In Cannes I saw so many vibrant, knowledgeable, mature women; writers, producers, directors, actresses and other creatives. Of course I saw a lot of interesting and powerful men too but women are fewer. Interestingly there were quite a lot of influential women who liked my projects and saw their potential. Women supporting women.
As you know I also ran a women’s only villa at Cannes Film Festival with another woman and she teamed with two other creative groups to make a huge, successful event called Her Club Cannes with Herflix and Female Film Club (a French initiative) plus Sisterland at a soirée at Villa Forbes.
So this group Collective Queens will support all women in film and theatre but in particular Women over 40 who get less roles, can be less visible in the work place for all roles in film and theatre
Men are called experienced, powerful, women are called “past it” as if just seen as useful for their looks(when in fact many older women can still be sassy, well dressed and sexy) their experiences sidelined . We will try to bring roles as cast and crew to your attention and create more opportunities.
I find it demeaning that the title emerging directors, actors, artists, producers are considered 18-30. Women put their careers on hold often to bring up a family and can reemerge at any age but particularly 50 plus when their family have grown.
We need to change perceptions, older women do not just feature as “mum”, “granny” “witch” “madam” but need nuanced roles where they are the love interest, the boss, the explorer, the inventor, the detective. Of course we need men too but we need them and us to also write roles and cast mature women more often.
Older women have a wealth of knowledge and experience that could be put to use to support other mature women and younger women in the arts. They need to tell their stories and I for one want to hear, watch and see them. Let’s support, guide, empower, elevate and green light each other. Besides that we make up part of a section of society that often or sometimes has time and money on their hands.
So if you believe in this initiative please join for a yearly subscription. of just £40
WHAT WILL BE OFFERED:
1. A private fb group page for members only where you can post what you like if it advertises women in any art capacity as writers, actresses, crew, directors, producers, artist and musicians as long as their work is connected to film or theatre.
2. A Worldwide Directory to encourage members to cast and crew from that directory if possible.
3. A bi monthly meet up in London for script table reads, pitching, casting and networking.
4. A bi monthly zoom meet up with breakout rooms, worldwide.
5. A yearly script table read in London and possibly worldwide if we can stream it.
6. A trusted list of distributors
7. A list of investors and grants for women in any aspect of the industries.
8. A Film fund for features/tv to be set up from within our ranks, The Chalker/Sanger Short Film Fund is in action right now. Another is coming for feature films and pilots.
9. Certain film festivals that will offer huge discounts to members.
10. RS festival that is offering a Creative Queens Award for the best lead actress or director/producer or DOP over 40.
11. A news letter containing early invites and discounts for the ladies only villas/apartments/retreats at major film festivals and other information.
12. Networking with likeminded women.
13. A huge new intiative, a competition with the first prize being a writers retreat in Spain (Rocaberti writers Retreat where the winning script will be polished and then taken to the Birmingham Film Market where you can pitch to eg SKY, BBC etc. (more details soon)
We may close the fb page for Creative Queens as we transfer to an fb private group but the instagram will remain www.instagram.com/creativequeenscollective
We may shortly be offering merchandise and badges to our members. All profits from which will be ploughed back into a film fund for features/tv to be set up.
Please note- The email associated with your pay pal is not always the one that can be used to communicate with you, so please message your best email. All applications we will do our best to respond to within 24 hours except we don't work Sundays. so applying Saturday may take a little longer.
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