 10. Tickets here. Women and Hollywood: What drew you to making this film? Judy Chaikin: I come from a family of musicians...
Guest Post: Invisible Women Who Rock
We are both filmmakers launching documentaries featuring different generations of women pursuing their artistic vision in the predominantly male bastion of rock and roll. And of course, the...
Marin Alsop to be First Female Conductor for BBC’s The Last Night of The Proms
Until now, for 118 years, BBC Proms has never been led by a female conductor. American born, premiere conductor Marin Alsop will be the first woman to do so. The festival will have over...
Hollywood Feminist of the Day: John Legend
John Legend is completely swoon-worthy. He’s an extremely talented and good looking musician. Oh and he’s an outspoken feminist. Legend is involved in the charity, Chime for Change,...
SXSW Interview with Sini Anderson, Tamra Davis and Kathleen Hanna of The Punk Singer
I can’t write about Sini Anderson’s great documentary The Punk Singer without mentioning that Kathleen Hanna has been one of my life-long heroes. When I was sixteen a friend gave me...
Pussy Riot Band Members Speak Out on 60 Minutes
60 Minutes did a segment on Pussy Riot, the now infamous feminist punk band from Russia who were sent to prison for their demonstration against Vladimir Putin. Two of the members are still serving...
Watch This: Nina Simone Singing “To Be Free”
Legacy Records, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is celebrating Nina Simone as their February 2013 Artist of the Month in honor of Black History Month and Simone's 80th...
Guest Post: One Woman’s View of Composing In/Out of Hollywood
Writing a blog for a website called Women & Hollywood presents an interesting opportunity for this film composer who dwells primarily in the world of independent documentaries. While not...