TVbyGIRLS: Let's talk about shaping a better world.

2011-01-13T15:38:00.000-08:00

Filmmaker Unearthed:

Caribbean Waves

Do you know who the first black female filmmaker to direct a Hollywood studio film was?

“…Our job is to bring things on screen, to make people laugh, to entertain them, but also to make them think and to inform them about what is going on in the world. They won’t be able to say we didn’t know what was going on.”

– Euzhan Palcy

Euzhan Palcy

(1958- )

Palcy was born in 1958 in Martinique, French West Indies. Since she was a tween, Euzhan knew she wanted to be a filmmaker in order to give blacks a voice in media. She remembers watching movies from Hollywood that made her angry because blacks were depicted negatively. So she took matters into her own hands and decided to make films. Euzhan published poetry and mystery in a monthly publication in Martinique and wrote, directed and acted in a drama for the television station before going to get her masters in Paris.

There in France she met her “French Godfather,” the famous director Francois Truffaut, and he encouraged her with her endeavors to make her first feature Sugar Cane Alley (1983) (it was also the first feature made in Martinique). To raise money for the film Palcy received a grant from the French government and went to Martinique to promote the project. Mayors from different cities in Martinique gave money as well as individual people who gave what they could to help fund the film. Sugar Cane Alley (1983) won awards and so did her next film A Dry White Season (1989) which was about the South African apartheid. This film concerned a heated topic that was hot enough to make Euzhan have a bodyguard during the filming. The project took seven years to raise money and finish. She was the only female director to work with Marlon Brando and was able to get him to come out of partial retirement to act in the film.

From there Palcy broadened her to include other genres and types of projects. She enjoys making films that make viewers think and have a point to share with the audience.

Question:

Palcy works toward giving a voice to blacks in media, which brings me to my question. Do you think a filmmaker can accurately portray a gender/race/culture different from her or his own in a film? Why do you think what you think and how is it possible or not?

References:

Image of Palcy from Images of Black Women http://www.imagesofblackwomen.com/euzhan.htm

Image of lamp by Boby Dimitrov

Collins, Glenn. “A Black Director Views Apartheid.” September 25, 1989. 1.13.11. http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/25/movies/a-black-director-views-apartheid.html.

Euzhan Palcy. November 2010. 1.13.11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euzhan_Palcy.

“Images of Black Women Film Festival.” International Patron: Euzhan Palcy. 1.13.11.http://www.imagesofblackwomen.com/euzhan.htm.

Paddington, Bruce. “Making Waves.” Caribbean Beat. Issue No. 1 (1992). 1.13.11. http://www.meppublishers.com/online/caribbean-beat/archive/index.php?pid=6001&id=cb1-2-4.

Rickards, Colin. “Caribbean People: Filmmaker Euzhan Palcy gives back.” July 15, 2009. 1.13.11. http://www.trulycaribbean.net/?p=1334.

2011-01-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

Filmmaker Unearthed:

Who’s Got Gumption?

I curled up on the couch this weekend and watched The Holiday and have had one word stuck in my mind since then. Gumption. If you’ve seen the film you know that the retired screenwriter teaches one of the protagonists about what it means to have gumption. My handy dictionary describes gumption as initiative, resourcefulness, courage, spunk, or guts. It’s a strong word that, I think, is a good summary word to describe our next filmmaker star.

Hint: Today’s filmmaker invented the boom mike

(a device that’s like a pole with a mike attached to the end).

Dorothy Arzner

(1897-1979)

“My philosophy is that to be a director you cannot be subject to anyone, even the head of the studio. I threatened to quit each time I didn’t get my way, but no one ever let me walk out.”

–Dorothy Arzner

Gumption, don’t you think?

Dorothy was a Hollywood studio era film director in the 1920s and ‘30s and the only female director for some time. Arzner has one of, if not the, largest body of work in the studio system for a woman.

She started off her career by studying to be a doctor at University of Southern California (like all filmmakers do). During World War I, she worked in the ambulance corps. Once the war ended she forwent a medical career and, after a visit to a movie studio, decided to become a director (talk about an early life career change). Dorothy had a contact in Hollywood who helped her secure a job as a typist. She quickly was promoted to screenwriter and then to editor. As an editor she made a name for herself and worked on over 50 films before threatening to move to another studio if she wasn’t given a directorial position.

Paramount gave into her demand and she was made director of the silent film Fashions for Women. This became a hit and she went on to direct more films. (I don’t have enough time to delve into her work but you should explore for yourself…it involves films made before the Hayes Code and some more risqué, for the time, material. And she was also a lesbian, which accounts for some excellent film theory). She made eleven features for Paramount in five years and then became an independent director.

She stopped working for studios in 1943 for unrecorded reasons but continued to make some training videos, commercials and produced plays before settling in as a professor at the UCLA film school until she passed on in 1979.

Check out the trailer for one of her films Christopher Strong (1933)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9xde3eM3Rs

Question:

Thoughts on Dorothy? Why do you think she was able to be so successful in the Hollywood studios of the 1930s?

References

Lamp photo by Boby Dimitrov

2010-12-31T08:49:00.000-08:00

Filmmaker Unearthed:

A Style Of Her Own

Since we started off with a filmmaker you’ve probably never heard of, I figured we would continue this week with one you may know. Sound good? Excellent. We begin.

Hint: This filmmaker is an excellent role model if you are a dabbler in many things. She once went to her father to ask if she should focus on one area and he advised her to keep doing all the things she was interested in and that one day they would come together on their own.

Did you guess right? It’s…

Sofia Coppola

(1971- )

Sofia Coppola is a director, screenwriter, designer, photographer and has acted, modeled, and studied painting. (I wasn’t kidding about the dabbling.) Her first appearance in a film was as an infant in her father’s film The Godfather. From there she did a few small acting parts, but wasn’t fond of being in front of the camera. Critics bashed her performance in The Godfather III and she shied away from acting even more. She explored other venues like painting, modeling, photography and designing. Sophia created her own clothing line called Milkfed which is sold in Japan. (But what about filmmaking you ask?)

Coppola soon tried her hand at filmmaking and found a niche for herself. Sofia is known for her films, The Virgin Suicides (1999), Lost in Translation (2003), Marie Antoinette (2006) and Somewhere (2010). She wrote original screenplays (except for The Virgin Suicides, which she adapted from a book) and directed each of these films. Besides that, she is a producer for most of these films, and helped fund them, which gave her more creative control over the films. (Imagine what you would make if you had complete control over your film.)

Ms. Coppola is descended from a line of filmmakers. Her father is Francis Ford Coppola who is the director of films like The Godfather, and her grandfather was a composer who wrote music for films, while a couple of cousins and aunt are well-known actors. Some criticism of her work is aimed at her family connections. They claim her work is only made possible because of her family and not because of her talent. (That’s heated, isn’t it?)

She has won a few awards for her films which include being the first American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award (and the third woman overall) for Best Director for her film Lost in Translation. She won an Oscar for her original screenplay for Lost in Translation. Somewhere won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival making her the first American woman to receive the award.

There you have it. Meet Sofia Coppola.

Questions: I’m a wee bit shocked that it’s just recently that women are winning some filmmaking awards. What reasons can you think of for women to be winning awards now? (Maybe there aren’t many women in film…?)

What inspires or makes you cringe when watching Coppola’s films?

References

Photo of Bamboo and handmade paper lamp by Boby Dimitrov

Photo of Sofia Coppola by Valerie Enriquez

Article references to follow due to technical difficulties

2010-12-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

Photo by Boby Dimitrov

Filmmaker Unearthed:

The Fairy in the Cabbage Patch

As I throw another log on the fire (I’m cold) my thoughts turn to filmmaking and fiery stars in the industry. You know, those women filmmakers who blazed (right, my thoughts are on warm things) the way for the rest of us. I’m trying to remember who the first woman filmmaker was. Okay, I’d even settle for being able to name 5 important women directors. But as embarrassing as this is to admit, I don’t know much about earlier, or even modern, female filmmakers.

Which brings me to this post, the embarking post for Filmmaker Unearthed where I delve into history and share my findings with you. I’ll do the digging and then you can sit back, cozy up with your computer and learn all about some neat people.

The first filmmaker I’d like to introduce you to (if you haven’t heard of her already) is French, born in 1873, credited as the first woman director, owned her own studio in the U.S. and has a claim to the title of first narrative film director.

What? I know, right. Turns out filmmaking has been a woman’s thing from its inception.

Alice Guy-Blaché (a-LEES ghee)

1873-1968

Imagine you’re a secretary at a still-photography studio in late 19^th century France and your boss, Leon Gaumont, has his hands on a fancy dancy filmmaking apparatus. What do you do? Why, convince him to let you make a film of course! Alice’s film career was longer than a quarter of a century (I’m making you do math now) and she directed, wrote screenplays and produced for hundreds of films.

Her first of hundreds was “The Cabbage Fairy.” The 60-second film was created by Alice Guy in 1896 and launched her film career. Around this time the photography studio she worked for closed and Alice’s boss Gaumont formed his own production company. Gaumont put Alice in charge of film production where she remained from 1896-1906. Alice became a pioneer in using sound recordings with images, special effects, and even playing film backwards.

After 1906, Alice moved to New York to manage Gaumont’s studio in the U.S. And then in 1910, Alice and her husband, Herbert Blaché, formed The Solax Studio in New Jersey. They were very successful and within two years were able to build a $100,000 glass studio in Fort Lee. She was the first woman to own her own studio. Sadly, the company only lasted four years. Guy continued to work in film and directed her last film in 1919 before retiring to giving film lectures and writing novels from screenplays. She was honored in 1953 with the Legion of Honor award by the French government. Alice Guy died in 1968.

Currently, the Fort Lee Film Commission is at work trying to gain her posthumous admittance to the Director’s Guild of America.

And so the first woman director set the bar high. Pretty cool, huh?

And look “The Cabbage Fairy” is online!

Question: If Alice made hundreds of films, created her own studio and did innovative and creative films at the very beginning of cinema, why haven’t I heard of her?

Answer: It wasn’t until 1976 with the publishing of her memoir that she was remembered for all the incredible work she accomplished. How do you think Alice’s work was forgotten? Or why might it have been overlooked?

Resources:

“Alice Guy-Blache.” Wikipedia. Dec. 8 2010. 12-15-10.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Guy-Blaché.

Brightwell, Eric. “Alice Guy-Blache – First Female of Film Direction.” Amoeblog.

March 3 2009. 12-15-10. http://www.amoeba.com/blog/2009/03/eric-s- blog/alice-guy-blach-first-female-of-film-direction.html.

McKernan, Luke. “Alice Guy.” Who’s Who of Victorian Cinema. 12-15-10.

http://www.victorian-cinema.net/guy.htm.

McMahan, Alison. “Inventing the Movies.” Alice Guy-Blache. 2009. Homunculus

Productions, LLC and Alison McMahan. 12-15-10.

http://www.aliceguyblache.com/inventing-the-movies/home.

Richards, Andrea. Girl Director A How-To Guide for the First-Time, Flat-Broke Film

and Video Maker. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 2005.

White, Penny. “Alice Guy Blache, First Woman Film Director Succeeding in a

Burgeoning Film Industry.” Suite101.com. Sept. 24, 2009. 12-15-10.

http://www.suite101.com/content/alice-guy-blache-first-woman-film-director- a150877.

2010-12-08T16:19:00.000-08:00

What would you do if someone at your school or workplace made a racial comment?

Recently, one of our core girls, Serena, was attending a school sporting event when the opposing team (an older and more diverse group) began to win. As the game progressed some of her classmates started using racially and socially demeaning chants. Appalled and embarrassed at the behavior of her fellow classmates Serena decided to take action and wrote a letter to the editor of her school newspaper.

Here’s her letter below.

Dear [school] community,
Almost every day at [school], I hear one racist comment, and that’s one too many. Hearing comments within our school is not okay, but making discriminatory comments in public while representing our school crosses an entirely different line. The fact that something like that would even pass through our minds makes me question our community culture. The delay in an administrative response is indicative of a larger issue. We are not upholding our mission in “educating our children to be culturally competent in a global community” (Diversity Action Plan). There are many people that I am proud to say think in a multicultural way, but there is a large group of individuals who continue to disregard our stated values. This either means that the values we say are true at [school] are not actual values, or that the people that continue to make disrespectful comments don’t belong in the [school] community. Making excuses for the actions that take place is something that needs to be stopped. “Just joking” does not make hurtful remarks okay to say. I hope everyone who reads this will take what I’ve said and make a point to check themselves and people around them to live up to the standards that [our school] should proudly portray.
Thank you.
Serena

Serena sets a good example for us all by refusing to accept inappropriate comments. She found her own way to raise awareness about an issue we sometimes try to ignore. Her experience is a reminder that sexist and racist “jokes” and comments are belittling no matter how you phrase them. At our latest TVbyGIRLS meeting Serena’s article led to a discussion about the best ways to respond to discriminatory comments. We wondered what our culture would be like if each of us spoke up when racism, sexism or any other “ism” occurred.

And it’s not so simple as Thryn, another teen member of TVbyGIRLS pointed out. Thryn asked how we respond to a group that is trying to reclaim and defuse language…as in lesbian women and girls referring to themselves as ‘dykes’.

Your turn: What do you think is the best way to deal with derogatory remarks?

Photo taken by BotheredByBees

2010-02-20T20:54:00.000-08:00

Core girl, Saida, is off studying in Kenya. This photo captures it well.

2010-01-31T21:13:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the research show that the majority of teen girls are more afraid of becoming "fat" than of nuclear war, cancer or losing their parents.

the average american woman is 5'4" and weighs 140 pounds. The average model is 5'11" and weighs 117 pounds. Which do we think is normal? We think it is the model and so most people think they are fat and hopelessly so, which stops people from thinking healthy eating and exercise are doing something to help them.

what do you think?

2010-01-24T20:47:00.000-08:00

From Maddy- top picture is of the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall...two of the world's most sacred sites, Islam's Dome and Judaism's Wall...look how close they are. cool huh?

bottom picture is me with one of my farm families

2010-01-24T20:36:00.000-08:00

hey everyone,
we are now all a TWITTER...so girls, join as followers. and give us ideas of what to post. Poetry or a random thought works tooooo...

tweet tweet goes the beautiful bird.

b

2010-01-22T10:23:00.000-08:00

Core Girl Maddy has taken a year before college to go and work on organic farms in Italy, Spain, Israel and then--who knows. She has a great blog of her adventures and insights AND PICTURES. check it out!

http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Minnesota/Minneapolis/blog-435045.html

it is so cool.

2010-01-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

We've been working with girls in the WISE CHARTER SCHOOL in North Minneapolis. Barbara and Jen with the help of Hannah and Molly (on Fridays) work with 12 girls on THursday and Friday afternoons after school. Right now they are working on an emotion poem the made as a group: Here it is:
I am Angry
Angry is red and white and black shifting from one to another
It is the shape of a broken heart
And as big as your arms can stretch.
Angry smells bitter like vinegar
And when angry gets added in, it curdles and bubbles and changes everything around it.
It moves like an earthquake—slow at first and then destroying everything from the top down. Or a fast waterfall tumbling over everything.
Angry sounds like screaming.
It sounds like a building when it falls.
And What do I want to do with Angry?
- take it out and slam it on the ground.
- Let it calm down by leaving it alone
-: Wherever I found it, I feel like leaving it there.
-- I want to make angry happy by doing something fun
- I want anger to be a teacher to help me make the world better.

what emotion would you choose? what does it smell like. how does it move. what do you want to do with it?
=When I pull back the layers, I see angry is really afraid.

2009-07-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

We did a very fun workshop with Latina girls from Casa de Esperanza last night. Maddy and Hannah worked with me to teach and we went to Izzy's icecream afterwards to talk.

Hannah had some interesting thoughts about the stereotypes we have identified for the sections (she can go into it in more detail) . But in summary, she felt they were too soft. If what we are exploring is not the stereotype that everyone can say "oh, I know that is not true...not all Muslims want to kill me" but we are exploring the residue power that has on us in more subtle ways that result in us staying away from others...then maybe we need those stereotypes to be what stereotypes are: UGLY.

What would you not say out loud? That Christians are self-righteous and think I am going to hell because I don't agree with them? That Jews are trying to dominate the world and control all the money and don't care about what others need. That Atheists have no moral center and think I am stupid for believing in God.

worth thinking about and sharing your ideas...BEFORE friday at 9 a.m. Because that is when the Structure group is going to get together and write the open intro and interstitials.

So get your thoughts in to the blog.

b

2009-07-06T10:20:00.001-07:00

Great!!! Meetings yesterday. Such fantastic ideas and energy. Undercover is coming together with wonderful insights. This is an important program and you will all take it to the next step!

General update on the sections we worked on. Get more info on the blog

Structure group (Kirsten, Rachel, Maddy, Annie) NEXT MEETING: Friday, July 10 at 10:00 a.m. At Barbara's house to write script.
-talked about the core information that needed to introduce the program:
Who we are
Why we decided to do this
Visual introduction to the kind of thing we will see
Why these specific religions
Stepping into experiences (instead of staying away)

Basically came to the conclusion that while we may not believe the big stereotypes...really, the residue of that stereotype permeates our perceptions and hence we avoid these groups of people. Making it harder to get along and connect with each other.

In summary for each segment was:
Muslims are terrorists. We know that is not true, we don't believe the big hype...but we do feel they judge us and look foreign and scarey...so we stay away.

2. Jewish people are an exclusive club that is not easily accessible. They are stuck in the past and have these weird outdated rules. We don't want to offend so we stay away.

3. Christians are evangelical and want me to change. I feel judged so I stay away.

4. Atheists are very intellectual and all tied up in science. They think I am childish and stupid for believing differently than them. So I stay away.

The idea is that each section will have a iconic image to introduce each section while you hear girls voices saying the above ideas.

Muslim- Najma walking away from the camera in full hijab
Jewish- Maddy lighting Shabbath candles
Christian-a girl in a church reading a bible
Atheist-Kirsten at a chalk board or white board writing an equation.
"We wondered what would happen if you took God out of the equation"

Group decided that statistics didn't make sense-given the personal nature of the experiences. And to avoid other religions, since we don't have time to get into them. (Those can be included in the outreach). We will wait on the outro conclusion plan until we are a little further along.

The introduction piece will be framed around a little of the history. And will be the group shooting the interstitials...and talking directly to camera (or other interesting creative ways to introduce information—ie. A note on the log sheets, a line writing on the sidewalk in chalk, an email or text message, a phone call). This section will be fast fun and answer the questions that need to be set up. Who are we, what are we doing, why, how and why did we choose to focus on the sections we did.

Group will be getting together on FRIDAY, July 10 at 10:00 to work on the script and shot sheets for the intro and interstitials.
SHOOT DAY is scheduled for July 18...(the one day that both Maddy and Hannah are in town at the same time!). EVERYONE PLAN ON SHOOTING ON THIS DAY...it will be a full day.

MUSLIM section: Molly, Hannah, Kirsten, Maddy
The drive malfunctioned after falling off the coffee table. So this group did not view the material yet. We are loading a new drive today. We talked about not using much of the steps interviews but including the Iman’s interview, the interview with Suhra, the prayers and Ramadan and bedroom interviews (particularly with Saida and Najma) and then the experience of buying and wearing hijabs. Introduce what Islam means, the reason people wear the hijab, that it is a choice people make and that it identifies people as different and what that feels like. Do not think we need to shoot any more material.

JEWISH section: Maddy, Molly, Hannah
We want to open up the beginning of this to address some of the issues of What does being Jewish mean. Addressing the perceptions of separation and weird ancient rules that don’t make any sense. Then Why did we choose Shabbat as the activity. What is Shabbat. Experience the Shabbat-- Highlight the rules and how they shifted from confusing to comforting. End with Havdala and Saida’s reflection room. Include Fishman’s market, bedroom interviews, people on the streets, rabbi, etc.
Maddy will get more material on her hard drive today and the group will talk on Friday, July 10 and pass off the hard drive to Hannah and Molly for review and beginning edit on July 11-18... Then it gets passed back to Maddy for edit. Do not think we need to shoot anymore material.

So we are on our way. More soon.

2009-07-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Atheist group meeting.
Hannah, Molly, Kirsten, Anne and Rebecca met Sunday, July 5th.
Group please add more notes to blog. I will post this their as well in hopes to create a conversational component to this.)

First we talked about Unaffiliated and its really being separate from Atheism. They talked about asking the entire group about how it fits in. Maybe it is incorporated into every section. We shared that many of the interviews and people we spoke with about being unaffiliated still seemed to have a belief in god. We decided to shelf unaffiliated and request a group discussion. It would be great to get something going on the blog!

Hannah shared her experiences viewing the sequence and interviews. Her sense was that the next piece shot really needed to focus on community and connection. Kirsten added that in the other sections there is a real sense of sharing in an experience and that they needed to find a way to accomplish this in the Atheist section.
Everyone felt this could be done in the group coffee time and moved onto to discussing what people, what they, are interested in knowing about atheism. Rebecca will speak with Bjorn about joining their next gathering or creating our own.

Points that were brought up to discuss during our gathering:
What stories are in the news about Atheists? Where and what kind of information is the public getting? (Kirsten will research this and share with the group prior to our meeting)
Look at and talk to them about Atheists side of standing up for their beliefs. Talk about separation of church and state.
What is their feeling of religion as a whole?
Discuss the treatment they receive / what are the perceptions people have of Atheists.
Talk about community. We hear community discussed a lot in the context of religion and its meaning to people. And because Atheism is not a religion and does not have a central meeting place people seem to wonder why they would come together. Yet we know they do. We talked about humans, even the most introverted, needing social connections. The girls shared that their experience with Atheists (their peers who identify as Atheists) is that it feels individual and given there is no designated building icon, etc. What brings them together?
Do they share family gatherings, traditions/holidays... What events bring them together?
Talk about the convention and its purpose.
What do they enjoy about coming together?
What were their personal journeys? How did they come to this place, when did they know / identify as Atheists?
Where is Atheism around the world? (Molly will research this)

The idea is that this will be a real conversation/connection as opposed to an interview feeling. Questions will be loose and conversational. IT will be getting personal and sharing stories and an understanding.

They also discussed wanted to get a couple youth interviews. They are thinking about their peers to see if anyone who identifies as Atheist would be a good interview. Rebecca will also check with Bjorn to see if he could identify someone(s) for us.

Our hope is to get this completed ASAP. I will update after I speak with Bjorn regarding scheduling a video shoot.

Hannah passed the drive onto Annie to view.

2009-07-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

We had some really productive meetings yesterday. We created the outline for our intro and interstitials, which we will be shooting on July 18th. If you are a CG make sure you can be there! We need as many of us as possible to be there. And trust me, you won't want to miss it.

After a quick jump off Barbara's table, the Muslim section hard drive was making interesting noises and refusing to function. But don't worry, we have the footage on another drive. The Muslim section will be meeting again this Tuesday from 7-9pm and Friday starting at 4:30pm. The interstitial section will also be meeting on Friday, starting at 9am to script the intro and interstitials. For the Jewish section, we need the rest of the footage (bedroom interviews, Fishman's etc), but after we get that we have a clear plan for finishing and editing. Thankfully we don't need to shoot anymore.

So that's the update for now. I wasn't at the meeting for the Atheist section group, but I heard it went well.

2009-06-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

The final stage of Undercover making begins---the teams have their assignments and the first meetings are set up to refine the segments.
Everyone had a great discussion about stereotypes at our Sunday meeting. How can we share the stereotypes that permeate the culture we are in, shape our unconscious perceptions and not unjustly accuse people of close minded thinking. We don't want this project to be angry or elitist or easily written off as a liberal rant. The interstitial team is going to research finding subtle and not so subtle examples of limited thinking/stereotyping in the media...and we will try to have something for each section that addresses the preconceived notions (especially the ones we don't think we think!) as a lead in to each section.

the teams are:
Interstitial: Kirsten, Rachel, Maddy, Annie, Katie
Hijab/Muslim- Molly, Hannah, Kirsten, Maddy
Shabbat/Jewish-Maddy, Molly, Hannah, Jayzmine
Baptism/Christian-Kaisi, Rachel, Jayzmine, Katie
Atheist-Hannah, ANnie, Molly, Kirsten

Each team will view what we've done so far and then meet to discuss next steps:
July 5th meetings:
9a-10 a- Atheist group
10:30 a-12:p=Intro/interstitial group
1:00p-3:00 p- Hijab/Muslim group
3:30-5:30-Shabbat/Jewish group

Follow this blog to see the thoughts as the girls work...

2009-05-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

SUMMER CAMPS!

Check out our website (www.tvbygirls.tv) for information about our week-long camps this summer.

July 20th – 24th 9AM – 5PM
July 27th – 31st 9AM – 5PM
August 3rd– 7th 9AM – 5PM

Specialty weeks:
August 10th –14th 9AM – 5PM
Documentary video focus
August 17th –21st 9AM – 5PM
Spoke word / Poetry video focus
August 24th –28th 9AM – 5PM
Music video focus

2009-02-26T19:32:00.001-08:00

A mission....

If you have taken a workshop with us.... be it one hour, one day, several weeks or several years....
draw a picture or find images and create a collage that expresses what you “got out” of participating in our program. Visually express how you benefited from your time with us and how you’ve changed because of it.

Then post it here or email it to me: rebecca@tvbygirls.tv

Thanks!

-Rebecca

2009-02-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

Tonight we went to the Minnesota Women's Lawyers Association Girl Empowerment event. It was fantastic.

2008-11-17T12:27:00.001-08:00

This video is amazing! It will brighten your day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBjLW5_dGAM

2008-10-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

Remembering Laney

We were shocked and saddened by the recent loss of our friend, Laney. Her struggle with Lupus was not an easy one. Still, she remained strong and with great spirit, spunk and creativity. She is an inspiration to us all. I feel very fortunate to have shared time with her in our TVbyGIRLS creations and am very happy that she became a part of our TVBG's family.

I am so thankful for all the amazing people who have entered my life because of connections through TVbyGIRLS. I have gotten to watch and be a part of so many young women's lives as they find their places and develop their voices. I have had the opportunity to support, to encourage and to hold close to my heart, so many who are helping to shape this world.

I am thankful to Laney for her courage, dedication and loving heart.

My thoughts are with her family, especially her Mom, Elaine and sister, Simone. I feel the loss of a friend,and a young, young, woman, very deeply. However, as a mother, I can only imagine the deep, deep, devastation one feels in loosing a child. Sending love and thoughts......

-Rebecca

2008-09-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

An exercise.

The girls have been busy working on Undercover and we have had a lot of meetings over the past few weeks. Many of which have been very intellectual conversations, plans and discoveries. They have also been busy conducting interviews... people on the street as well as experts.

We decided to mix it up a bit at our last meeting and give the girls an opportunity to go out, with a camera, and do some evocative self searching and shooting.
Using the elements: Fire, Water, Earth and Air we had them find a location that connected to each element. Once there they opened an envelope we had given them with questions. A different question for each element.

1. What does it mean to belong? What does it mean to not belong?
2. What does connecting feel like?
What do you connect to and why?
3. How do you see God/spiritual power?
4. How do you find opening? What does it feel like?
5. What does fear feel like?

They were to find a way to use the elements (fire/light, water, air and earth) to first Meditate and listen for an answer. And then create a visual response.

They were very silent as well as very animated. Maddy, Rachel, Kirsten and Kaisi... share with us what the experience was like.....
What did you notice? How did this process help you? What did you learn about yourself?
What were your challenges? How did you succeed?

We'll post some of their video from this shoot soon.

Feel free to give this a try yourself. Our questions were in connection to the girls work on Undercover. A way to explore as well as acquire some evocative images as b-roll. You might choose questions like:

What strength of mine never fails to create miracles?
What is a strength I have that takes all my courage to access?
What strength of mine is waiting to emerge?

Give it a try and let us know how it goes!

2008-08-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

You MUST see American Teen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqDG4UDeFoQ

2008-07-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

I cam across this short film and thought it was very interesting and quite relevant to what we've been talking about: fear of the unknown and of differences. The most interesting part to me was that there was no dialogue and no official statement or explanation of the film's meaning, so you get to draw your own conclusions. I had some pretty strong emotions watching it and I'm really curious to see what you all think.

http://www.youtube.com/v/RpjHSiQLPmA&hl=en

2008-07-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is going to be kind of a sacreligious post (no pun intended having to do with Undercover). TVbyGirls tends to be rooted in media. I know that we know and value other ways to communicate, but, for example, the whole point of having this blog is to be communicating with the world via this newfangled medium of digital communications and internet. However, during the summer, I find myself really not wanting to spend time on the computer (an excuse - although not a very good one - for not blogging as often). Even when it's awful and hot and sticky outside, I don't want to waste time - that could otherwise be spent with friends or nature or both - sitting in front of a screen. I am wondering if anyone feels the same, and how much time (on average) each of you spend on the computer or watching TV or playing video games every day. Does it change between the summer and the school/ work year?

2008-06-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

So… at our last meeting some of you were asking me about Christianity and I told you that basically, Christianity boils down to 2 things: Love Jesus and Love People. (To me, that’s what the cross symbolizes – one beam reaching up to God and one beam reaching out to people.) Some of you asked how it could be this easy and it does seem easy but it isn’t. Not really. The thing is, unlike what TV, our friends, and popular culture says, the word “love” is not a feeling. It is a verb – an action verb – active - requiring and demanding action. And, Christianity (again, contrary to what some people calling themselves Christians act like) Christianity is based on the belief that we are all jerks and idiots – all of us. We all screw up and guilty of sin but God loves us anyway.

There is no way that we can earn our way to heaven or atone enough for our screw-ups via sacrifices (ala Old Testament) or good deeds or whatever. So… God sent His Son - perfectly sinless, innocent and blameless, to take the punishment and be the sacrifice that would atone for us. All we have to do is accept it. I’m sure you have all seen people carrying signs at sporting events that says John 3:16 on them. That verse says that “God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son so that all who believe in him might not perish but have everlasting life.” Well…. The thing is, if you keep reading, it gets better. It says that the thing is, that it is not the fact that we love God that is so important, it is that He loves us. And, he does. He hates the sin but loves the sinner. And… He commands us to love (and forgive like He has forgiven us) all people – friends and enemies. Murderers and saints. All sins are equal under God’s eyes. So… yea… someone who cheats on their taxes or lies to their parents or writes their name on someone else’s homework assignment is no different than a prostitute, or a bank robber or a murderer or a pedophile. And, even though those actions are all sin, we are to still show everyone God’s love. (Okay… Tell me again that’s easy!?)

Part of the problem and differences in Christianity is this. How do you show God’s love? Well… to some people, they read the Bible and decide people should act a certain way and spend a lot of time/energy loudly asserting this. The problem is…. Is this love? The people doing would say yes. But I think God would not be so worried about body piercings and tattoos as much as he would be worried about urban decay. I don’t think God would be as offended by your language when you tell someone that conditions at a homeless shelter are “crappy” as He would be offended by the conditions at the homeless shelter. I think whatever religion you are, it is important to think about what is God really saying – what are His rules – and what rules are made up by human beings. Anyway… Philip Yancey had a great visual book (you can borrow it if you want!) called “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” that shows is in a visual way what Christianity – true Christianity, not the distorted-by-human-beings-who-know-everything-and-are-better-than-you Christianity - is all about. Some of it is on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybS2Hf19sSk

2008-06-12T08:43:00.001-07:00

To preface, this is partly in response to Casey's last post, but it was kind of long to put as a comment :)... I would agree that Clinton and Obama are treated differently by the media and general public. While sexism may play a role, I think the enthusiasm for Obama comes more from the way he holds himself. If both were men, people would still like Obama more because Hillary Clinton is seen as stiff and cold (be it true or not)whereas Obama seems to be a more gentle, yet strong character.

One of the things the WHP talked about is that femininity isn't based on gender, but more on characteristics of personality. Men who have feminine characteristics often bear the brunt of sexism. Marie Wilson, commented that in this election Obama was the women -- based on those characteristics. So when she says she wants a women in office it is reffering to "women characteristics". I think this is really interesting to discuss and for more info go to http://www.newsweek.com/id/115397?from=rss

Thanks

2008-06-11T19:12:00.001-07:00

TVbyGIRLS Kirsten and Greatest Girls partner Jean, on KSTP's TWIN CITIES LIVE!

2008-06-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

Okay - I still intend to answer the other blog Q's soon - it's been kind of busy. Besides all the end of school stuff (BTW I was voted 'Most Likely to Travel the World,' and 'Most Likely to Suceed.' - which apparently must be the same as "Surprise! We do know you're alive!" Because that's what it feels like sometimes.) My gramma got into a bad car accident and cracked her sternum, bruised her lungs and broke her foot, my mom's aunt got brain cancer and my brother's best friend was hit by a car. (If my family was Native American and did winter counts this would be the moon of the medical maladies.) So... anyway, now everyone is okay and I can get on with blogging. :-)

Anyway... I ran across this article about this media/advertising experiment today and wondered what you all thought. I am kind of thinking about the Democratic primary races and the impact of YouTube etc on the whole thing. If you go into YouTube and Search, nearly every video about Hilary Clinton is derogatory, sterotyped and sexist while all those about Obama are cool and hip (even if they don't say anything.) Any videos that appear to criticize him are flagged as racist and have mostly been removed. So...I'm not sure exactly what I'm asking. Kind of... Why is it okay (socially acceptable) to be sexist (ala freedom of speech) but it is not okay (Socially acceptable) to be racist? Why has no one flagged the Clinton videos as sexist and asked for their removal? And, If people had made cool hip videos about Hilary CLinton do you think the outcome would have been different? Or, is that the people each candidate is attracting? ie. Clinton followers are not cool, hip and media savvy?

Also... I would be interested in what you think about this experiment. I am really curious how many people fall for it and stuff.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25006813/

Anyway... I'm off to the mall for now. Have a great 1st day of summer vacation!

2008-05-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

The school year is coming to a close, girls.

Thoughts as you progress into the summer and on to school next year?

What are you looking forward to in the future?

What were your favorite parts of this year?

What are you most glad to be finished with?

How did you grow?

What did you learn?

Any advice for others?

2008-05-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

"Black studets are far more likely to be suspended from school then their white classmates -- and MN's disparity in suspensions is twice the national average. What's the cause? What are the consequences?"My dad gave me this article to read, because the main story has to do with a kid from my school which i happen to know and I happen to be friends with. So i think you should check out the slideshow or atleast the headline on the newspaper from sunday..http://www.startribune.com/slideshows/19019659.html?location_refer=Slideshows
All of this leads you to ask questions. Why are the black students getting suspended more? && is this problem for better or worse? And also what can we do to stop it? What can teachers do to stop it and what can students && the community can do to stop this. It's a list of questions that will never end?

2008-05-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

Here's the commercial we watched in our monthly meeting yesterday.
Is it worth adding that the little girl, 10, is also on a soap opera? I don't know.
So what do you think?
Most who spoke up were offended, disgusted... outraged.
Now, what action should TVbyGIRLS take to say this is not acceptable?

2008-04-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Seeing women directing film

Okay, I graduated from MCAD and sadly some of what I experienced there felt like a direct reflection of the outside production world. Film is a male-dominated industry.
And that is not to say men are making all the choices, there are many women making choices in the industry and in some ways that makes it harder for me to accept.
Still, like with everything, it is about who you know. It is developed in a manner that is supportive of men, and really difficult for women.

Women in the production world are encouraged to be producers not directors or cinematographers. And if they go into these roles they are presented with many challenges; a crew who questions their direction and voice as well as criticism, much like we see with the current election and words regarding Hillary Clinton. Her hair, her clothes, a tear???
Is it that the people making the choices to hire/elect a woman in any role (director, president, board, instructor...) are so accustomed to the male perspective
that they can’t relate to something else? I’m not sure. But I am not willing to accept it.

I know it is difficult but I also know, thankfully, that there are hundreds of women out there doing it.
I think we should spend more time acknowledging and celebrating the work of women who are creating and trudging through. In the process of doing this we create positive role models.

As we all know, media is a very important form of storytelling and has become a way to connect in our culture . How can this connection be an authentic one if it is not represented by both genders as well as all races? It is critical that the number of women directors, presidents, board members, etc. are heard as well as recognized.

I remember reading an article once about Martha Coolidge, president of the Directors Guild of America. She talked about how discouragement starts in film school. She went to NYU’s film school in the 70’s and when she applied she was told she couldn’t be a director because she was a woman. Of course she was accepted and has since directed at least 40 works!

Maybe you are thinking, this was 30 years ago. But we are still seeing/hearing it happen. No, I do not know the protocol or selection process for the 13 directors selected for the class at MCAD. But I also don’t think it matters. We need to see a representation of both genders as well as all races. We each have a different story to share and in different ways. Not all women directors make “women” films and not all men make films about shooting and sex. I am tired of hearing about all the male prodigies, Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson... So let’s start celebrating female directors... And in honor of the MCAD class and the time frame or 1980 to present, I will reply to this post with some women directors from 1980 – 1995, many who continue their work today!

Missions:

Pick a director from the list and find a work sample and a bit of information on her to post on the blog for discussion. Share the knowledge.

Compose a letter to MCAD... Maybe Amalia, as a current student, could help with the deeper exploration on this. Think about a piece you might make to explore these issues.

Take action, take action, take action!!
There are a lot of discussions happening but what are actions you can take???

2008-04-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

MSNBC.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cops say copycat beating hits 12-year-old
Plot inspired by Florida scheme to videotape, post online beating, cops say
The Associated Press
updated 11:40 a.m. CT, Sat., April. 19, 2008
CLARKSVILLE, Ind. - A group of southern Indiana middle school girls videotaped the beating of a 12-year-old schoolmate and posted it on the Internet in an attack that authorities believe was inspired by a similar one in Florida, police said.

No charges have been filed and police said they have not yet interviewed all the girls, ages 12-14, who are students at Clarksville Middle School. The girls' identities were not released because they are juveniles.

The victim, who was treated for cuts and bruises at a hospital, was the daughter of a police officer, Police Chief Dwight Ingle said.

Police said the girls lured the victim to a parking lot near a warehouse in the town just north of Louisville, Ky., on April 12 and beat her. The violence was videotaped and later posted on the video-sharing Web site PhotoBucket, Ingle said, but it has since been removed.

The video begins with one girl arguing with the victim and escalates into a fight during which the 12-year-old is repeatedly hit in the head as other girls watch and laugh, police said.

Detective Darrell Rayborn said Thursday that police believe the plot was inspired by a similar scheme in which a group of teenage girls in central Florida posted online the videotaped beating of a 16-year-old victim. Parts of that video have been widely seen on TV and Youtube.

Clarksville school Superintendent Stephen G. Fisher said he did not anticipate disciplinary action against the students because the fight did not occur on school grounds.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24213332/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MSN Privacy . Legal
© 2008 MSNBC.com

2008-04-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

Last night at dinner, my dad told me about a new class at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) where he teaches and where we often meet for TVbyGIRLS. The course will be offered in the fall and is entitled "Great American Directors: The 80s to the present." Sounds like a good class, right? But here's what got him angry and which will probably also anger you: Out of the list of 13 directors that will be examined in depth in the course, directors like Quentin Tarantino, Alexander Payne and Clint Eastwood, there is not one woman! It might be understandable in a course about early filmmaking to only include male directors. But in a class about film from the 80s to the present, leaving out women directors is just unacceptable.

2008-04-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

Okay... I know I'm not blogkeeper or whatever any more but... I am perplexed! My birthday is coming up and becasue we had a coupon for 50% off an item at Michael's for this week, I got to pick out my gift last night. So... I got a really nice easel I can minimize to use on a tabletop or take outside. Along with that, I wanted to get an artist's manikin. So... we went to go get one and guess what. If you want to buy a 12" wooden manikin of a female figure it costs $9.99. If you want to buy a 12" wooden manikin (same wood, same brand) of a male figure, it costs $16.99. What's the deal? Gender discrimination in art supplies??? Does anybody have any idea at all why this might like this? I could understand a maybe a dollar difference - maybe but almost twice the price? I think this sends the message that men are worth more than women. What do you think? Does anybody have any ideas why this might be?

2008-04-14T18:37:00.001-07:00

I am trying to embed the video again. Hope this helps.

2008-04-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

When I saw this I wondered, what could have caused such brutality? What are your opinions? If people do this just because of a small dispute, what would they do if it was larger? I'm currious about what you think.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24082730#%2324085098

2008-04-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

Did you hear about kids being strip searched at school? What do you think? Do you think police should be doing this instead of school officals? Do you think they should have parental permission? What are your thoughts?

2008-04-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

ok...the question is:

how do you feel when you disagree but DON"T say anything. honestly. try it once for real and then report back.

2008-04-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

Okay.. the baton has been passed to me... So, yea. Based on Maddy's question and the responses to it...do you ALWAYS have to respond when someone is forcefully excerpting their own opinions? IS IT an ethical obligation to respond immediately all the time no matter what? I mean, I responded about why I sometimes don't speak up but it doesn't mean I never speak up. It was just why, when I choose not to respond, I don't. You can't possibly speak up about EVERTHING because you would get totally depressed! Isn't it more effective sometimes to let it go and then later, when the person isn't so passionate, speak up about how you feel?

Anyway... I think speaking up is more than what happens on a one to one basis. It is how we use our talents - whether that is speaking out verbally, writing or, like what we do with TVbyGirls, making videos - to educate other people about other opinions and facts they may not have considered. Also, a lot of times speaking seriously about topics is ineffective because people are conditioned to stop listening when the conversation gets serious. I think sometimes other approaches can be much more effective, like a video or like through using comedy etc. Check out what John Roy does with serious issues that he feels obligated to speak up about. I am interested in what you think.

Copy & paste this into your browser http://johnroylive.com/ click on download clips and watch the one from the Tonight Show - that's my favorite.

2008-03-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

This is a general question that kind of relates to Undercover. I have noticed that when someone says a really strong opinion, people who disagree tend to either very strongly oppose it/argue, or they will not voice their full opinion and try to downplay the difference of opinion. I am more interested in the second reaction. Why do you think people can be more soft-spoken and passive even about something they disagree about when faced with someone who has a strongly opposite view? Have you ever been in this position?

2008-03-17T17:59:00.000-07:00

To spin off what Kirsten said: it is interesting to see how people react to you wearing a hijab. She got reactions from people she didn't know. I got reactions from people I knew. So since everyone is so jazzed up about facebook, who would feel comfortable putting a picture of yourself wearing your hijab as your profile picture? If you feel comfortable doing it, change your picture and let us know people's reactions. If not, explain why you don't feel comfortable having this as your picture. If you don't have a facebook, feel free to throw in any comment you want about this idea.

2008-03-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I am going to pull a maddy here and post something out of turn. sorry!!! Just wanted to share an experience i had yesterday.

As i was going home from our undercover shoot yesterday, we stopped for food, and at that point i still had my hijjab on and looked as muslim as a girl with white skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes can. As we walked into the place there was an almost immediate change in atmosphere.... it was really interesting.... i cant explain it. I sort of experienced what Hannah and Molly did. At first when we sat down I was getting a lot of not-so-respectful looks from mostly white men in more dressy clothing and a little more subtly suspicious looks from the women with them. My parents noticed it to. Then our server came up, all smiles and hellos and all of a sudden all the hostility was gone. Everyone went back to eating and talking and i even got a few smiles from people when leaving. I think its safe to say our conjecture about one person changing their attitude can affect the attitude of the entire establishment.... or whatever it may be.

=] Thoughts? Comments?

I think this is a good thing.

2008-03-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

Hello all... This is a really interesting story about societal influences on gender and self image/esteem. It is a really good, and short read... so when you get a chance, read it! :) I think, although fiction, it truthfully portrays the society we live in...

X: A Fabulous Child's Story -- by Lois Gould © 1972

http://trans-man.org/baby_x.html

2008-03-13T06:07:00.000-07:00

I know it's not my turn on the blog, but there I just had to write about this. I was listening to MPR this morning, and they were talking about an investigation of Saddam Hussein's government and how it had supported many terrorists. They made some reference to "uniting Muslims for jihad". This made me so sad and angry, because the last thing the Muslin community needs are those kinds of comments that imply that all Muslin people would want to unite and be terrorists together. It reminded me why we are doing undercover: to show that "Muslim" and "terrorist" are not interchangeable words. We know that this isn't true, and that Muslims around the world contribute really valuable, beautiful things to their communities. This is what the world needs to know.

2008-03-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

So, alot of the topics we've discussed (on this blog and in person) come back to how we percieve ourselves and how the media alters our self image. I found a book, I think is really great in helping promote a positive self image. Body Drama takes a really interesting approach to making women and girls feel comfortable in our own skin, answering questions about our body and promoting all types of people. It eliminates myths and shows us real women. I think it's worth reading "You’d think a Miss America swimsuit winner would feel completely confident about her body, right? Not always! So I decided to write the book I wish I’d had as a teen and in college—an honest, funny, practical, medically accurate, totally reassuring guide to how women’s bodies actually look, smell, feel, behave, and change. Alongside real-deal photographs of women just like you and me (no airbrushing, no supermodels, no kidding) you’ll find medical pictures of things you need to be able to recognize, true confessions by yours truly, and the encouragement you need to appreciate the uniqueness, strength, and beauty of your body. What are you waiting for?"—Nancy Redd " What do you think about this kind of media?

2008-03-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I am thrilled because this is election year. I have been watching the debates, debating others about which candidates rock, and watching political adds. The now infamous Clinton 3am add was particularly interesting to me. I know we have always talked about how people use images to convey strong feelings and emotions -- but here was a perfect example of a politician using this technique! Also, this is no indite on the ability of Clinton to lead the U.S. (almost every politician has done this -- remember Huckabee's Christmas add?) Here's the URL for the Clinton add if you have not seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M70emIFxETs
I wondered what you all think about this political tactic...

2008-03-03T19:34:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure how many of you have given this topic much thought or experience but I was wondering what you thought about relationships and what we call them. There're a lot of terms thrown around: boyfriend, friends with benefits, best friends, acquaintances, hook ups.... Remember "We Don't Let Label's Stick?" I almost think it's sort of like that. I've given it some thought and I feel that these labels are unnecessary and often harmful. Every relationship is different and it's foolish to put a person or two people into an invented category where they don't fit. That's my opinion. What do you think?

2008-02-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

"There is in every serious friendship a trove of confidences. Secrets is too mean a word, because it is not merely the facts that require proper handling. It is the way those facts relate to the friend, the emotional context in which they were buried, the moment in which they were told. We think we will be weakened by giving away each one, but with every trade, we feel stronger, knowing that a burden has passed out of our keeping and into the hands of someone we trust." ~Ivo Stourton

2008-02-25T13:06:00.000-08:00

Let's mix it up. Here's something fun you can share: favourite movie of the year. And once someone lists their favourite movie and explains why, you have to pick a new one.

I'll start.

I'm going to steal this one even though I know everyone else will want it and it may seem cliche. My favourite film of the year was Juno and it makes me really angry that everyone in the entire world, practically, fell in love with that movie. I kind of wanted it to be my movie. But here's why I like it. I felt that it appealed to many audiences. I saw it with a bunch of my female friends. Then I took two of my guy friends to see it on different occasions. Everyone was pleased. People got different things out of it. It was superbly-crafted and I gleaned new wonders out of it every time I saw it. (3 times so far!) So the cinematography and directing was excellent. The script, of course, was golden and Minnesota-born. I'm proud. The music was spot-on even if the songs were a little folky. I got into it. And of course the acting was perfect. I really have not a sore thing to say about this film. The best thing about Juno is that it is humorous but not without a great amount of depth. To put it simply, Juno was very real. I laughed for the first 70 minutes of it and cried for the last 20. You can't get much better than that.

Your turn.

2008-02-18T16:15:00.001-08:00

So this may be an overdone topic but I figure I'll see what my favourite girls have to say about it. That means you. I'm wondering what you think of the frequent objectification and disrespect of women portrayed in popular music, especially rap and hip hop. I am a big fan of hip hop and listen to it frequently. I try to listen to artists like Kanye West and other lesser known artists whose work, I feel, is more respectful toward women (not always, mind you). Examples of lyrics I noticed just today while riding in the car with a friend. These are somewhat explicit just so you know:

"You got me so hypnotized / The way your body rolling round and round / that booty keep bumping, boobies just bouncin up and down." ~ "Hypnotized" by Plies

"Imma say that I prefer them no clothes / I'm into that, I love women exposed." ~ "Low" by Flo Rida

"Because she mine, and so fine / Thick as can be ... In her mind she fantasize about gettin wit me" ~"Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown

Thoughts?

2008-01-18T12:07:00.000-08:00

2007-12-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

U.s. House Salutes Christmas and Christianity, But 9 Vote -No

12/13/2007
Religion Desk - 651-631-5000
CAPITOL HILL (AP) _ The U.S. House has passed a resolution ``Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith''
-- but it wasn't unanimous.
The measure was approved by a vote of 372-to-9, with all of the ``no'' votes cast by Democrats.
A similar resolution recognizing the importance of Ramadan and the Islamic faith was passed unanimously in October.
The 9 votes against the Christmas resolution were cast by Gary Ackerman and Yvette Clarke of New York; Diana Degette of Colorado; Alcee Hastings of Florida; Jim McDermott of Washington; Bobby Scott of Virginia; and Barbara Lee, Pete Stark and Lynn Woolsey of California.
This press release was published on 13 Dec 2007. For more information, please contact Religion Desk - 651-631-5000

I think it is interesting that the resolution recognizing the importance of the Muslim faith passed unanimously while there were 9 people who voted against the importance of the Christian Faith. I also think it is interesting that it doesn't mention any resolution recognizing the importance of Hannakah and the Judaic Faith. I also wonder why they did this? Was it a Public Relations thing? Or...??? With the war, and housing crisis and Disaster areas and underfunded things, why are they passing resolutions commending religions at all? I know the separation of CHurch and state is NOT in the constitution - it is in a letter Jefferson wrote to a Baptist church but still. If that is what there practice is then shouldn't it be consistent? I don't know. Maybe I am reading too much into this? What do you think?

2007-11-02T14:28:00.001-07:00

Girls' Halloween costumes are looking more like they were designed by Victoria's Secret every year. Are we prudes or is this practically kiddie porn?
By Matthew Philips

Apparently, witches aren't ugly anymore; they're sexy. So are pirates and pumpkins and princesses--traditional little girl Halloween costumes that used to say, Isn't she cute? now scream, That's hot! with an increasing array of halter tops, bare midriffs and miniskirts. Costume catalogs and Websites, filled with images of pouty preteens modeling the latest in Halloween fashion, seem almost to verge on child pornography, and ooze with attitude.
Witches are "wayward" and grammar-school pirates are "wenches." A girl isn't an Army cadet, she's a "Major Flirt," and who knew female firefighters wore fishnet stockings? Even Little Bo Peep comes with a corset, short skirt and lacy petticoat.
And while complaints about "slutty" kids' costumes may seem like a yearly parents' lament, the industry has been ramping up the sex appeal to ever younger groups of girls. It's not just 10- and 12-year-olds who have gone Halloween trampy. Now 6- and 7-year-old models are featured in catalogs wearing child-sized versions of skimpy costumes that used to be reserved for adult boudoirs. If you think we're exaggerating, note that they're actually selling something called a "Child's Chamber Maid Costume." And, many of the tween girls in the photographs are wearing more make-up than Christina Aguilera on awards night. More disturbing may be their expressions--they look as if they've been told to give the camera their best "sexy" gaze. Tack on all the licensed outfits from popular TV shows and toy lines like
Cheetah Girls, Bratz and Hannah Montana, and parents are having to search farther a field for something that won't make their little trick-or-treater look like a lady of the night. But with adolescent girls parading around in short-shorts that say JUICY across the bottom, and every younger girls aspiring to be a diva of some sort, is it any wonder that their Halloween costumes have gotten racier? "No, but it is distressing," says Joe Kelly, founder of the advocacy group Dads and Daughters. He sees the trend as symptomatic of a deeper issue. "The hypersexualization of younger and younger girls only serves to reinforce gender roles. When an 8-year-old girl
can't find a doctor costume because all they have are nurse outfits, that's a problem." Celia Rivenbark, author of the 2006 parental manifesto "Stop Dressing your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank," has noticed it too, and says that Halloween has become "just another excuse for little girls to dress like sluts."

This year Americans will spend close to $2 billion on Halloween costumes, nearly double what they spent in 2003, according to the National Retail Federation. With so much money up for grabs, more and more retailers have elbowed their way into the costume market, increasing the pressure to offer a unique take on old favorites. "The idea of vamping up the appeal of the costume is something we've seen a lot of," says NRF spokesperson Kathy Grannis. So while the variety of costumes has certainly increased, they all look more and more alike. Whether it's a "Midnight Fairy Rock Girl," a "Scar-let Pirate" or "Miss-Behaved," chances are if you buy your daughter
the costume she really wants, the one all the other little girls are wearing, she'll show up at the neighbor's doorstep in a choker collar, high-heels and baring enough skin to give you a real fright.
These new "edgier" costumes are simply reflections of pop culture, says Jackie MacDonald, a costume buyer for catalog giant Lillian Vernon. "Girls today seem to like a little pizzazz. The same old princesses aren't where it's at anymore," she says, before carefully noting, "We don't want to say they're sexier, just more confident."
Not that there's anything patently wrong with young girls wanting to look pretty. Child psychologists agree that embracing and understanding their attractiveness is a key part of early-adolescent development for girls. But when sexiness and body image become the sole criteria by which they judge themselves and each other, "That's when we start to see problems," says Dr. Eileen Zurbriggen, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who last year chaired the American Psychological Association's (APA) Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Their report, issued in February, declared that, "Throughout U.S. culture, and particularly in mainstream media, women and girls are depicted in a sexualized manner." That shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone who's watched TV or thumbed through a magazine in the last 50 years. But what might be news is the increasing evidence of the negative impact an overemphasis on body image has on girls' lives. The APA task force's team of psychologists linked oversexualization with three of the most common mental health problems for women 18 and older: eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression. And there is evidence that the effect is trickling down the age brackets.
"Clinicians are reporting that younger and younger girls are presenting with eating disorders and are on diets," says Zurbriggen. Dr. Sharon Lamb, also on the APA task force, has recently coauthored a book, "Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters From Marketing Schemes," which includes a chapter devoted solely to sexy Halloween costumes. Lamb points out that most Web sites selling kids Halloween costumes divide merchandise along gender lines, and typically offer more choices for boys than girls (boys get to be doctors, police officers as well as gory monsters and "Star Wars" characters). Of the 22 girl costumes featured on one Web site Lamb looked at, 15 were cheerleaders, divas and rock stars. "That really limits girls' imaginations," says Lamb, who surveyed 600 young girls for the book, many of whom admitted to dressing up as something sexy for Halloween in order to get attention. Of course this not the kind of attention most parents want for their pre-teen daughters. But how do you compromise with a kid who's begging to be a saucy witch when all you want to do is go back to the days when she wanted to be a lion cub or a Teletubby? There's no easy answer for that question.
But even if you can't talk her into a Hillary Clinton pantsuit, you might be able to convince her that real pirates wear pants.

So, TVbyGIRLS gals and viewers, what do you think? All of these below outfits come in sizes as small as 4 - 6 yrs.
Outfits labeled with titles like: Miss Behaved Child Costume, Devil Grrrl Child Costume, Sweetheart Bat Costume, Major Flirt and others.....

2007-09-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

Quick Q - Have any of you participated in the Future Cities Competition for National Engineering Week? I am just curious what you thought of it. I am doing this with my school and IT ROCKS! The focus of the competition and future city design is addressing how nanotechnology and sensor systems can be used to address and prevent deficiencies in infrastructure. I am developing my own opinion regarding the infrastructure but ... I was curious if any of you have ever thought about the implications of nanotechnology to society and also what it could do for the film industry if anyone applied it.

Have a great day!

Casey

2007-09-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hello.

My Grandpa has been in intensive care at Mercy hospital this past week (Yup 6 days in ICU.) They thought he may have had a stroke but it turns out he has Encaphalitis - a virus that infects and attacks your brain. Crazy, huh. Apparently the same virus that causes cold sores attacks the brains of 1 -2 people out of a million in the US each year. And, this form of Encaphalitis is the deadliest form. It kills 35% of the people who get it and seems that half the people who survive have permanent brain damage and half who survive are just fine. He is doing pretty well right now - considering (He was moved out of ICU and into a normal room in neurology) but if anybody feels inclined to say a prayer I would appreciate it.

The link to the website we set up to keep people updated on how he is is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/normmarohn.

Casey

2007-09-03T08:24:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! I've been feeling really out of the loop since I missed the last meeting...what's going on with Undercover now??

2007-08-23T10:53:00.001-07:00

I want to apologize for getting on here so late and to attempt to make up for that, I have a podcast that I wish to share with you. So it's not "mine" or anything but a friend introduced it to me, and it has since become a source of inspiration and free entertainment. Head to iTunes and search "IndieFeed." There are several different IndieFeed Podcasts including Hip Hop, Indie Pop, Blues, etc. But the one that I subscribe to is "Performance Poetry." This stuff is lyrical, it is is brilliant, it is deep, it is true, it is hilarious, it is heartbreaking and most of all it is mindblowing. Even if you don't consider yourself a poet or interested in poetry, I strongly urge you to step out of the box and listen to a few. They will change your life. No joke. I can recommend some of my favourites if you're interested.

And yes, it is EXPLICIT so be aware, there is no skimping on F-bombs or thematic material. But this is one of the few instances where I think the language is completely necessary and appropriate...well not appropriate...but you know what I mean.

Anyway, check it out.

2007-08-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

I think we had a really great meeting yesterday. I want to thank everyone who was there for being so open and willing to discuss their feelings on some touchy issues. I think that that is a big part of what we are about, and it's very brave. It's also something that not many people do very often.

2007-08-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

In doing research for Behind Bullies, I found a group called Bullying Prevention is Crime Prevention and they say that kids who are bullied are 5 times more likely to suffer from depression. Bullied boys are 4 times as likely to be suicidal and bullied girls are 8 times as likely to be suicidal. The Centers for Disease Control say suicide numbers have tripled since 1960 and that around 2,000 kids in the USA commit suicide each year. Suicide caused by bullying is so common they are now calling it Bullycide. A study done by the US Secret Service and the Dept of Education in 2002 that said interviews with 41 school shooters in 37 incidents showed that more than 2/3 of the shooters had been bullied and that their attacks were planned to get revenge. Yet, a study done by the National Mental Health and Education Center found that of teachers 25% see nothing wrong with bullying or putdowns and that these teachers intervened in less than 4% of the bullying incidents they witnessed.

Why are people satisfied shaking their heads and yapping about how awful it is? Why aren't people working to stop this?

Check out the article in today's Star Tribune at http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1359584.html (Or, read it below)

3 Wisconsin teens plead no contest in bomb plot

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Three teens accused of helping to plan a Columbine-like attack on a high school pleaded no contest today in separate plea agreements.
William Cornell, 18, pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit homicide, possession of explosives for unlawful purposes and possession of a short-barreled shotgun.
Shawn Sturtz, 18, pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit homicide, while Bradley Netwal, 19, pleaded no contest to conspiracy to damage property with explosives.
The three were accused of making bombs and collecting guns to carry out the attack at the northeastern Wisconsin school. They were arrested last fall after a fourth teen, who was not charged, told an associate principal at East High School about the plot.
Prosecutors say the three teens wanted revenge for bullying and other problems they had at school. Cornell and Sturtz had long been fascinated by the April 1999 Columbine massacre in Littleton, Colo., in which two students armed with guns, knives and bombs killed 12 classmates and a teacher before killing themselves, police said.
Each had charges dropped against them as part of plea deals. Brown County District Attorney John Zakowski dropped a charge of conspiracy to damage property with explosives against Cornell; a charge of conspiracy to commit homicide against Netwal and a charge of conspiracy to damage property with explosives against Sturtz.
He recommended eight years in prison and 12 years of supervision for Cornell, two years in prison and three years of supervision for Netwal and four and a half years in prison and five and a half years of supervision for Sturtz. Sentencing dates were set for October.
The three teens began planning the assault on their school two to three years before they were arrested, prosecutors said. Netwal, a 2006 graduate, and Cornell told detectives they made jellied gasoline for a fire bomb.
Police said they found nine rifles and shotguns, a handgun, about 20 "crudely made" explosive devices, camouflage clothing, gas masks, two-way radios and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at Cornell's house. At Sturtz's home, they found knives and ammunition.
The plot included setting off bombs by school toilets and throwing jars of burning homemade napalm at doors so students couldn't get out and more people would be hurt, Sturtz told investigators. Netwal told police he went along with the plan because he didn't want his friends to think he was a coward.

2007-08-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

My uncle Keith drove over the bridge 15 minutes or so before it collapsed. My aunt Stephanie worked late and missed it otherwise she would have been on it. A family friend was there about 5 minutes after it happened. Most of you live closer to this tragedy than I do. Are all of you and your families and friends okay?

2007-07-28T07:22:00.001-07:00

I just saw an article from Newsweek, and it made me think a lot about undercover. I also saw Saida down at the U when I was wating for my bus, and I sent her the link. We were both so excited that such mainstream media was doing a positive-themed story about Islamic people. The cover story and special focus of this week's issue is about Islam in the US. It profiled some really interesting Islamic people. Here is the link on the Newsweek website: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19876834/site/newsweek/

2007-07-27T06:36:00.001-07:00

Hello!

You all missed an interesting evening last night at the Walker Art Center's TCYMN screening. (Siblings screened and the audience thought performances by Hannah and Jonah were especially awesome. They got huge laughs and sighs and chattering as people said things like "I remember doing that" or "That is just like my brother!") The films were visually interesting (although the drug addicted suicidal animated pig and the entire film Lyndale & Lake were a little violent for me) and the audience was not business as usual. Apparently the Alliance for Community Media was having a national conference and all these community station owners and producers and stuff were there. As a result the Q & A had really different and rather thought provoking questions. They were a little less interested in personal experiences and more interested in larger issues. One question that stands out was "Do you feel there are enough adequate avenues for local youth media?" I think that as a panel, we agreed that in terms of numbers there was an adequate number of supportive groups but that they all needed more/better funding, technology etc and that instead of starting new groups/programs etc, we would encourage people to become invested in existing organizations and in developing opportunities to screen work. I was the only female filmmaker - and the youngest so it was a little weird for me. In a way, although there were a lot of women in the audience, I felt a little on the spot - like they were taking my answers as being on behalf of all female teen filmakers. So, what do you think about places for youth interested in media to go? How would you have answered if you were there? Are there enough? Are they adequate? And, here's a question of my own that I did not bring up last night ... do we want to settle for adequate?

2007-07-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys - these will be the last photos from my trip. I just had to share them, though because they are some of my favorites.

This photo my brother and I have dubbed "Bunker Cars." There aren't very many gas stations or autobody shops on the Rez. When cars break down or run out of gas, they are abandonned. Gangs are a HUGE problem on the Rez (along with a life expectany of 47, an unemployment rate of 85%, obesity, poverty, diabetes, inadequate housing and health care, etc etc etc. Studies show that Pine Ridge - in South Dakota!!! - has worse conditions than anywhere in the western hemisphere. Yup. That's right, worse than Venezuala and Guatamala and Colombia and stuff.) and they shot out this car.

The one at the PowWow was underexposed but I love the effect because it captures the feeling of the PowWow without singling out any one dancer. It was like this radiant being who simply rose out of the grass to play on the earth.

I am not going to tell you this boys name or situation on the internet because of privacy but I will say he was amazing and needs lots of thoughts and prayers for his health, safety and sanity. I played with him every morning I was there and loved this photo of him personalizing his T-shirt.

I worked with kids from 3 to 10. All of them are really visual and LOVED cameras and taking pictures and video. Their school just got a grant to put a film developing lab in this summer so it will be fun to see what happens with that.

This is the entry at Wounded Knee. If you don't know about Wounded Knee, you should read about it. It is unbelieveable what happened here. The weird thing is, when you just walk onto the property and get out of the van, you feel heavy. You feel the weight of the sadness and pain. It is a very physical thing there that even people who don't know about the history talk about feeling. Last year, my brother and I rode bareback around Wounded Knee. This year we just explored the individual and mass graves and looked for those people we had read about.

This is the sky and the bell tower of the old church we stayed in. What you can't tell from the photo is that the clouds were like popcorn in the sky. Pine Ridge might be stark but it is beautiful. I have never seen such amazing sky as in Pine RIdge.

Anyway, there is a lot of hope on the Rez, too. There are a lot of outside groups wanting to help. There are a lot of inside groups working to try to ensure the help we give is really helpful, not just a handout. (Teach a man to fish kind of thing.) So, we go and we ask how to help and we do it because it is important. When I talk to people about it, they don't even know that this happens in the US. They don't even know what our Government did and is still doing. Not really. Not the truth of it. And the even sadder thing is, a lot of people don't care. But they should because if you aren't working on fixing the problem, you are part of it and it becomes a problem for all of us. Also, those of you who went to Washington, the group that won the extra grant who were from Deadwood live on this Rez. (or thereabouts.)

2007-07-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Remember this?

2007-07-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

I took this picture in South Dakota this summer. I was there with a group from my church. The day this was taken the weather turned from blue skys to a downpoor in seconds. When I took this the clouds were finaly clearing up and our rental vans were stuck in 6 inch deep mud and clay.

2007-07-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Here is a snack that Stasia made for me while I was interviewing her. It has the suggested portions of the different food groups. Does it look palatable? Tasty?

2007-07-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of clips from my first interview with Stasia, one of my nutrition experts. She has something called the "fist method", a suggestion of how to have a healthy and balanced diet. What I want to know is whether this sounds like something you feel that you could try to do -- or is it too demanding? Is having a healthier diet something you want to do? What do you think of the fist method?

2007-07-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

So, the other day as Annie, Maddy, Kirsten, the mentors and myself were looking on the web and discussing the new t-shirt style we would like to get for TVbyGIRLS, the group stumbled onto one of my favorite hot topics as of late-- American Apparel. This LA-based clothing company is sweat-shop free and has managed to make cotton t-shirts sexy and cool. Who wouldn't want guilt free trendy clothing like that?

There is one down side (or maybe it's a positive? i can't decide yet!) to American Apparel, though. Their advertising and website is quite honestly, some of the most blatantly sexualized out there. See, the issue at hand is that their clothing is basic, and they put it on regular people. okay, fairly regular people. and then these regular people are photographed being extremely sexy. Now, should we be applauding AA for using real people as models and not size zero stick figures, or should we be screaming our heads off for them over sexualizing and objectifying women (and men!)?

i am seriously torn.

all images (and my new shirts) from AmericanApparel.net

2007-07-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

This looks like connection to me.

b

2007-07-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

I look at this and it is really remarkable. teenage girls, senior women--strangers before and now connected. What does that mean. Connected. Isn't it what we are all looking for--to connect--with people who are like us, people who we are curious about, people who can teach us things, people who make us laugh and feel the best of ourselves.

what images mean connections?

2007-07-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

What a great meeting we had today.... Amalia, Annie, Kirsten and Maddy. We covered a lot and also just got to be present in each others lives! So much is ahead, many exciting projects and times together.

So now I ask that you keep this going with insights, visions, quotes, updates and more. More, more, more.
And those of you that did not make it to the meeting or are just reading this to see what we are up to... send us your thoughts, inspirations and ideas!

2007-07-12T12:05:00.001-07:00

I would like to put a request out to see how many people are viewing this blog and are interested in participating... So, here is an assignment or mission if you will...
I found this ad on Stephan Spencer's Scatterings blog. He spotted it in the print brochure for the Italian Film Festival a couple years ago.I just can't believe someone said, yeah, okay, let's print this. But tell me, what do you think? How does it make you feel?

And in case you were wondering: "Virtus Communications is a boutique agency providing communications solutions for fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands." Their goal? "To get you noticed. Influence behaviour. Lead the way."

2007-05-15T13:59:00.001-07:00

Set your VCR’s for Tuesday, 5/15 at 5:00 am. or Saturday, 5/19 at 5:00 am.

Barbara, TVbyGIRLS Executive Director, was interviewed for a piece on TVbyGIRLS by KPXM - TV 41 - Minneapolis/St. Paul (An Affiliate of ION Media Networks) and it will be screening at those times.

2007-05-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

TVbyGIRLS girls have been busy. Right now 4 girls (Annie, Casey, Maddy and Molly) are in Washington, D.C. with mentor Barbara.

TVbyGIRLS for the Greatest Girls project in collaboration with the Minnesota Historical Society has been chosen as 1 of 11 finalists for a national honors award through the History Channel’s SAVE OUR HISTORY project. The Save our History is a program which encourages historic preservation and research through student involvement. The Save Our History program flew 4 girls and 2 adults from each of the 11 groups to DC. They will be there from Monday, May 14 thru May 16. Two groups will be awarded top honors and receive an grant of $10,000 to apply to the project.

What will we do there?
We will participate in a Youth Summitt to :
1. share a 3 minute presentation to the group about our project
2. work with other students to brainstorm ideas about how to make history education more interesting and generate more involvement by students in historic preservation
3. develop a student report of those ideas that will be read into the Congressional record

AND we will attend The History Channel Save Our History National Honors Breakfast.

It is exciting so check back for a discussion on the event.

Also, we are excited to say... we received notification that the two
pieces we submitted to the Telly Awards BOTH received awards.

"What's with the Hijab" received a silver (less than 10% of the 13,000
entries receive that)...it is the highest honor
"Siblings or Why I wish I were an only child " received a bronze award (less
than 25% of the entries receive that).

So, it's a big deal and we are very proud that the work is being recognized
in such prestigious adult settings.

2006-05-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

Rachel, by Jasmin:

My partner told me about how she often felt like she was negative about things and wished she could be more positive. She said she felt a pull between the two sides of seeing anything. This is about her and something being half full or half empty.

2006-05-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

Change, by Hannah:

I wanted to be able to create an accessible piece with universal relevance about the feeling of change. A friend of mine was going through some difficult changes, so after talking with her, I made a short film about the emotions she was experiencing.

2006-05-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Boiling Over, by Amalia:

This piece was for Joann, as part of the Challenges series for TVbyGIRLS. We were to talk to our partner about a challenge in their life and then make a 1 minute video poem that reflected their feelings. Joann was having a really hard time and was feeling overwhelmed by the pressures in her life. I could really relate to that in my own life and created this piece about how it feels to be a teenager.

2006-05-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

The Carmen Experience, by Katie:

My film is about a teenager keeping secrets from her parents. The series of images represent a teenager's reticent and sneaky experience. The everyday objects reveal how being secretive narrowly saves her from punishment for doing things her parents may not approve of. At the same time, this piece reveals the feeling of isolation the teenager gets from keeping secrets from her family. Is this lonely price to pay worth the prevention of her parents becoming disappointed or getting in trouble?

2006-05-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

This is where you can find and view works created by TVbyGIRLS CORE GIRLS.
Enjoy!