Look back: Kelly O’Sullivan’s debut script ‘Saint Frances’ brings an authentic look into womanhood
With the recent news of the Supreme Court leak detailing their plan to overturn Roe vs. Wade, we wanted to bring back our interview with Kelly O’Sullivan about her film “Saint Frances”. At Cinema Femme, we stand for the human rights of women, and we fight an obvious violation of them. “Saint Frances” brings up […]
‘Clueless’ broke down barriers and paved the way for today’s comedies
At the end, “Clueless” is both reflective and ahead of its time. It implants the image of the modern woman of the nineties, rebelling against the clean-shaven stereotypical second-wave feminists and paving the way for women of the fourth-wave feminist, who unlike their predecessors were able to subvert the gaze completely by liberating from the gender and sexual spectrum. Despite resistance, the atmosphere right now is more welcoming than ever for a female-led comedy that does not fear the sexual power of its funny lead actress.
‘Girls Trip’: a dose of Black Girl Magic
“Girls Trip” is a film that highlights and celebrates Black womanhood in a variety of forms. This includes a honour roll call of Black excellence with people like Iyanla Vanzant, Mariah Carey, Mike Epps, Terry McMillan, Morris Chestnut, Estelle, Common, Ne-Yo, and Ava DuVernay who specifically talks about “Black Girl Magic”; DuVernay says, “It feels like a reminder, a rallying call, a term of endearment.” “Girls Trip” is all about the journey that is “Black Girl Magic.”
A cult classic is in our midst with Jennifer Reeder’s teen noir ‘Knives and Skin’
“Knives and Skin” follows the investigation of a young girl’s disappearance in a rural Midwest town. The coming-of-age film has been described as a mix of Lynchian thriller and high school musical.
The Bend and Snap, works every time: an essay on ‘Legally Blonde’
Elle Woods spent so much of her life playing by the rules that had been laid out for her, bending under the weight of what society wanted her to be. Until finally, she snapped and became who she wanted herself to be. For generations, women have been bending under societal pressures and conforming to the rules men have laid out for them, until they all finally snap and start walking their own path in life, and that’s when we all truly shine. Because if there’s one thing that we all learned from “Legally Blonde,” it’s that the “Bend and Snap” works every time.
Chosen ‘Family’
Family is about the lengths you will go to listen and hear others, not just the blood bonds that you have. Kate and Maddie are each other’s chosen family, and that is poignant.
Comedy duo Alyse McGuigan and Kana Felix are bringing dynamic female characters to the stage and screen
Chicago-based comedians (and writers for Cinema Femme magazine) Alyse McGuigan and Kana Felix have been passionate about comedy since grade school. “I was very shy growing up. I was always the nice quiet girl, and people would come up to me and be like, ‘You’re so quiet, why don’t you talk more?’” Alyse said. “But […]
Patti Vasquez brings representation onstage and behind the mic
Patti Vasquez is a renaissance woman: She’s the host of “The Patti Vasquez Show” on Chicago’s WGN Radio, a stand-up comedian, and the founder of With Kind Words, a consulting company for health care providers. Patti brings her passion and love for people into her comedy, her radio show on WGN, and her writing. I […]
Comedy Issue Cover Artist: Tavi Veraldi
Tavi Veraldi is talented Chicago-based illustrator, film buff, and overall stellar person. With her edgy, comic-book style, horror-inspired art, and pop art look, Tavi’s style is distinctive and reminds me of Chicago neighborhoods like Logan Square and Wicker Park. Her work is infused with her love for film, and we’re so happy she was available […]
The Women of Tribeca
Film festivals afford you an opportunity to meet filmmakers from all over the world who are involved in the industry in many different capacities. And this year, at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, I spoke with writers on the red carpet, watched Q and As as an audience member, and literally bumped into or by […]
From Hollywood to Chicago, Katherine O’Brien is helping aspiring screenwriters
Cinema Femme is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Katherine O’Brien is a brilliant, comedic, down-to-earth individual. For fifteen-plus years, she’s thrived in Hollywood and throughout the international marketplace as a […]
Cleveland comedian Sam Dee is creating spaces for women in comedy
For the past several years, Sam Dee has been creating inclusive, creative spaces for comedians and audience members in Cleveland. She cocreated the comedy advice show Share-apy in 2017, cofounded the female-run comedy festival Mass Hysteria Comedy Fest and started the comedy competition Improv Death Match in 2018, and is part of the improv troupe […]