About the Author - LOVE THE PALMER

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Los Angeles • Philadelphia • New York, CA • PA • NY, United States
This blog is written by Palmer Enfield. Palmer is a producer-director and the founder of RedMaiden (www.redmaiden.tv), a branded content, boutique creative company. As a director, her forte is slice of life storytelling and visual imagery. Like RedMaiden, she is a warrior in her own right--a two time cancer survivor (Hodgkins Lymphoma & Breast Cancer) her strength has been forged in life or death battles. Palmer’s personal experience adds a unique weight and substance that is reflected in her work where her willingness to expose and share her own story helps people give voice to their own personal human drama. Out of this comes Palmer’s natural sense of dialogue and performance and her ability to capture spontaneity through great casting choices and direction. Palmer’s directing style is emotional, visual storytelling, dialogue and kids with a touch of subtle, dry humor. Her growing body of work naturally attracts pharmaceutical and healthcare related projects as well as many others. Palmer believes strongly that mentoring and sharing information is essential to the growth of a creative economy. This blog was born out of that belief. Contact Palmer at palmer@redmaiden.tv

Friday, March 13, 2009

Women Directing - What's Luck Got To Do With It?


Check this article out on CNN.com about Charlize Theron as a director.

What follows, are my thoughts on the article . . .

Seems if it weren't for bad luck, as a group, we'd have no luck at all according to Theron who says, "Women have to make their own luck . . . there is no point in complaining about the tough time women have getting work behind the scenes in the movies."

Whhaaattt??? Is she kidding?

According to the article, "Last year, women made up just 16 percent of all directors, producers, writers and cinematographers who worked on the 250 top grossing films in the U.S."

16%!!!! Is that luck??? That's pretty pathetic. Wow, aren't we lucky?! - NOT!

Don't get me wrong, as a woman director I am always interested in what other women directors have to say about the business, particularly regarding the issue of the "glass or celluloid ceiling." Unfortunately, I can't help but be discouraged each time a woman director gets an opportunity to discuss the issue publicly and instead of taking it on they back down and under play our lack of parity and opportunity in the workplace.

And, the author has the nerve to say that Theron is a "template for what women can achieve in the industry." -- Boo, hiss, thanks for helping to advance your sisters, Charlize and Mairi. Is there a name for women that play the "Uncle Tom" role?

Women are underrepresented as directors and dp's. We are underrepresented as consumers. We make up 51% of the population and yet we don't even come close in the workplace. Yes, we are gaining ground. But 16% qualifies as a snail's pace. I for one, am tired of this paradigm where we are afraid to say what is for fear we will loose what little we have. I am tired of having the term "feminist" hurled at me because I've stood up for myself and have dared to dream, desire and ask for what should never be an issue--that I have an equal opportunity to realize my dream and work in the field and occupation I love--directing. Let's just take a moment and call it what it is--sexism.

Palmer Enfield
Director
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