Fantastic Female Filmmakers

by Suzanne Simoni

Overview

Women have been writing, producing and directing movies since filmmaking began in the early 1900s. From taming wild dogs to filming from the open door of a plane to being nominated for an academy award, women directors have done amazing things in the world of film. Fantastic Female Filmmakers tells the stories of ten women who are some of the most creative and respected directors in the world. From Nell Shipman, who started her own production company in the silent movie days, to Ida Lupino, the American actress who was the first woman to direct herself in a film, to Academy-Award nominee Deepa Mehta, whose films have brought East Indian stories to audiences around the world. These directors prove that women can be stars behind the camera as well as on the screen.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781926739229
Publisher:	Second Story Press
Publication date:	01/01/2008
Series:	The Women's Hall of Fame Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	9 - 13 Years

About the Author

Suzanne Simoni works as a writer and editor. She has traveled the globe and lived in Denmark, China, and Kenya. She now lives in Toronto with her husband and two children. Suzanne loves the movies, especially a good suspense or comedy.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Pioneering in the Wild Nell Shipman 3

Using the Motherly Approach Ida Lupino 15

Exploring the Bonds Between Women Margarethe Von Trotta 29

Telling Stories of Everyday People Anne Wheeler 39

Presenting the Surprise of Truth Martha Coolidge 51

Pushing Boundaries in the Mainstream Sally Potter 61

Remaining True to a Vision Deepa Mehta 69

Challenging Assumptions and Stereotypes Euzhan Palcy 79

Making Differences a Strength Mira Nair 91

Telling Truth Through Fiction Patricia Rozema 103

Glossary 113

Resources 115

Photo Credits 121

Editorial Reviews

On the sets of movies she directed, Ida Lupino would say to her actors and staff: "Darlings, Mother has a problem. I'd love to do this. Can you do it?" And they could. Anne Wheeler was afraid of heights, but in order to get a particular shot she wanted, she strapped herself in place and hung out of a plane's open doorway. Euzhan Palcy was just 14 years old when she first cut characters out of paper in her native Martinique, shone a light through the cutouts and created a shadow play. Suzanne Simoni tells the story of these women, as well as seven others whose determination to make movies enabled them to surmount difficult odds. Their movies often won critical acclaim, even if they were not always box office hits. Young readers will find many role models, but they will also learn that setting and reaching personal goals usually requires grit, perseverance and creativity in order to overcome rejection and seemingly impossible odds. Most of these women sacrificed their personal lives for their careers, even if they were temporarily married to fellow filmmakers. Each chapter includes a list of the featured filmmaker's movies, so readers will have an easy time finding and watching the works of directors they come to know and admire through this text. Many additional resources are listed for each filmmaker, and at least one photo of each is provided. These are excellent real-life stories for teens and pre-teens growing up as part of a generation for whom the lure of Hollywood can be especially strong. Reviewer: Karen Leggett

Children's Literature - Karen Leggett

This series focuses on the contributions of women in different fields. Each book profiles ten to eleven women, describing details of their lives that led up to their remarkable accomplishments. Fantastic Female Filmmakers includes profiles of earlier filmmakers such as Nell Shipman and Ida Lupiano as well as contemporary directors like Deepa Mehta, Patricia Rozema, and Mira Nair. The author includes filmmakers who found varied and unique ways to navigate the industry. Deepa Mehta, for example, circumvented protests during the production of her films that dealt with India's traditions. Nobel's Women of Peace profiles the few women who have been selected to receive the Nobel Peace Prize since the first was awarded in 1901. Profiles range from the first female recipient, Bertha von Suttner in 1905, to the latest, Wangari Maathai in 2004. The profiles in both books are revealing, inspiring, and insightful. Fantastic Female Filmmakers gives information about how directors choose the films on which they work, and the authors conclude with general advice for aspiring young filmmakers. Black-and-white photographs, informative sidebars, and lists of resources make this easy-to-read series appealing. The subsection "How You Can Be a Troublemaker for Peace" in Nobel Women of Peace is sure to be instructive. Other titles in the series include Amazing Women Athletes, Extraordinary Women Explorers, and Super Women in Science. The subjects of these books could serve as much needed role models for girls and boys alike. Reviewer: KaaVonia Hinton-Johnson

VOYA - KaaVonia Hinton-Johnson

"Written in clear, simple language and peppered with quotations from each filmmaker, this book is the perfect inspiration for young filmmakers, as well as readers who simply want a behind-the-scenes look at the film industry."

Canadian Children's Book News

"Simoni captures both the playfulness and the perseverance of her subjects. This book will especially encourage and empower young girls and women who wish to break into filmmaking."

CM Magazine