The documentary, written directed and produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, posits that young girls and women want to see positive female role models up on screen, but the entertainment industry isn’t delivering.
“There is no appreciation for women intellectuals. It’s all about the body, not about the brain,” said Ariella, a high school student featured in the film.
A call-to-action campaign grew from the film, encouraging viewers to get involved by advocating for better media representation of women and girls. The call-to-action was taken to heart in the collaboratory efforts of the Midcoast Chapter of Maine Women’s Network, New Hope for Women, local high school students, community leaders, and The Strand Theatre for this film screening and panel discussion.
Prior to the event, New Hope for Women worked with area high school students to explore themes of leadership, empowerment, and healthy media imagery. The students will present their findings after the film to encourage more people to take action.
“By showing the film and having a discussion afterward, we’re not leaving people hanging, “ said Kim Palermo of the Midcoast Chapter of Maine Women’s Network. “This should be a rallying cry for all people to put their voices and actions together and let it be known that this [the lack of female role models in the media] is just not acceptable.”
For Maine Women’s Network members, the collaboration has given them the opportunity to further their mission by acting as role models in leadership for young women in the community.
“The students that have participated have already gained something and we want everyone who comes to look upon this as something they can get involved in,” Palermo said.
While the film and presentation focuses on the representation of women in television and film, the lack of female role models in television and film affects eveyone, and Palermo hopes a variety of different people will attend.
“We actually don’t want this to be an all female audience. We’d love to see The Strand half full of boys and men. Everyone should be interested in the message this film sends,” Palermo explained.
“To quote Emma Watson recently, ‘For the record, feminism by definition is: “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” In order for that to happen, everyone has to be on board,” Palermo said.
The Strand Theater is located at 345 Main St., Rockland. Tickets for the “Miss Representation” event are $10 for adults, $5 for students and are available at https://nhfw.ejoinme.org/M issRepresentation or at the box office on the day of the show.
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