The Revolution

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says "I'm possible"-Audrey Hepburn

It's time. No more waiting. Forward movement only.

I don't know about the rest of you film artists and lovers, but I'm done with Hollywood and the big film industry.

We see it every day. Report after report about how big studios screw over artists. From stealing ideas and calling them their own, to the wage gap between white, male actors and everyone else. The abuse that artists/ tech workers endure on a daily basis; sexual harassment, blacklisting, sexism, racism and humiliation all to do something they were born to do. Create.

The same movies are literally being retold over and over ad nauseum. Though some may not mind paying BIG money at the box office to see all of the remade garbage, I know there are many who do, because box office sales are at a 25 year low. I understand this has something to do with the age of streaming and the internet, but I haven't been to the movie theater in ages. Believe me, as a film lover since the age of 3 this bothers me.

I LOVE seeing a fantastic film on the big screen (key word being fantastic, but when was the last time that happened?), but I refuse to feed into this toxic system anymore. As moviegoers, we have the power to demand better with our money. As artists, we have the ability to say no to jobs that discriminate against us.

So why do artists continue in the pernicious system? I know many of us do it because Hollywood's "the place" to earn big money, if you make it. Over the years the system has rotted to the point of no return. There are so many Hollywood wannabes, it leads to an overpopulated, supersaturated, yet, elitist oligarchy, where hungry artists and consumers are taken advantage of on a daily basis.

Let me make one thing clear, I am not trying to change Hollywood. People have been fighting it for years but haven't gotten anywhere. 

What I am suggesting, and building, is an alternative to this immensely bloated, money wasting, discriminatory, industry that mainstream filmmaking has become.  It seems a daunting task, but because 99% of us don't "make it" in Hollywood, the ability to create something great together, could be quite simple.

Think about it. If every single woman, POC, disabled, LGBTQ+ artist all decided not to work for them, WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE? This is pretty unrealistic though, even considering how many big names are speaking out against all of the inequalities. No one wants to give up their golden meal ticket if they have it.

How about this instead: If everyone else, knowing who they know, specializing in their unique talent set, came together to create a big budget, original epic not seen in ages? What if said film was built by honest, hard working, respectable, talented artists who live and breathe to do their art? What if the cast was a diverse group of people that we generally never get to see in everyday film, instead of the same 20 people day in and day out?

Starting now, the process of the Revolution begins . I will be implementing a new donation button on Queen B. Productions' "Contact" page. As you know, any revolution needs funding. If you are passionate about great films and giving artists even better jobs, please consider donating. Any amount helps. Funds will be used towards the multitude of costs any new company/cause faces.

I am also putting forth an ORIGINAL, Fantasy Sci-Fi Film called The Empyrean Chronicles: Descent. Information on this story is available through the link above. It is a story that, at one level or another, will resonate with all of humanity and, as the stories progress, depict the themes of our lives in living, fantastical color. The cast and crew will be fully inclusive and I do mean, fully.

We are going to make this film together.

Anyone from film fanatics to artists, known or unknown, are welcome to donate money, time or talent to this one of a kind production. It will be wholly funded by the masses and created with passionate artists from the 99%. I want to show the world what amazing feats can be accomplished, when we set aside our greed and join together towards a common cause.  Any and all profits made upon the film's success, will go back into creating more jobs for new, unknown, talent of all kinds at Queen B. Productions.

Talented artists, planners, great minds, contact me to inquire about upcoming ways to join in, not only the film, but our production company and cause. I need you; the world needs you and your stories; we need each other. What a shame it would be for future generations to look back on stories told only by the privileged few. We must change history, now.

My sister and brother filmmakers and artists, it is time. Right now. It's time to create the alternative to Hollywood, for indies and blockbusters. Let us move away from a discriminatory, elitist system that cares about nothing but money. Let us be the storytellers the world needs. Let us embrace the 99%, i.e. each other, who are excluded from that hypocritical, shameful society.

Let us find the true talent out there, without all of the red tape. Let us create jobs for those of us who love our art so much, that we put up with outright humiliation and veritable slavery to do it. Let us create a new norm for film making; one built upon respect, common decency and celebration of all colors, genders and abilities; one that creates films that can reach out and change the world for the better. Not an insurmountable beast built on ego and money, but a great meritocracy.

Don't allow one more child of our world miss seeing themselves in stories that could inspire them to be game changers. Let us be the change and the example of what creating art looks like.

The film Revolution starts here. One step and artist at a time.

Join Us!

The Death of Mainstream Film

After taking a break from blogging on our old site, I'm ready to charge forward on the new one! 

During my time away, I have had the privilege of writing for other folks, including film reviews and other industry related articles.  I have had the chance to meet many incredible women filmmakers, industry pros, executives and academia. I have witnessed the literal fall of democracy in the 2016 presidential election and marched along with the Resistance. 

As much upheaval and push for change there is all over our world, there's one thing that's stayed stagnantly the same. Mainstream film.  The film industry must start embracing original scripts, more diversity and be MUCH more inclusive overall or it will self destruct.

As far as women in film go, we've seen a flat trend in our inclusion behind the scenes. Since the 1990's things have stagnated for women. There are many legal loopholes that studios use to get around fair hiring practices and legal consequences. Due to the film industry's murky laws, there isn't much to hold their feet to the fire.

There are a lot of female celebrities speaking out for feminism in Hollywood. Many more are starting production companies dedicated to getting women and POC working. While the sentiment is great, how many people do you know that have access to these stars? Can a talented, unknown artist contact them about their interests? Hell no. 98% of us don't have any access to the Reese Witherspoon's, Viola Davis's or Nicole Kidman's starting these production companies.

I recently had the opportunity to be a part of a big media summit. It was meant to bring about great change for women in the industry and it may still do so. What concerned me was how so many of the industry insiders, who fight for inclusion in the industry, are still so stuck on staying within the industry, to change the industry. Countless organizations in the past through today have been doing just that for years and where has it really gotten anyone? Is the industry any more open, tolerant or willing to make changes than it was 20, 30 even 40 years ago? The answer is almost always, resoundingly, NO.

So where does that leave everyone else? As usual, out in the cold, forced to spend our lives trying to scale the impenetrable Hollywood walls, most with zero success. I'll be the first to admit that there are a ton of incredibly untalented people trying to make a living in film. Many untalented people are currently working in mainstream film. Those working in Hollywood don't get there because they are the best, they get there because, by and large, they know someone who gets them in. Of course there are some extremely talented people working too, but they are the exception.

The bigger pool of talent is in a place where most insiders don't go. OUT THERE. I have been privy to some incredible shorts and Indie films in the course of my reviews. Most of those fabulous pieces have been done by women.  Do men make better films? Hands down, no. A great film isn't about gender, its about passion, vision, integrity, and honesty. All of which, no one who consistently works in mainstream has to have. I don't know about you, but I'm deathly tired of all of the same films, same actors, same filmmakers and arrogance that plague mainstream film. No one working seems to think they need to be great anymore because they always get hired no matter how second rate their work is. Doesn't anyone believe in putting their very best into EVERY job?

How conceited do you have to be to think that you should be one of 5 people hired to direct every film? How self serving must you be to take millions upon millions of dollars and do nothing to help anyone outside of the industry get work? Hollywood's looking worse than current politicians to me. At least the President has SOME rules he's forced to adhere to even with a party majority in Congress. Do Hollywood studios have the same regulation? Again, NO.

My plea is to the other 98% of film artists out there. The ones who's only life purpose is in creating something great. To the talented animator, who's work was stolen by big industry companies with no remunerations whatsoever, because they know most of us can't afford the attorney's they can. To that 6' plus actress who's heart was in playing the Princess, but was stereotyped out. To the millions of POC who's stories NEVER get told in mainstream due to one crappy, bullshit excuse after another. To the up and coming screenwriters who's precious work gets thrown out by a reader that wouldn't know a great script from a banana. And, to the millions of women who are subjected EVERY DAY to the rampant sexism, sexual harassment, sexual assault and appalling condescension in the industry. I want you to know that I see you and feel you.

That's what Queen B. Productions was created for. Artists should not have to withstand all of the excrement we do just to do what we love. My next article hearkens the beginning of the offer that I am putting forth to the world. The movement I am creating. There is a way to change how things are done, but it can only be done together and with the same passion I am putting forth into this article and my company. It won't be easy, at all. Rebellion never is. We simply cannot continue to accept things the way they are.

Stay tuned for our next step.