DOCUMENTARY PROJECT:
HERSTORY RECLAIMED*
* working title
Immerse yourself in an inspiring journey from the courageous womxn and pioneers of the early Hollywood days to the trailblazers, overcomers, and changemakers of the future. This is the story of womxn shaping the tomorrow of Hollywood and reclaiming their rightful position in an industry they once helped build into the most influential in the modern world.
This is a documentary that explores the reclamation of female* voices in the film industry. The film’s journey highlights the impressive achievements of womxn in Hollywood’s past, present, and future, and gives space to their unique stories that have often been overlooked. The film shows how womxn actively create change and shape the (film) world through their lenses.
HOLLYWOOD WAS MADE BY HER* | Womxn have undoubtedly made significant contributions to the creation and development of Hollywood and the film industry in general. In the early days of film, many womxn were active as directors, screenwriters, producers, and actresses, making innovative and influential contributions. Some examples include female* directors such as Alice Guy-Blaché, considered one of the first female* filmmakers, and actresses such as Mary Pickford, also known as a co-founder of a film studio. However, over time, womxn were often pushed out of key positions in the film industry, and there have been periods when their contributions have yet to be adequately recognized. Efforts have been and continue to be made to acknowledge womxn's work and influence in Hollywood and strengthen their presence in the industry.
ROBIN JONAS
Robin Jonas has over 30 years of experience in the entertainment and media industry. She was a senior consultant at The Weinstein Company and senior executive at several studios, including Miramax Films, Walt Disney Pictures and Paramount, where she worked on films such as The King‘s Speech and Django Unchained and was Harvey Weinstein‘s right-hand woman. For Paramount, she oversaw marketing, and before her consulting work, she was president of Kevin Costner’s multi-million dollar company Tig Productions, where she was responsible for development, production, film financing, and marketing. Robin also co-founded the Tig subsidiary Treehouse Films with Costner in 2008. Robin became my mentor, when I met her working for Voltage Pictures in 2019/2020.
SARAH ANN MASSE
Sarah Ann Masse is a queer L.A.-based actress, writer, singer, producer, filmmaker, and comedian who was among the first to speak out about the Weinstein abuse. Facing retaliation in her career for speaking out about the abuse and simply not getting a job, she founded Hire Survivors Hollywood – an initiative dedicated to ending retaliation against survivors of sexual violence in the entertainment industry. She plays Emily Steel in Maria Schrader’s She Said, one of the New York Times investigative journalists who was instrumental in driving the #MeToo movement with her investigative reports. Her initiative has gained more and more attention, and she now coorperates with Women In Film (WIF), a global organization dedicated to promoting gender parity in the film and entertainment industry. It supports women‘s achievements in filmmaking and advocates for equal opportunities. .
DR. JANE GAINES
Professor Dr. Jane M. Gaines is an outstanding figure in film history and feminist film theory, a distinguished professor at Columbia University, and an award-winning author. A respected pioneer, she has made a name for herself through groundbreaking academic work that contributes to appreciating the history and influence of women in film. Her research focuses on innovative approaches to studying the film industry, particularly in the context of gender issues. As founder of the Women Film Pioneers Project, she has played a vital role in raising awareness of the significant contributions of women in the early years of cinema. It has changed the way feminist film history is viewed forever. Through her expertise and dedication, Dr. Jane Gaines has been instrumental in rethinking established narratives in film history and introducing new perspectives. Her influence extends far beyond her academic career as she actively contributes to honoring the legacy of women in the film industry and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers.
SAMI BASS
Sami Bass is a queer screenwriter, director, producer, actor, and ancestral healer. Sami was born in New York City and studied acting at the renowned Lee Strasberg Institute. Sami initially wanted to work as an actress in Hollywood, but, as she says herself, there wasn’t really room for a performer like her in Hollywood. What she means by that is her ethnic background. Her ancestors were Indigenous and black. Sami’s behind-the-scenes career in Hollywood began in Ridley Scott‘s office at CBS, but, as she tells me in the interview, she took many of her jobs in high-profile offices off her resume after some of her former colleagues and superiors were linked to the #MeToo scandal. Shortly before the height of the #MeToo movement, Sami founded the organization MoviesByHer with other female stakeholders from the industry, including Naomi McDougall Jones. Their goal was to find a way to get audiences to watch films made by women. Like many other women in Hollywood, they often heard studio investors say things like “People don’t want to see women’s films“.
DR. SHELLEY STAMP
Professor Dr. Shelley Stamp is a renowned pioneer in film history and feminist film theory. A preeminent scholar, she has been instrumental in honoring the history and influence of women filmmakers and raising awareness of gender equity in the industry. Through groundbreaking research, she has challenged traditional narratives about the male-dominated origins of the film industry and brought to light significant contributions by women in the early days of cinema. Through her research and teaching, Professor Dr. Shelley Stamp has impacted the next generation of filmmakers and scholars.
NAOMI MCDOUGALL JONES
Naomi McDougall Jones is an award-winning actress, writer and producer. She is known for her commitment to gender equality in the film industry. Her TED talk “What It’s Like to Be a Woman in Hollywood“ sparked a global wave of support for the movement around women in film. Through her work and public appearances, she has helped to raise awareness of the inequalities in the film industry and promote opportunities for change. In addition to her creative career, Naomi McDougall Jones is a founding member of North America’s first women- and Indigenous-led media studio: reGEN media. I accompanied Naomi and the reGEN media team on a week-long retreat in the mountains of Idaho.
CATHERINE EATON
Catherine is an outstanding director and actress who brought her unique perspective through Ryan Murphy’s Shadowing Director program and the “Through Her Lens” Director’s Lab. Her directorial debut THE SOUNDING won numerous awards, including praise from Pulitzer Prize winner Joe Morgenstern. The film was distributed internationally through HBO, received a SAMHSA Voice Awards nomination for Activism and Advocacy. In addition to her career as a filmmaker and actress, she teaches screen directing at Harvard University and works with ReGen Media on an inclusive and transformative future in film.
CHARLENE SANJENKO
Charlene SanJenko is the founder and CEO of ReGEN media. Hailing from the Splatsin tribe, the most southern tribe of the Shuswap Nation in British Columbia, Charlene has called the picturesque Sunshine Coast home since 2004, situated on the traditional territory of the Squamish (skwxwú7mesh) First Nations. She brings a corporate background in investment services, marketing & communications, community economic development, politics, and impact production. She is passionately committed to fundamentally transforming the allocation of creative resources and determining their recipients, all for the greater purpose of fostering positive relationships.
ReGEN MEDIA
ReGEN media is the first and only Indigenous-owned and female-led wrap-around ecosystem that facilitates the creation, funding, and distribution of regenerative media projects through a relational filmmaking model. I accompanied the reGEN media team on a week-long retreat in the mountains of Idaho. The photo shows holistic therapist Courtenay Loving, reGEN founder Charlene SanJenko, Naomi McDougall Jones, Catherine Eaton, and Sami Bass.
LEONIE WALDECK
I like to call myself a cinematic feminist. In this role, I have made it my mission to push forward a project that transcends the boundaries of the silver screen with an unmatched passion for the art of filmmaking. Armed with a deep appreciation for the rich history of cinema and an unwavering belief in the efficacy of storytelling, I set out on a quest to amplify the often silenced voices. Throughout my cinematic odyssey, I delve into the rich history of Hollywood, following the trailblazing footsteps of fearless pioneers and innovative ealy womxn filmmakers.
My documentary is an expedition that's not just about uncovering the roots of female* influence – it's about blazing new trails for a multitude of voices to shape the modern cinematic landscape. It's my goal to build bridges by telling stories driven by my research and my passion for movies and the world. My main goal is to evoke emotion and inspire transformation.
My upcoming film pays tribute to the womxn responsible for creating Hollywood while also serving as a rallying cry to empower the voices that will define the future of cinema. Film can be a powerful tool for shaping an inclusive and inspiring world. That's why I'm excited to embark on this journey with people who share this vision and recognize its potential impact.
DISCLAIMER: This digital contribution uses the term "Womxn" for explanatory purposes, not to say women, to indicate that both female-read people, as well as gender non-conforming individuals, genderqueer people, two-spirit people, transgender people, and non-binary people, are included. Womxn acknowledges that gender diversity exists. In the context of this web entry, this includes any FLINTA* and LQBTQIA+ person who does not feel addressed by the traditional term "woman". At the same time, the author of this page understands that many non-binary people aren't interested in being included in the term womxn either as it is based upon the term “women". The author of this page apologizes for any gender mis-speak and professes good intentions.