Dear friends-
A little over 15 years ago, I had a crazy idea: I wanted to start a conversation about where women stand in front of the camera and behind the scenes in Hollywood. I named my blog Women and Hollywood because, to me, Hollywood is everywhere. My journey of discovery developed into a calling that I never expected. It allowed me to travel all over the world and talk to others passionate On the subject. The work helped launch the Athena Film Festival, now a full-fledged teenager at thirteen years old.
Fifteen years later, the conversation is fully embedded in our culture and covered by mainstream media. Women, some of whom started at Women and Hollywood, work in a variety of roles across the industry. It wasn’t that long ago that it was always a surprise when a series had a female director in the season. Now it’s unacceptable if they don’t. The work is far from done, but to continue the revolution, evolution is necessary.
It’s time for women and Hollywood 2.0.
Starting April 1, The Women and Hollywood blog will no longer publish original stories. We will continue to keep the website online as it has become a great resource, particularly for students in the industry.
Have no fear: I will continue to drop truth bombs and amplify women’s voices. But it will be different. In Her Voice: A Women and Hollywood Podcast will launch in April and will be a place where I will report news and interview creatives. I look forward to speaking again to the women making change and those whose creative visions come to our screens.
We will continue publishing the Women and Hollywood newsletter weekly with content by and about women and non-binary people in theaters and streaming. Girls Club, our community for women and non-binary creators to connect and support one another, is thriving.
Over the years, particularly through my work in the Athena Film Festival’s Creative Development Program, I have realized that I not only want to discuss the change we need to see, but that I want to be a part of it. For this purpose, I will be launching the Creative Doula program. Part strategic advisor, part doula, we will be the creative champions of these talented voices and projects written by women or non-binary authors, with women/girls at the center of the stories.
The success of Women and Hollywood is due to many people. First thanks go to the Dobkin Family Foundation for their continued support. Without the Dobkin Family Foundation, women and Hollywood would not exist. The team – authors, editors, scholarship holders, interns, social media experts. Nobody does this work alone. I’ve been very fortunate to have people who are as passionate about the work as I am, especially Laura Berger, who convinced me I needed an intern almost a decade ago and is now responsible for everything on the site happened. Everyone involved in the work over the years has contributed immensely to keeping women at the center of the narrative.
I wouldn’t be able to make this change if I didn’t believe I had accomplished what I set out to do 15 years ago. I couldn’t be more thrilled that the conversation is thriving and strong and that a new generation has taken over and is pushing for more and more change. I am very happy to continue to be part of this movement.
Further,
Melissa
