Musings on New York City Symphony Space Screening, Jami Sieber “Unspoken”

Our WHO DOES SHE THINK team, putting together those House Party Kits

Last Sunday, it all came together–WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS? screened at Symphony Space and other theaters around the country as well as at House Parties.  The Event was wonderful!! Despite sunny weather, people streamed into the Symphony Space–a gorgeous theater on the Upper West Side and people tweeted?? Tweetered? questions from all over the Country!!

Angela Williams, Courtney Martin, Camille Musser and Janis Wunderlich were our onstage stars.  Every once in a while I catch myself remembering back when this film was just an idea….back at my kitchen table in 2003, where I am now typing this blog, when I told, ever so tentatively our three sons and my husband that I was going to make a film….and their response, “mom, you can’t even turn on the camera.”  And my husband, “that sounds good, Pamela”  looking very nervous… Six years later, the film is made, has been shown all over the country and Canada and people write in every day to thank us.  And, as my son, Cameron says in our follow up video–see it on Youtube –and Mom, you still can’t turn on the camera.

Since then, my three beautiful boys have left home for college, I have traveled all over the states, first to film, with our so talented camera man, Gary Henoch and not to be ever replaced, Will Dunning and my original Producer and very dear friend, Micki Seligson.  Then a year of editing and another year–the second with Nancy Kennedy in New York City–Nancy who has edited some amazing films, “Why We Fight?”  “For the Bible Tells me So”  among them….and for this past year, to speak at screenings all over the place–museums, art centers, universities.  Can you Believe IT??  Do what you love and who knows what will happen.

So, it is 5:45 am and I am on my way in a couple of hours to attend the National Women’s Studies Association Conference down in Atlanta with Lindsay Richardson, our Outreach Coordinator.  We will have a booth there, to hilight the film.  We also will be selling our House Party Kits, and Educational DVDS.  Go to the website to see both www.whodoesshethinksheis.net

The House Party Kits–which four of us spent hours assembling back in Brooklyn last week, are gorgeous.  Embossed cover, the DVD with follow up interviews with each artist, then Invitations, a Poster, and cards illustrated with our visual artists work…They are out, they are for sale and they would make a great Holiday gift for a woman you love.  you can buy them directly from the website!

I am listening to a hauntingly beautiful piece of music by one of my new favorites,  Jami Sieber.  She is a Celloist.  This piece is “The Unspoken.”  It is a collaboration with the poet Kim Rosen.  you can find her at www.jamisieber.com

So, the coffee I am drinking tastes like dark water–probably it is too old.  I hardly ever drink coffee at home and I guess this is why.  I’d better go– I will write from Atlanta!

Update with Maye Torres

Watch all of our updates HERE on our You Tube channel.

Screenings of WHO DOES She Think She IS? around the country

Tomorrow, we meet up at the Symphony Space Theater in New York City to watch the film.  At the same time, screenings will take place around the country.

At home, you can watch the talkback at 4:30 (est), 1:30 (pst) at this web address:
http://www.emergingpictures.com/wdstsi-live.htm

You can Twitter questions (@wdstsi) while you watch.

Many of the people who have made this film possible will be both attending these screenings and also participating in the Talk Back–which will happen at Symphony Space in New York (Broadway and 95th Street at 2:30 Nove 8!).  I am so looking forward to being in the theater.

A lot of us aren’t making the effort to go to the theater these days; people are watching films in their homes.  And, I do the same.  It’s convenient to curl up on the sofa, put in a DVD (or even a download) and watch in the comfort of your home.

My sisters and I at Kittichai--they just flew in for the Big Event

But, here’s the thing–I think we miss out when we do this.  There is a real and palpable energy in a theater filled with people all watching the screen.  We have so very few places where we can be “one of many.”  And, it is a DiFFERENT experience.  To be “one of many”, to share an amazing and heartfelt, sad and joyful experience in a group of like minded people is powerful.   You are reminded that you are not alone.  You are reminded of the possibility of change, of love, of gratitude.

Just a way of saying,  if there is any way you can SHARE the viewing of WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?  please do!  And write to us!  Share on line.  Break through to another.

Looking forward to seeing, and hearing from you tomorrow.  Oh!  Janis Wunderlich, Angela Williams, Camille Musser and I will be on stage, after the show tomorrow to do a talk back, orchestrated by our own awesome Courtney Martin.

Pamela

Update with Mayumi Oda

Update with Camille Musser

Getting the Word Out

Christi, our Outreach Caped Crusader

Here’s young Christina, our Outreach Intern, looking armed and ready for action. She’s jumping on the train with posters and postcards to spread the word about our upcoming National House Party event at Symphony Space. She looked so adorable, I had to get a shot of her.

Symphony Space

Nov 8

2:45 pm

2537 Broadway
New York, NY 10025
(212) 864-5400

Bentley University October 7th

On Wednesday, October 7th, I had the opportunity to bring Who Does She Think She Is? to Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. I truly enjoyed showing the film to these inspiring college students and then talking with them after to hear their reactions!

Here is an email I received from Anna Siomopoulos, an Assistant Professor of English and Cinema Studies at
Bentley, who coordinated this event:

Hi Pamela,

Just wanted to thank you again for coming to Bentley, and to let you know how much the students enjoyed your visit. In class, we continued the conversation that you started, and all of the students were unanimous that bringing filmmakers to campus adds a lot to their film and media studies education. You’re really an engaging speaker, and you have the ability to energize the classroom. Be sure to let me know about your future projects, so that we can bring you back to Bentley again!

Best,
Anna

I so enjoyed coming to Bentley and especially the time in the classroom. I love working with students and it was especially great to show this film at a university where students are more inclined to “business” rather than liberal arts. I also loved the fact that the student body is 60-40 men to women– it made discussing this film very interesting.

Great classes and good discussion. And thank you so much, Anna,  for making me feel welcome and for arranging the day, for taking me out to dinner and arranging to meet others in the Departments!

Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership: Conversation–Mothers as Leaders: Challenges and Contradictions

Last Thursday and Friday, I was in Rochester, New York at the Susan B. Anthony Center at University of Rochester.  I had been invited to participate in a Conversation with Judith S. Warner, author of Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety as well as a column in the New York Times, Domestic Disturbances and Elrena Evans, co author of Mama PHD.

Judith gave a wonderful, inspiring keynote address about the continued difficulty of being a mother with all of its attendant responsibilities and continuing to do the work one needs to do.  The Conversation afterward was amazing!  Elrena spoke about the Academic world and the tenure system’s lack of acknowledgement that half of their potential Professors are in their prime childbearing years and how this impacts women in the Educational field.  Across the board, from Education to Writing, to Film, the percentage of women who “make it” hovers around 20.  How maddening this low figure is, after hundred and forty plus years of agitation for “womens’ rights.”  What is the problem?  Women  vote, earn PhDs, get top jobs…these ARE big changes.  What has not changed is that someone still has to have and raise children–a vitally important yet unpaid job that rests with the mothers.

So, what do we do about this?  The work world says to women, “come on in, do your thing, we know you have talent and capability.  Children?  Well, you better find someone else to look after them.”  The world still operates on the assumption that SOMEONE is home taking care of those children.

Solutions?  I have often dreamed about what would happen if women around the world, stopped their household and child care work for a few days.  If they went on strike….I think this would be the only way that this unpaid labor would begin to be taken seriously.

Nora Bredes, Head of the Susan B. Anthony Center was a marvelous Host.  Not only did we participate in this conversation, but we visited Susan B. Anthony’s house in Rochester.  It was inspiring to see this Giant in the Women’s movement’s home.  What I loved was that her work took place in the center of her family life.  She initially did her writing in a spare bedroom of the home she shared with her sister, then moved up to the attic.

Thanks for the opportunity to meet with other inspiring women, thanks to the very fine audience and thanks to Nora and to the Susan B. Anthony Center for holding this Event.

Update with Director Pamela Tanner Boll and her sons

Riane Eisler talks to the United Nations

Hello all:

Just a short note about our friend, Dr. Riane Eisler, author of The Real Wealth Of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics. Riane was invited to speak at the United Nations a couple of weeks ago on Global Warming to Global Partnership.

You may recall that Riane is featured in our film discussing the issues of poverty and the unpaid labor of women in the home.

Riane is an amazing thinker who has addressed the issue of how to “Value” the world of unpaid “at-home” labor, the Labor of care giving and now the climate.

Anyone who has ever wondered about how to address issues of global poverty, gender inequity and the  labor of women everywhere should read her book and go to her web page.

Pamela