The Flicks4Chicks contest was launched for sign-ups on February 14th and the festival organizers honestly had no idea what to expect when they made an international call to filmmakers. Would women filmmakers be inspired to make a short in one month or would that seem too daunting? Since men dominate the industry, how might they feel about a contest requiring that women hold lead roles of creative authority? Finally, how would people who generally have their own artistic visions respond to being given a choice of “situations” on which to build their stories? It turns out that, with a few exceptions, we received an overwhelmingly positive response. Well over fifty teams signed up and on the cut-off date of March 31st there were others who had learned of the contest too late, still hoping to participate.
On April 1st the Flicks4Chicks film teams received their narrative situations and were given 5 days to make a final decision on which one they wanted to develop. Now, the international film contest is off to a roaring start with 50 crews from across the US and the world busily working on their projects.
Situations range from “a Muslim woman with a love of technology joins a “geek” sorority at college but still finds her values in collision with the young women around her” to “a female police officer who has been experiencing sexual discrimination is asked to assist in an intense hostage situation where things have spiraled out of control.”
Who might do the best job of exploring diversity or moving beyond the Bechdel test? We could hardly wait to see, so we asked our teams to send us production stills once they began shooting. With a deadline of May 1st, it’s a race to the finish. Here are just a few of the highlights. If they inspire you, save the dates of June 29th and 30th to attend our Different Faces Different Voices Festival screenings at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, MA.
Martin Dwyer
Application Developer
Rachel Wright
Art Director & Photographer
Andrew Butler
Photographer & Illustrator
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- Susan Lyles and Sam Gulstrap on the set of “Way Down Yonder.” This team heralds from Denver, Colorado.
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- Reviewing the shot list for “Tenders.” Photo Credit: Dave Burbank.
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- Actress Susannah Berryman from “Tenders,” produced in Ithaca, NY. Photo Credit: Dave Burbank.
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- The Brazilian Messier team, headed by Marcella Di Santi, work on their Sci Fi (aka Ficção Científica) story.
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- Behind the camera perspective of “A Perfect Match.” A film written and directed by Gwendolyn Callahan of Massachusetts.
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- Actress Daniela Vecchio performs an unusual “experiment” in the short film “Dream.” Directed by Boston filmmaker Sara Pagiaro.
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- The “Way Down Yonder.” team: Emily Davies (actor), Marc Slover (DP), Darren Smith (Director) & Anita Icenogle (Screenwriter) conquer a snowstorm. Photo Credit: J. Heston Gray.
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- Actors , Patrick Simard & Deborah Pierre, expectantly ecstatic, in the Boston film “Dream.”
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- Actress Mary Philippa Hopkins, looking studious, in a film by parents Emily and Marshall Hopkins of Ithaca, NY.
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- The crew at work on “Enchanted Adventures.” by Jacqueline Murray Loring from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photo Credit: Winter Elise.
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- Director Shadya Ballug and her crew from Wicked Famous Productions & A Hany Production, Bridgewater, Massachusetts filming “Confidante.” Photo Credit: Jeanette Frenchko.
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- Reindeer City Productions works out a scene for “Femina Fuge” with actors (l to r) Jackie Arko, Shannon Connolly, Sasha Goldberg (on camera), and Carrie Drzik (writer/director).
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- Something clearly magical is happening with actor Scott Hitz in “The Bookery.” by Emily Hopkins. Photo Credit: DP Karen Rodriguez.
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- Actor, Michelle Racanell browsing through the book store in “Lonely Souls.” Photo Credit: Keiko Kataoka.
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- Actors (L-R) Luciene Gomes and Caroline Pisciotti in “Just Another Girly Movie.” Photo Credit: Guinevere Gaspari.
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- (L-R) Actor Katie Chan and Writer/Director/EP Becca Berry rehearsing in “The Letter.” Photo Credit: Annie Holly Marsh.
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- Director and actor Kate Baxter of London discussing motivation in “Pretty Good Run.”
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- Cast and crew filming a back alley confrontation in “Super Might.” Directed by Leica Lucien.
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- Cast and Crew in “Locked.” Photo Credit: Joanna Belbey.
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- Crew setting up the next shot in “Null Hypothesis.”
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- Crew filming bar scene for “Jun.” (L-R) Actors, Anna Mikami and Jennifer Vargas; DP, Daisy Zhou; Sound Mixer, Frank Flaherty.
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- Actor CJ Hadimi contemplating a new romance in “Grandma in Love.” Photo Credit: Samantha Bruce.
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- Cast and Crew setting up a scene in the eerie sci-fi ‘’Forgotten War.” Photo Credit: Deborah Rosencrans.
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- Actors (L-R) Ashira and Aliza Abramowitz-Silverman in the woods defending themselves in “Ellie and The Mask.”
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- Actors (L-R) Callie Cagwin, Stacey Bradshaw, and Jyl Wommack in “Difference Maker.” Photo Credit: Beth Ewing.
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- Cast and Crew reviewing the location in “City Stars.” Photo Credit: Gabriella Sweet.
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- (L-R) Director Krishnakali Dasgupta and Lead Actress Dipanwita Ghose discussing next scene for “Boxed Up.” Photo Credit: Sayantan Bose.
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- Camera Operator Lisa Scene looking for the next shot in “Bottled.”
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- Actors (L-R) Elaine Victoria Grey, Tina Siereveld, Sean Ingle and Britney Siereveld joking around on the set of “Baked Goods.”
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- (L-R) Director Alexandra Drouhet Henderson and Actor James Defilippi filming “For Sam.” Based in Boston, MA. Photo Credit: Evan Horiwitz.
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- Crew filming dinner scene in “Pinky Promise.” Photo Credit: Barb Odell.
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- Actresses (L-R) Naomi Fuhrer, Kira Hartness and Mary Elizabeth Haferd in the film , “The Wish.” Based in Cambridge, MA. Photo Credit: Andrew Hartness.