that

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LET THEM EAT CAKE SPOOKY TUNES Take a bite out of the wedding Show off your best Monster cakes that are trending in Mash at these Halloween CoMo this year PAGE 5 music events PAGE 15

The future is female (films) As Citizen Jane celebrates 10 years, the world needs its spotlight on women’s voices more than ever before PAGE 7 THELMA AND LOUISE*

A DECADE OF putting female filmmakers in the spotlight

The Citizen Jane Film Festival continues to connect female students with film professionals who create stories that empower women BY ANN MARION

decade ago, a popular film lecture series at Stephens College evolved into what would become an internationally recognized festival of women’s contributions to an industry that so often A overlooks them. The Citizen Jane Film Festival is a feminist powerhouse that has the ambiance of an intimate gathering of close friends and has drawn approximately 6,000 film-focused women (and men) to the heart of mid-Missouri every year. Although the festival has expanded in size and content, at its core, it remains dedicated to launching Stephens College students into film careers with guidance from industry professionals. Festival director Barbie Banks, who has been a part of Citizen Jane for quite some time, has seen the festival do just that. After the screening of Love Stinks last year, the film’s producer and director met with veteran filmmakers and connected with students. Banks says she sees that as the epitome of Citizen Jane. “You could see this clear line; that’s why we do this CITIZEN JANE BOX OFFICE: 1405 E. Broadway festival,” Banks says. “We’re making changes in women’s lives who want to Box office hours: Thursday, 3–8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; be filmmakers.” Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stephens senior Ty-Kiera Berry met Love Stinks director Alicia Harris 815-5849; [email protected] during the event in 2016. The two discussed their experiences as women *For this feature, Vox recreated classic feminist images from history and film. Read more about our source materials on page 14.

TIMELINE: THE EVOLUTION OF CITIZEN JANE

2008: 2010: 2012: The Citizen Jane Film Festival begins ’s Tiny Furniture opens the festival. The festival hosts its first-ever as a way to expand the Stephens Dunham, who wrote, directed and starred in the film, Citizen Jane Summit, a discussion on College film lecture series, which would go on to create the HBO hit series Girls and the current state of women in film connects students with industry pen the bestselling autobiography, Not That Kind of that brings together filmmakers and professionals. Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s Learned. scholars from across the country.

2009: 2011: 2013: Festival attendance doubles Citizen Jane screens Niki Caro’s drama Whale Citizen Jane screens controversial from the previous year, and Rider, starring Keisha Castle-Hughes. At the documentary Citizen Koch, co-directed by Citizen Jane becomes a movie’s release in 2003, then 13-year-old Tia Lessin, which explores how money mainstay of Columbia arts and Hughes was the youngest-ever nominee in influences American politics after the culture. the Academy Award Best Actress category. Supreme Court’s Citizen United decision.

PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF EMILY JOHNSON, AP IMAGES, PIXABAY AND CITIZEN KOCH 10.26.17 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM 7 STEPHENS COLLEGE’S HOLLYWOOD HISTORY of color in the industry. “We have to be on our game and never give up on our dream just because one person doesn’t Any Stephens College attendee will proudly like it,” Berry says. “It was like the best motivation speech The director’s cut inform you that iconic actress Joan Crawford and heart-to-heart as a college student working on their was a student in fall 1922. She left to become senior project.” The two still keep in touch. Of the top-grossing movies of 2016, only 7 percent were directed by women one of the most well-known names in This year, Citizen Jane also started a brand-new Hollywood but not before making a lifelong screenwriting competition called Screengrab, which gives BY LIDIA MOORE friend of then dean James Madison Wood. Stephens students the opportunity to have a screenplay Each year, Stephens presents “The Joan produced. Submissions to Screengrab will be critiqued When you ask a friend, “Who is your favorite film director?” Crawford Effect,” which showcases her letters live at the festival on Friday, and a producer will buy the statistically speaking, they will most likely name a man. When to Wood and gowns similar to Crawford’s in winning screenplay. The Greenhouse Theater Project asking Google that same question, it spat out 55 examples the 1930s and ’40s. This year’s exhibit at Lela will do a table read on Sunday. Banks says she thinks the of critically acclaimed directors, including Martin Scorsese, Raney Wood Hall will stay open until Dec. 17. program will be beneficial for Stephens College. She says Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and Alfred Hitchcock. Of she hopes the director will be a woman so that the winning those 55, not one of them was a woman. HIT REWIND, AND screenplay can be made into a Citizen Jane film. In the age of Academy Award-winning directors Kathryn WATCH THESE FILMS This year’s festival also premieres the Frances Award, Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) and Sofia Coppola Lost( in which celebrates the contributions of Frances Marion, who Translation), alongside the only female director to win the FROM PAST FESTS was the first-ever female screenwriter. The first recipient is Palme D’Or Jane Campion (The Piano), why are their names Linda Woolverton, the highest-grossing female screenwriter not as recognizable? Trouble in the Water: Tia Lessin’s 2003 in Hollywood. In true student-oriented, Citizen Jane spirit, “I think it actually starts right Academy-Award nominated documentary the award will be sculpted by an MU graduate student. from the beginning,” says director Above is a still image from “Little Wilderness,” a project offers a sobering look into Hurricane Katrina. Also new this year is Citizen Jane Suggests, a and animator Lindsey Martin, director and animator Lindsey Martin is currently working on. Citizen Jane showed the film in 2008. who is attending this year’s festival. partnership with Ragtag Cinema that launched in July. for women on screen but in all roles. Privilege and access Watch it on SundanceNow and Amazon Prime. Each month, Ragtag showcases a film by a female director. “Even before that, though, when you’re watching film and you’re are major barriers for underrepresented individuals in film. Daughters October’s film isBattle of the Sexes featuring watching television, and you don’t “Especially coming from an educator’s point of view as well as of the Dust: and Steve Carrell as tennis rivals Billie Jean King and Bobby see yourself reflected in what a filmmaker’s point of view, I can see at 17, 18 years old those Citizen Jane Riggs. “Ultimately, numbers at the box office are the most you’re consuming. You don’t even folks who have access to college and film schools, and those screened important,” Banks says. “So if we’re not getting these films have an idea of, ‘Oh, I can do that. tend to be of certain socioeconomic makeup of people who Julie Dash’s out to play after they’re shown at our festival, we’re not Or I can be that.’” Of the highest-grossing 250 movies in 2016, have the privilege,” Martin says. “So, right away, it tends to be 1991 classic really doing our job.” only 7 percent were directed by women, which is a 2 percent mostly white men who have access to that.” about the multi-generational journey of an Banks says the two programming directors of the decline since 2015, according to a 2016 study from the Center According to the SDSU study, when looking at the top African-American family in 2016. Find it on festival, Amy Sharland and Donna Kozloskie, have delivered for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego 250 films of 2016 as a whole, women accounted for 7 percent . the best film lineup to date this year. The festival opens with of directors, 13 percent of writers, 17 percent of executive Landline, directed by Gillian Robespierre, who co-wrote the State University that has tracked women’s representation in I Believe in Unicorns: Director Leah producers, 24 percent of producers, 17 percent of editors and film alongside Elisabeth Holm. Banks says the opening film television and film for 20 years. Meyerhoff brought her first feature-length film, So why aren’t women directing big-budget movies? 5 percent of cinematographers. In television, women are most is meant to reach the widest audience. “You don’t have to be the 2014 coming-of-age drama, to Citizen Jane Is it the lack of financial backing from male-dominated likely to be hired as actors, but according to the study, female a film buff to enjoy it.” following critical acclaim at SXSW Film Festival. film studios? According to writer and producer Lauren characters were younger than their male counterparts and less The Citizen Jane Summit began in 2012 as a lecture on Watch it on Amazon Prime. Domino, she makes a conscious effort to hire women and likely to be seen at work. women in the film industry and has become a Citizen Jane underrepresented groups of people in all facets of the Although the number of female producers is markedly Tiny Furniture: In 2010, before HBO’s Girls cornerstone over the years. The 2017 Summit will offer a filmmaking process. “There are so many talented women in higher than directors, this information displays a need for fame, Lena Dunham wrote, directed and comprehensive discussion on the status of women in film in mentorship and role models for women filmmakers to show ROSIE THE RIVETER the field that aren’t getting the opportunities or the financing starred in this film about a woman the past, present and future. It features Carri Beauchamp, how other women are making it in the industry. to work, but instead of letting that statistic get me down, coming of age as an artist in New York. a scholar on historical women in Hollywood, Lauren However, film schools such as NYU’s Tisch School of the personally, as a producer, I combat that.” Domino is the Stream it on Netflix. Domino, who focuses on the representation of minorities Arts have an almost even divide of male and female students producer of the filmIntersection , playing this year at the Citizen on screen and Rae Leone Allen, the writer, producer and co- enrolled. And celebrities including Meryl Streep and Oprah Abortion: Jane Film Festival. star of the web series 195 Lewis. Winfrey are taking initiatives to help female filmmakers. Stories The recent revelations about studio head Harvey Streep and Winfrey fund The Writers Lab, a project that helps Women Tell: Landline will play on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Weinstein sexually harassing and assaulting young women women over the age of 40 develop screenplays. Following a Windsor Auditorium. 195 Lewis will play on shows the necessity for change in Hollywood. He is a glaring In Columbia, the annual fall film festival, Citizen Jane, limited theatrical Saturday at 4 p.m. at The Warehouse Theatre. symbol of systemic problems in the industry — not just release, Missouri filmmaker Tracy Droz Tragos combats this statistic by only showing independent films brought her female-centric documentary to made by women and providing opportunities to meet female Citizen Jane in 2016. Find it streaming on HBO. “There are so many women that filmmakers. 2014: 2016: “We try and step in and create a space during the festival The Invitation: In 2015, Citizen Jane showed Director Leah Meyerhoff visits Citizen Camp Citizen Jane, where middle where seasoned filmmakers can meet with brand new director Karyn Kusama’s thriller that takes place Jane and helps begin the Missouri school girls create their own films, are in the field that aren’t getting filmmakers and even some of our students here to try and at a dinner party. Watch it on Netflix. chapter of Film Fatales, an international breaks with Columbia Public Schools start creating that and getting them to the top,” says Festival network of women filmmakers who meet, after eight years of partnership and the opportunities or the financing Director Barbie Banks. Appropriate Behavior: Desiree Akhavan collaborate and mentor one another. becomes an independent entity. Citizen Jane works to combat a lack of visibility and gives wrote, directed and starred in her 2014 debut to work, but instead of letting that more women the opportunity to show their films and seek film following a young Persian-American in mentors. Supporting underrepresented people in film doesn’t her journey through same-sex love. statistic get me down, personally, as stop at the three-day festival. Each month, Ragtag and Citizen Catch it on . Jane spotlight a new, woman-directed film as part of “Citizen A Teacher: A high school teacher has an 2015: 2017: a producer, I combat that.” Jane Suggests,” helping to make female directors accessible. MovieMaker Magazine names Citizen Citizen Jane awards its first-ever Frances affair with one of her students and watches Jane one of the 25 coolest film festivals Award, a lifetime achievement in filmmaking Intersection will play on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the her life begin to unravel in Hannah Fidell’s 2013 LAUREN DOMINO in the world, alongside festivals in award named for famous screenwriter Writer and producer Macklanburg playhouse. directorial debut. Watch it on Netflix. Lebanon, the Bahamas and Poland. Frances Marion, to Linda Woolverton.

8 VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.26.17 PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF EMILY JOHNSON, ANNA BRETT, CITIZEN JANE AND MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDSEY MARTIN 10.26.17 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM 9 MOVING TO THE BEAT find the film for you New music coordinator Robin Anderson connects the sights and sounds of the festival BY TRAVIS MEIER Vox helps you navigate this year’s Citizen Jane lineup BY ALEX EDWARDS With nearly 20 feature films and multiple shorts programs in a variety of genres, the Citizen Jane Film Festival can make it difficult to pick which movies to view. Film The collision of a musician’s and a to do that by providing a platform for Programmer Donna Kozloskie gives insight into each film’s style to help you create your must-watch list. If you feel like a good cry or want to laugh, use our Citizen Jane filmmaker’s creative passions led to women musicians from Columbia. Film Matrix to make your weekend schedule. the reintegration of music leadership “I’m passionate about creating at the Citizen Jane Film Festival opportunity for local musicians,” just in time for its 10th anniversary. Anderson wrote in an email. “We Musician Robin Anderson was looking wanted to start at home to give LOL-WORTHY IN CASE OF to network with other local musicians, area female artists an opportunity EMERGENCY Liyana mixes animation and real footage to follow the journey of a Swazi girl as and Melissa Lewis, the director to showcase and network with After getting hit she embarks to rescue her two young brothers. of the documentary team for the SCREWED filmmakers and attendees. Ideally, by a taxi, a NYC festival, was trying to start a music Through short installments, an socialite loses her building those relationships at home video festival. Lewis then introduced Omaha native — armed with a status but gains a would lead to more chances for shameless ego and interesting new outlook on her MR. ROOSEVELT Anderson to Barbie Banks, the musicians to expand into other roles.” SNL alum Noël Wells stars as a moves — attempts to make it SNOWY BING life in this raunchy, director of Citizen Jane, who created Texan-turned-starving L.A. actress who genre-bender The 2017 festival schedule includes as a ballerina in Brooklyn. BONGS rebellious comedy. a part-time music coordinator position must face her ex’s newly “perfect” life four concerts that combine with other 10 minutes. Sat., 9:30 p.m. Called “uncategorizable” 89 minutes. for Anderson this year. upon returning to the Lone Star State. events. This year, the Citizen Jane and “indie-weird” by The BROWN GIRLS Sat., 6:45 p.m. The festival offers a diverse cast of films including In the past, students filled You’ll get serious 90 minutes. Sat., 10:30 a.m. Summit on Thursday includes a kickoff Hollywood Reporter, the animation, documentary, comedy and web series many leadership roles at Citizen Broad City vibes concert by Audra Sergel, a Columbia HOT & BOTHERED film follows the Snowy Bing Jane, including the music roles, but Bongs, a trio of women watching this film BY CONNOR LAGORE What do you get when LEMON each year, many of those students singer and pianist. According to two friends create the with absurd choreography that features Leila Considered a breakout graduated. This is likely what caused Anderson, in the past, the event lesbian version of Grindr? and ’90s pop covers. Will and Patricia, two LANDLINE film at the Sundance The festival kicks off opening night Many films that will be shown at the combines real footage of young has served to create a sense of A hilarious web series they save an alien planet millennial women of the music coordinator position to slip Film Festival, this dark with a light, ’90s family comedy that Citizen Jane Film Festival this weekend storytellers with animation. community among filmmakers, touching on everything from from a beach ball attack? color in Chicago. through the cracks. “As (Citizen Jane) comedy is a satirical turns dark after infidelity casts a combine elements of multiple genres, Many of the short films don’t musicians, volunteers and attendees. gender norms to marijuana. 42 minutes. Sat., 9:30 p.m. 60 minutes. gets bigger, we’re starting to realize commentary on the shadow. 97 minutes. Fri., 7:30 p.m. resulting in films that will make viewers mix genres on their own, but they’re 15 minutes. Sun., 4:30 p.m. Sun., 4:30 p.m. we can’t satisfy or fulfill our needs by “We are ultimately a film festival, reality of failure. laugh, cry and gasp. From a comedic part of a variety of subject matter on and our events, including music, 83 minutes. Sun., 4 p.m. just students,” Lewis says. and absurd film about a woman turning a similar theme. “Emerging Voices” supplement the amazing films,” Banks LIYANA Previous Citizen Jane festivals into a dog (Bitch) to an animated is a collection of coming-of-age films included music programming wrote in an email. From the imaginations of children in THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD documentary about Swazi orphans from students across the country throughout the weekend to highlight Most of the performances require a Swaziland orphanage comes the This sisterhood-driven documentary presents The THE LONG HAUL (Liyana), this weekend’s Citizen Jane and the world. “Fests Like Us!” is a story of a Swazi girl on a journey to women, supplement the films and a pass, but the first concert is open Revival, a group of queer women of color who travel Film Festival has no shortage of diverse collaborative project of shorts with rescue her twin brothers. across the country to bring their poetry to various promote the festival’s mission. The to the public. Check out the lineup of genres. eight other festivals supporting women 74 minutes. Sat., 10:30 a.m. audiences. 82 minutes. Sat., 1 p.m. recreation of the position is an attempt music performances this year. Quite a few of the films on Citizen in film. For a local angle, “Ms. Ouri Jane’s slate this year are classified as 195 LEWIS VEGAS BABY FACES PLACES BITCH Made” is made up of shorts shot on comedies, but a number of those draw A group of queer, The documentary gives The documentary A psychological thriller, this film location in the Show-Me state. AUDRA SERGEL WITH DRUMMER JACKIE BRANSCOM from other genres as well. Specifically, polyamorous women insight on a Las Vegas follows Agnès Varda and has a bizarre comedic twist Citizen Jane also features Thursday, 3–5 p.m., no pass required, Summit Senior Hall the opening night headliner, Landline, of color navigate life doctor’s annual social media photographer JR as they when a neglectful husband buzzed-about web series from online Audra Sergel is an experienced and well-known musician from Columbia. Her piano in Brooklyn in this contest, where the grand interact with locals on a drives his suburban housewife uses the drama of a deteriorating family platforms. Some of the web series playing accompanies her jazz-inspired vocals, creating a fresh sound that makes for five-episode dramedy prize winner receives a free road trip across the French to assume the psyche of a dog. to support an otherwise hilarious film,

SHORT AND SWEET SHORT shown provide an enjoyable perspective both edgy and easy listening. series. 45 minutes. round of in vitro fertilization. countryside. 90 minutes. 93 minutes. Sat., 3:45 p.m. and Marianna Palka’s Bitch employs on modern life, specifically two series Sat., 4 p.m. 77 minutes. Sun., 1 p.m. Sat., 4:30 p.m. some psychological horror tactics focusing on women of color: Brown to enliven a ridiculous plot about a , which has been picked up by Girls ROBIN ANDERSON WITH DRUMMER ANNA PROVO IN THE RADIANT CITY woman who turns into a canine. HBO, and Hot & Bothered, which Friday, 5:30–7 p.m., Insane Jane pass required, Hellis Communication Center A family deals with the stigma A few dramatic narratives featured tackles gender norms, racism and even surrounding a murder one family Columbia-based singer-songwriter Robin Anderson studied music before becoming a in this year’s festival challenge viewers marijuana. In all, these films will expose member committed 20 years ago in INSIDE THESE WALLS with fictional tales of very real issues. performer, administrator and songwriter. She expresses her energy through the closing film of the festival. BLAME viewers to the world around them. Through firsthand interviews The Light of the Moon, starring Stephens high-powered soprano vocals, matched by a piano-pop vibe. 95 minutes. Sun., 7 p.m. Quinn Shephard writes, SAMI BLOOD Although it’s only a few days long, and handwritten letters, this alumna Stephanie Beatriz, follows the directs, produces and This coming-of-age drama the festival promises a great range of film tells the story of family stars in this drama that follows a teen of the main character as she copes with her genres, storytelling and styles through struggles after the father is parallels The Crucible and indigenous Sami people in recent sexual assault, and the foreign THE BURNEY SISTERS sent to Chinese prison for the featured films and shorts. shows the battle of two Sweden. She is forced to narrative Sami Blood is a portrait of the Sunday, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Insane Jane pass required, Senior Hall political crimes. 44 minutes. MARLINA THE MURDERER high school classmates for attend a Swedish boarding ethnic prejudices of 1930s Sweden. Landline, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Ms.Ouri Sun., 10:30 a.m. IN FOUR ACTS Olivia (12) and Emma (9) are a Columbia sister music duo that formed in early 2017. their substitute teacher’s school, where she faces Made, Saturday, 10 a.m.; Liyana, Based on Indonesia’s gender Sami Blood also has historical context The two have played pop covers as well as written original songs. They create a pop- attention. prejudice in hopes of gaining constrictions, this dramatic thriller 100 minutes. as director Amanda Kernell drew from Saturday, 10:30 a.m.; Light of the folk sound laced with precise harmonies. an education. 110 minutes. includes a powerful, vengeful widow Sat., 7 p.m. her grandmother’s experiences. Another Moon, Saturday, 1 p.m.; Bitch, Sun., 1:30 p.m. seeking justice for rape, pillaging and foreign drama, Marlina the Murderer Saturday, 7:45 p.m.; Fests like us!, murder. 93 minutes. Sat., 10 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 p.m.; Marlina the in Four Acts, brings an empowering EMMA “ELLOUISE” WICKS feminine touch to a film much in the Murderer, Saturday, 10 p.m.; Sami THE LIGHT OF THE MOON Sunday 1–1:30 p.m., Insane Jane or Plain Jane pass required, Sager Braudis Gallery With Law & Order SVU vibes, this vein of a Quentin Tarantino Western- Blood, Sunday, 1:30 p.m.; Emerging Emma Wicks is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Spencer, Missouri, who is NYC-based drama comments on the style film such asDjango Unchained. Voices, Sunday, 4:15 p.m.; Brown currently pursuing a music degree at Stephens College. This up-and-coming performer BRING THE TISSUES struggle and painful reality of sexual assault One film in particular takes “genre- Girls and Hot & Bothered, Sunday, has already completed numerous solo performances. victims. 95 minutes. Sat., 1 p.m. blending” to a whole new level. Liyana 4:30 p.m.

10 VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.26.17 PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITIZEN JANE PHOTO COURTESY OF CITIZEN JANE 10.26.17 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM 11 changing the script

Screenwriter Linda Woolverton will be honored with the Frances Award BY TAYLOR YSTEBOE

When screenwriter Banks, director of the festival. “There’s not a lot of on the screenplays for the 2006 Alice in Wonderland Linda Woolverton was directors; there’s not a lot of screenwriters.” Although remake and Maleficent. “She is known for changing writing the script for Citizen Jane typically honors directors, Banks says the narrative for princesses,” Banks says. the 1991 Disney classic the festival wanted to broaden its scope to benefit Woolverton told the Los Angeles Times in 2016 Beauty and the Beast, Stephens College students as well, particularly about growing up with princess culture: “I remember she knew she wanted to the relatively new Masters of Fine Arts in TV and feeling very incensed that the men would retire to give Belle a mind of her Screenwriting program whose first graduating class the library and talk about interesting things and own. So, Woolverton received their degrees this past May. the women and girls were supposed to be over here decided to open the Choosing Woolverton for the Frances Award baking and sewing. We weren’t supposed to be movie with Belle’s nose in wasn’t a difficult decision. Professors from the thinkers or philosophers.” a book while adventuring through town. But when MFA program and the digital film program at Woolverton has also lectured the MFA students Woolverton went to see the animators’ process, she Stephens, along with Banks herself, chose to go with during the first year of the program. Ken LaZebnik, saw that they had drawn Belle baking a cake in the Woolverton. “She is the highest-grossing female the director of the program, invited her to speak to Director Stefanie Sparke plays Sarah (left) and Jenni Ruiza plays Melinda in the comedic, low-budget filmIn Case kitchen instead. screenwriter in the world,” Banks says. “She broke a the students. “And this was partly why I thought, of Emergency, which answers the question of what really matters in our world of “selfish selfies.” Woolverton, who is a lot like Belle, pushed for her lot of ground for women screenwriters, so it made ‘what a wonderful chance for the MFA to honor this vision until it made it to the big screen. sense to give it to the most successful woman first.” woman who has done so much to promote the growth The screenwriter’s determination to promote In addition to Beauty and the Beast, Woolverton took of women’s voices on film,’” LaZebnik says. female protagonists is just one of the reasons she Finding a way to the is being given the inaugural Frances Award on the opening night of the Citizen Jane Film Festival. Due “She broke a lot of ground for women to a recent personal event, Woolverton is unable to attend the ceremony. The award itself is named screenwriters, so it made sense to give it to the fest: A film’s journey NORMA RAE after Frances Marion, the first renowned female screenwriter who won the Academy Award for most successful woman first.” Writing in 1931. A filmmaker and the programmer share their perspectives on what makes a “When we look at representation of women in BARBIE BANKS Citizen Jane film BY MAYA MCDOWELL media, all the statistics are pretty sad,” says Barbie Festival director his year, the Citizen Jane Film Festival open-mic nights and comedy clubs after work for person” no one has heard of before, a task Kozloskie received nearly 1,000 submissions, and over a year. Sparks was directed to a female open-mic says is “a lot of trying to find the diamond in the 100 were features, says Donna Kozloskie, night at UCB Theatre in New York and decided she rough.” features programmer for the festival. From needed to use some of the improv performers and TECHNOLOGY BOOSTS WOMEN IN FILM T 2. SCREENER’S CHOICE the large pool of contending feature films, only three actors. were selected from submissions to be screened at the Citizen Jane has screeners, people who watch the Web and mobile developers help users plug into the festival experience BY DANIELLE KATZ 3. NAILING THE CAST fest this year. submitted films and rate them based on production “I think we have an amazing cast, and it took me a value, story and acting. Kozloskie watches the films Activists are trying to change the landscape for women in film by taking want to find,” says Citizen Jane Film Festival Director Barbie Banks. These three One feature entry that made the cut is year to find the cast and put them together after,” with higher ratings from the screeners but doesn’t the fight to technological development, specifically with apps. “There’s no technological creations make it easier to access information on women in film as In Case of Emergency, a film written by, directed by Sparks says. “I wouldn’t really settle.” And she’s not always go by the screener’s opinions because she reason we shouldn’t be creating this stuff to help women find the content they well as provide festival help through interactive maps and showtimes. and starring filmmaker Stefanie Sparks. The film joking — Sparks auditioned her co-star Jenni Ruiza says she wants to make up her own mind. This year, follows Sarah Williams (Sparks), a New York City for three months. As Sparks continued casting for MAPLY: FESTIVAL NAVIGATION TANJI: THE “FEMINIST FANDANGO” THE DIRECTOR LIST: socialite, after she has an accident and is forced to Kozloskie watched parts of every feature entry. Three MU students pitched the Women represented only 4 percent of directors WOMEN AT WORK the film, she says it became a snowball effect. “Every reevaluate her views about herself and others. 3. KEEP IT FRESH app Maply in November 2015, on the top 100 grossing films of 2016, according What started as a Pinterest actor that I brought on would sometimes have How did the film arrive at Citizen Jane? Two When choosing films, Kozloskie looks for something and have since moved the startup to a study from the Center for the Study of board in 2012 has expanded another actor that they thought I should look at.” women in the film industry tell their stories about a she’s never seen before. “As a film programmer, I to Austin, . But they’re not Women in Television and Film at San Diego State to a searchable, filterable film’s journey to a festival. 4. CLICK SUBMIT have seen so many straight narrative movies over finished in Columbia. The team of now four University. Statistics such as this one are what motivated online database with more than 1,000 female Sparks submitted In Case of Emergency, her second and over again, so when I see something that’s a return to mid-Missouri to work with festivals, Seattle’s Melinda Fox to change that, especially because directors and content featuring films as well feature film, to Citizen Jane without knowing little bit different, that gets me really excited,” she including Citizen Jane. women account for 52 percent of moviegoers, according to the as music videos. FROM THE DIRECTOR: Kozloskie had sent her a message expressing her says. Kozloskie’s not a huge fan of drone shots in a Maply builds interactive maps for events, Motion Picture Association of America. Destri Martino, a 20-year veteran of the 1. INSPIRATION FROM EXASPERATION interest in the film. A few months later, Sparks was film because they are used so often and particularly cities and brands. Users can see and add For a long time, Fox kept a spreadsheet of women-centric film industry, sought out experienced female Sparks realized she wasn’t getting hired for day invited to screen her film at the festival. “Citizen Jane struggles to get past movies with bad acting. public events happening around them on the films and shared it with friends. Word eventually spread, and directors at the beginning of her career but jobs in Manhattan because she wasn’t dressing has a great reputation for female directors,” she says. app. Citizen Jane attendees can download interest in the list grew. Fox came up with Tanji, which will was disappointed by the low representation. “appropriately” or wearing makeup. A woman offered “I feel like it’s the female film festival in the U.S.” 4. CELEBRATE THE ECCENTRIC Maply for free; simply click on the festival’s be the first mobile ticketing app that connects moviegoers to “I needed to see people that were kind of like advice: “There’s three things that make a woman in As a first-year film programmer for Citizen Jane, logo, and see the schedule and location for content directed, written, produced by and centered on women. me that I could model my own career after,” this world: pink, pearls and pumps,” Sparks says. “I FROM THE PROGRAMMER: Kozloskie wanted to make sure she chose a broad different events. She previewed Tanji at Tribeca Film Festival this year, and Martino says. “I just really wanted people to found myself going, how is this possible? It’s 2014.” range of genres and filmmakers. “I don’t really have a Banks says it’s great that the founders although the app is not currently available, Fox says she hopes see that women were already making great Thus, In Case of Emergency’s plot was born, which 1. THROW A BIG NET quota of what I want,” she says. “When I was making could manipulate the app’s festival interface to launch a full beta testing of the app by April 2018. things.” follows two polar-opposite women who hang out Kozloskie begins the process of choosing films by the lineup, I tried to balance it as best I could to researching other film festivals and filmmakers. “I for their benefit and support the cause. “It Audiences help affect change, too. “As audiences, we can Martino attended Citizen Jane last year with each other because they don’t have a choice. show the weird spectrum that’s out there.” wasn’t hard to convince them that Citizen play an integral role in changing this landscape for women and and felt more empowered by the experience. kind of just throw a big net to see what’s out there Jane needed their help,” Banks says. “They girls making their own content and amplifying these stories,” “There’s a real sisterhood feeling,” Martino 2. RESEARCH and sift through the different things that are being In Case of Emergency will play on Saturday at jumped right on board.” Fox says. says. “They just take really good care of you.” When Sparks began researching, she hung out at made,” Kozloskie says. Her goal? To find “that 6:45 p.m. at The Warehouse Theatre.

12 VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.26.17 PHOTOS COURTESY OF BARBIE BANKS, MELINDA FOX AND DESTRI MARTINO PHOTOS BY AND COURTESY OF EMILY JOHNSON AND STEFANIE SPARKS 10.26.17 | VOXMAGAZINE.COM 13 An evolving film landscape Citizen Jane founder Kerri Yost reflects on the most significant moments of the festival and how women in film have grown since its foundation BY CHLOE WILT

Ten years ago, Kerri Yost heard and put them in the spotlight. It was also the year came up with the idea of Winter’s Bone came out, so we had this nice Missouri Citizen Jane. Its creation connection with a filmmaker I really admire, Debra was a collaborative process Granik. It was just a great year for film, and also I felt like FOXY with other Stephens we had an idea of our direction that year, our purpose. BROWN College students and Q: WHAT HAS BEEN A MEMORABLE FILM YOU’VE faculty, and the name of the festival was even coined by SCREENED? WHY DID IT AFFECT YOU? a dance major at Stephens. Yost: One of the most memorable screenings I’ve had Before the upcoming 10th was a documentary called Monica & David in 2010. It’s a also spoke at our Citizen Jane Summit panel discussion. film about two people with Down syndrome who fell in anniversary, Yost reflects on It was like when you look up to somebody and then you love and wanted to get married. It’s really following their some of the festival’s highlights and her most memorable meet them in person, and they’re even better than you life, and you get to know them. We had it in a theater, moments as the fest has grown and changed through thought they would be. She started this program and the years. and we did a lot of outreach to make sure that people who might care about this topic would be able to come. website called Sisters in Cinema where she documents Q: IS THERE A SPECIFIC YEAR THAT IS I just remember the whole third part, the middle of the African-American female directors because they’re so PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL TO YOU? theater was full of people in wheelchairs, they came up grossly ignored; that’s a big part of who she is. We try to Kerri Yost: The third year, 2010, sticks in my mind. to me later and thanked me for getting a theater that was bring in people who not only are great but are also very Because for the first couple of years, people outside of so accessible, and they said that this was the first time supportive and nurturing to other filmmakers, and she Columbia didn’t really know who we were, so we spent they had seen a movie in years because they usually have was very much that. a lot of time explaining our festival. At the time, people a hard time getting in and out of theaters. Afterward, we weren’t really aware of women in film and that need for had a community panel with people who represented Q: HAS VISIBILITY FOR WOMEN IN FILM more representation. I had been asking a producer that I people with disabilities, organizations and parents. The IMPROVED SINCE CITIZEN JANE STARTED? really admire, Christine Vachon, for the past few years to conversations held afterward were about how parents and Yost: In the very beginning of the festival, we had to come, and that year she said yes. We also really wanted adults try to have relationships and how their disability explain that we were underrepresented, and now I think to get who we thought was a new voice in film, Lena affects that and how our laws affect those relationships. that’s more mainstream and these other issues are really Dunham. At the time, nobody had heard of her, but she It was very illuminating, and it reminded me of what a known. You also see more women making more narrative had this filmTiny Furniture. It was our opening night community film festival can be. films, not just documentaries. In general, most women film, and that was a really magical year. It felt like finally have found their success in television, and I think now we were no longer begging and explaining ourselves, Q: WHICH DIRECTOR HAS MOST SURPRISED YOU? that television is basically better than film because people but people finally believed us and wanted to be with us. HAS THERE BEEN A PROMINENT DIRECTOR WHO It gave us some confidence that what we were doing ATTENDED? are gravitating toward that with streaming and cable. I was fulfilling a real need in our film industry, and people Yost: Yvonne Welbon in 2013. We had been asking her think film is now realizing that diverse voices, not just noticed. People appreciated the programming, and we to come very early in our festival, but she couldn’t, and women, but people of color, are important, and audiences realized that our job is to show films that maybe wouldn’t then she had this new film that she produced calledThe want to hear it. Ten years ago, everybody thought have been seen otherwise and voices that haven’t been New Black, which we screened our closing night. She everything was fine in the industry.

ABOUT THIS FEATURE: IN PHOTOS To celebrate a decade of Citizen Jane breaking barriers for women in movies, Vox shot photos that pay homage to iconic feminist moments of the 20th century. Here are the original source materials.

ROSIE THE RIVETER (1942) FOXY BROWN (1974) NORMA RAE (1979) GLORIA STEINEM AND DOROTHY THELMA & LOUISE (1991) Illustrated by J. Howard Miller Directed by Jack Hill. In this classic Directed by Martin Ritt. A PITMAN-HUGHES (1979) Directed by Ridley Scott. This film for Westinghouse Electric Corp. blaxploitation film, Foxy Brown minimum wage textile mill Photographed by Dan Wynn for is considered a feminist classic Created as a propaganda poster (Pam Grier) goes undercover as a worker notices an influx of health Esquire Magazine. Steinem and because its heroines circumvent during WWII, Rosie has gone on to sex worker for revenge. Grier was problems among her family and Hughes are co-founders of the notions of femininity as they tear become a symbol for the feminist a staple of the genre created to coworkers, which prompts her to original feminist magazine, Ms. across the New Mexican desert on movement. empower black audiences. join the labor fight. magazine. the run from the law.

14 VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.26.17 PHOTOS BY AND COURTESY OF EMILY JOHNSON, AMAZON, GIPHY, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS AND SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY