News Archive

June 15, 2016

CinemAbility Exclusive Screening for Institute For Our Members

CinemAbility

a Film Directed by JENNI GOLD

Exclusive Screening for our Members
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
7 pm

ArcLight Cinemas
6360 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Starring
Geena Davis, Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx, Marlee Matlin
and Many More…

Opening Remarks by Gretchen McCourt, EVP, Arclight Cinemas and Madeline Di Nonno, Chief Executive Officer, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media Screening.

Followed by Q&A with Moderator: Deborah Calla, Writer/Producer and Chair,
Producers Guild of America Women’s Impact Network

Panel of Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe winners:

Deborah Calla

Writer/Producer and Chair, Producers Guild of America, Women’s Impact Network

Gabrielle Carteris

Actor, President of SAG/AFTRA

Geena Davis

Founder and Chair,
Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

Jenni Gold

Director, Writer, Producer

Jane Seymour

Actor/Producer

Scott Silveri

Writer/Producer
Friends, Grinder, and the new show Speechless

Danny Woodburn

Actor

June 15, 2016

Geena Davis on Hollywood Gender Disparity: We Can Fix It ‘Overnight’

“When the needle moves on on-screen representation for the first time in seven decades that will be historic,” she said. “It’s the one area of great gender disparity that can be fixed instantly. We can absolutely fix it overnight, the next TV show, the next movie can be gender balanced.” Read More…

June 13, 2016

Why Hollywood Doesn’t Tell More Stories for—and About—Girls

Girls tend to be slotted into a narrower range of character types (princesses chief among them), making it that much more valuable when films present alternatives young female viewers can relate to. The problem is even worse for young girls of color, who historically haven’t seen many images of themselves on screen, animated or otherwise (though films like the upcoming Moana seem to offer some hope that might change for the better). Read More…

June 09, 2016

Geena Davis to Produce Documentary on Gender Disparity in Hollywood … With a Male Director?

I heard about this documentary mostly through the female filmmakers in my social media feeds, all of them angry that this film that is specifically about the problem of women not being offered enough opportunities in the entertainment industry had a male director, and that Geena Davis of all people would “allow” this to happen. I totally got sucked into the anger and outrage vortex for a second. Then, I needed to know more, so I went to the source, and what I discovered was that like most things, it wasn’t as cut-and-dried as all that. Thank you @TheMarySue for your support and getting the story right. Read More…

June 08, 2016

Geena Davis Producing Documentary on Hollywood’s Gender Inequality

Geena Davis and CreativeChaos vmg are launching a partnership to produce an untitled feature documentary on gender disparity in Hollywood. “I’ve been encouraged by my peers speaking out on gender disparity in recent years, but we still are not seeing the actual number change,” Davis told Variety. “There’s been no real improvement in the number of female roles since 1946 and there’s still a dearth of female directors.” Read More…

June 08, 2016

Geena Davis Set to Executive Produce New Documentary Exploring Unconcious Gender Bias and Misrepresentation of Women in Hollywood

Film To Be Produced In Partnership with The Geena Davis Institute on Gender In Media and Regina K. Scully Artemis Rising Foundation

New York, NY – June 8, 2016 – Today Academy Award®-winning actor and advocate Geena Davis and CreativeChaos vmg announced a partnership to produce a new untitled feature documentary on gender disparity in Hollywood.  Set to direct the film is Tom Donahue, director of the Emmy-nominated HBO feature documentary ‘Casting By,’ which followed the evolution of casting in the film and television industries and raised awareness for the contributions of the casting director.  

The story will be told through the eyes of experts and researchers and using cutting edge data provided by The Geena Davis Institute on Gender In Media, as well as first-person accounts of high-profile actors, executives and artists in the field.  It will take a systemic look at unconscious bias and seek to provide a roadmap for solutions and act as a catalyst for change.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Tom Donahue and Regina K. Scully. I’ve been working directly with content creators behind-the-scenes for nearly 10 years,” said Geena Davis. “This documentary will allow us to share what has worked and highlight our successes and impact on the industry.”

The film is being produced by CreativeChaos vmg in association with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the only research-based organization working behind the scenes in the media and entertainment industry to influence the need to dramatically improve gender balance, reduce stereotyping and create diverse female characters in entertainment targeting children.

“We are elated to have Geena as partner on this project.  She’s been a pioneer on shining the spotlight on the unconscious and conscious bias that forms the foundation of gender inequality in our industry,” said director Tom Donahue.  “Having access to the Institute’s groundbreaking research and data will add an exciting component to the film, helping to shape and guide the message.”

In partnership with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the film is being produced in association with the Artemis Rising Foundation, founded by three time Emmy award winning and two time Oscar nominated producer Regina K. Scully (‘Anita Hill,’ ‘Miss Representation,’ ‘Invisible War,’ ‘Hunting Ground,’ ‘Fed Up’). The Artemis Rising Foundation has helped launch ground-breaking projects focused on media activism, education reform, and entertainment/arts that transform our culture. 

“I am proud to support both Geena and Tom’s extraordinary work on two of the most important issues of our time, gender parity and mental health,” stated Ms. Scully.

CreativeChaos vmg, a feature film, documentary and television production company, was founded in 2010 by Tom Donahue, Ilan Arboleda and Steve Edwards.  The company focuses on provocative projects that can move the dial on the cultural conversation.  Recent successes include the Emmy-nominated HBO feature documentary, ‘Casting By’ and the feature documentary, ‘Thank You for Your Service,’ which focuses on the continuing mental health crisis in the U.S. military. CreativeChaos is currently in post-production on ‘Santiago Calatrava,’ a documentary on the world-renowned architect (directed by Alexandra Liveris) and Donahue’s latest, ‘A Very Good Year.’

Filming is set to commence in early June. Madeline Di Nonno, Patty Casby and Steve Edwards are also attached as Executive Producers. Ilan Arboleda and Kerianne Flynn are set to produce.

About CreativeChaos vmg:
CreativeChaos vmg is a New York­-based feature film, documentary and television production company. Founded in 2010 by Tom Donahue, Ilan Arboleda and Steve Edwards, CreativeChaos focuses on provocative projects that can move the dial of the cultural conversation. Social disruption is the cornerstone of the company’s work.

About the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media:
The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, at Mt. St. Mary’s University, is the only research-based organization working behind the scenes in the media and entertainment industry to influence the need to dramatically improve gender balance, reduce stereotyping and create diverse female characters in entertainment targeting children. www.seejane.org.

About the Artemis Rising Foundation:
Regina K. Scully is the Founder and CEO of Artemis Rising Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to developing and promoting media, education and the Arts that transform our culture.

June 01, 2016

Smart Snacks with Geena Davis

Last month, we had the pleasure of attending the Bentonville Film Festival, which champions women and diverse voices in media. Our very own Rhea Butcher, co-host of She Said, met up with Geena Davis to talk about the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and how the impact of women in movies like A League of Their Own have inspired countless young girls (including Rhea) to play sports. Read More…

May 27, 2016

Geena Davis On Why Hollywood Is At A Turning Point In Gender Equality

Since Davis’s initial hunch that not all was equal in Hollywood, diversity has become a hot topic in the industry. Last year, the ACLU asked state and federal agencies to investigate the matter. The debate was a cover New York Times magazine story in which leading figures like Lena Dunham and Jill Soloway all spoke about the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated profession. Read More…

May 24, 2016

19 Things You Might Not Have Known About Thelma & Louise for the Film’s 25th Birthday

Thelma & Louise, which has managed to become both a quintessential girl power and road trip film, turns 25 this year. To help celebrate, we’re taking a look back down the long dusty road that Thunderbird traveled and rounding up some of the best bits of trivia from the iconic film. Watch Video…

May 24, 2016

Watch: 7 Facts You Might Not Know About Thelma & Louise

Thelma & Louise is turning 25! Watch Video…

IF SHE CAN SEE IT, SHE CAN BE IT®