Published Writing
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODHistory as Herstory: Crowdfunding Picks
Many of us were told the story of the pilgrims and Native Americans and their shared cooperation, which ultimately led to the holiday tradition of Thanksgiving, only to grow up and find out that the reality was much darker. History is always a record told to us by others, sometimes in the form of a lecture from our teacher, a textbook, a documentary film, or stories from our relatives. Our culture often portrays it as something we cannot change, something to be taken as fact. But history is a product of bias, often warped from the perspective of the teller. And as we learn more about the world, it is our responsibility to interrogate these narratives. But what if we did more than just ask questions…
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODUnder the Radar: Aube Giroux’s “Modified” Is a Personal, Political Exploration of Food Policy
“If you add water to a food product, you must add ‘water’ to the food label. But if you add insecticide [to food] through genetic engineering, you need not label.”
So states one of the subjects of Aube Giroux’s award-winning documentary “Modified.” Despite being labelled in 64 countries around the world, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not labelled in the United States or Canada. Through this documentary, Giroux questions where our food comes from through a political and a uniquely personal take on the subject. During the film’s shoot, Giroux’s mother was battling cancer. As a food activist, her mother’s passion thereby fueled Giroux’s interest in exposing the relationships between corporations and governments — and how they work to deceive consumers into ingesting unknown chemicals…
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODReclaiming Our Experiences, Telling Our Stories: Crowdfunding Picks
When you take in the news today, what do you notice? Stories about women experiencing sexual assault, online harassment, body shaming, criticism for being too loud or not enough. Our culture is steeped in sexism and misogyny, and even women in the most respected of positions are targeted. Just days ago Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, recently elected to the United States House of Representatives, was shamed by a man for wearing professional attire deemed inappropriate based on reports of her financial means…
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODUnder the Radar: Rima Das’ “Bulbul Can Sing” Examines the Joy and Pain of Growing Up
Last year, director Rima Das premiered her film “Village Rockstars,” which went on to become India’s official submission to the 91st Academy Awards. In her latest feature, “Bulbul Can Sing,” Das once again served as her own crew, wearing the hats of writer, director, camera operator, producer, and editor simultaneously. The result is a personal and complex portrait that takes a closer look at relationships, sexuality, and patriarchal power structures, through the lens of a young girl growing up in a village in Assam, India…
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODNeither Here Nor There: Crowdfunding Pick
“America is a melting pot” you often hear people say. Different cultures, religions, and ethnicities all living side by side to make up the diversity we see in our everyday lives. There is no one way to be “American.” Taking on this label could mean you’re an immigrant, or it could mean your family has lived here for generations. And while this identity encompasses many different perspectives, sometimes defining and taking ownership of that identity can be tricky. Beyond societal pressures to fit in with the majority and cultural standards for how to dress, eat, and behave, there are also institutional gatekeepers that police who can enter the country, and even who can call themselves a citizen. Despite the welcoming nature of our melting pot ethos, finding our place in this world can be a difficult task…
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODSwipe Right: September’s VOD and Web Series Picks
This month’s VOD and web series picks offer a few different takes on dating in the modern age. With the adoption of social media, smart phones, and apps, navigating the dating world in a sea of virtual pixels is no easy task. There are dozens of dating apps to choose from, and a whole new vocabulary to go with them — terms like “ghosting” and “haunting” are becoming commonplace in our lexicon. The most recent season of anthology show “Black Mirror” even tackled the tech of online dating in “Hang the DJ,” an episode which resonated strongly with audiences and hinted at a not-so-far-fetched future dating app…
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODGrowing Pains: Crowdfunding Picks
Flip through one of your old photo albums. How does it feel? Regardless of the time period you are looking back on, you’re probably experiencing a fairly strong emotional response. Maybe it’s nostalgia for simpler times, or embarrassment thinking back on those awkward pre-teen years when braces were the bane of your existence. Growing up is tough for everyone, and rarely do we escape it without a few bumps, bruises, and lessons learned. For some, those lessons are more painful than others...
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODThe Bonds Between Us: Crowdfunding Picks
Our entire lives are defined by relationships. From a young age, we are taught to identify ourselves relative to someone else; daughter, sister, partner, friend. And whether these bonds are defined by friendship or family, enemies or lovers, support or trauma, the short-term or a lifetime, no two are ever quite the same…
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODUnder the Radar: “Are You Glad I’m Here” Expertly Portrays Friendship Across Cultures
Winner of the Brooklyn Film Festival’s Audience Award, “Are You Glad I’m Here” follows a young American woman as she moves to Beirut and befriends her neighbor, a Lebanese housewife. Directed by Lebanese-American filmmaker Noor Gharzeddine, the film effortlessly blends culture and genre, resulting in a spellbinding watch...
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOODExploring the Psyche: July’s VOD and Web Series Picks
All three of the picks for this month’s VOD and web series round-up spotlight a loaded subject: mental health. Long considered taboo, mental health has finally started to be talked about more openly in recent years. The tide is slowly shifting away from stigma, and towards more candid discussion…