Long Beach City College
Introducing Teen Girls and Women to Making Movies
Women age 17 and older are invited to attend “Our Turn: Making Movies” on April 23 sponsored by the Long Beach City College Student (LBCC) Success/Student Equity program. This free, one-day event is designed to introduce women and girls to making movies as both a means of expression and a career. The goal is to increase access to LBCC film production courses for females. Open to all women (17 and older) interested in filmmaking; attendance is limited to 50 attendees.
Palacio Magazine spoke with Danielle Stallings, Assistant Professor of Film at Long Beach City College about the event and its goals.
According to the press release, studies are all clear: women/girls are severely underrepresented in film. Not only is there a lack of female personnel working making movies, but the stories being told also lack a proportional female presence. “The data regarding female enrollment in LBCC’s film courses is indicative of the systemic nature of this issue but also provides a key to improving the problem. If female hearts and minds are not engaged and shown the possibilities available to them as they’re contemplating their future (or changed) career paths, where else will they gain such exposure?”
The event organizes state, “We can help change those statistics by offering improved access to women contemplating careers in the film industry.”
The event organizers see this the event as an opportunity for attendees who are interested in making movies to meet women in the film industry and to “attend fun workshops in screenwriting and lighting, watch a camera demonstration and see all that LBCC’s Film Studies Program has to offer. Each participant will also have the opportunity direct her own movie.”
The Making Movie conference highlights include:
- A lighting workshop featuring the latest LED instruments hosted by Mole-Richardson Company.
- A screenwriting workshop run by celebrated writer Toni Ann Johnson.
- Film short scenes with improvisational actors to compile into a souvenir film attendees take with them.
- Q&A panel where professionals answer questions about their training, “big break,” and how they’ve dealt with gender inequity in the film business.
- Mingle with movie making industry experts and film educators during the provided lunch.
Confirmed presenters include:
- Toni Ann Johnson, Humanitas Prize winning screenwriter of “Ruby Bridges” (ABC), “Crown Heights” (Showtime) and “The Courage to Love” (Lifetime).
- Matia A. Karrell, director of Academy Award nominated short film, “Cadillac Dreams,” “Behind the Red Door” and “The West Wing.”
- Victoria Sampson, sound editor on “Return of the Jedi,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl,” “Scream 4,” “On Golden Pond” and “Ordinary People.”
About “Our Turn: Making Movies”
Saturday, April 23: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Long Beach City College
Liberal Arts Campus, T-1200
4901 East Carson St.
Long Beach, CA 90808
To learn more, visit www.ourturnmakingmovies.org
