Women Occupy Hollywood & Equal Means Equal Take a Stand against #OscarsSoMale with a Pre-Oscars week of Events & Screenings of the Women’s Rights Documentary Equal Means Equal to Highlight Persistent Sex Discrimination in Hollywood.
WHO:
In answer to #OscarsSoMale again in 2017, Kamala Lopez, filmmaker and activist, and Ivana Massetti, writer-director and Founder of Women Occupy Hollywood, have organized a series of screenings of Lopez’s award-winning documentary EQUAL MEANS EQUAL to let American audiences know that WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ARE NOT GUARANTEED EQUAL RIGHTS BY THE CONSTITUTION. This lack of equal rights for women is reflected in every field in America, including the entertainment industry.
WHAT:
EQUAL MEANS EQUAL is an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. By following both real life stories and precedent-setting legal cases, Lopez discovers how outdated and discriminatory attitudes inform and influence seemingly disparate issues, from workplace matters to domestic violence, rape and sexual assault to the foster care system, the healthcare system and the legal system. Along the way, she reveals the inadequacy of present laws in places that claim to protect women, ultimately presenting a compelling and persuasive argument for the urgency of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment.
The ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) was written by Alice Paul and dates back to 1923. The Amendment would grant full federal equality to women, who were still chattel when the Constitution was written in 1787. Although it passed in 35 States in the 70’s, the shocking reality is that it never achieved the 38 States required for the Amendment to be ratified.
Every year for almost forty now, the Amendment is re-introduced to Congress but never voted on. It has disappeared from America’s consciousness, and most of the population has no idea that these rights for women don’t exist. 96% of Americans believe women and men are already legally equal. Yet even as we speak, the hard-fought rights that do exist for women are being carved away and rolled back all over America.
The marginalized position of women in the entertainment industry is a reflection of American women’s lack of constitutionally guaranteed equal rights.
Dr. Stacy Smith’s most recent study at the USC Annenberg School’s MDSC Initiative reveals that Hollywood still has an Inclusion crisis behind the camera. From 1,000 movies from 2007 to 2016, 5.7% of these directors were women. 94.3% were men. This is a gender ratio of 16.5 male helmers to every one female helmer.
Our fight for gender equality in the industry is the same fight as that of the rest of American women.
Women in America must be equal to men under the law, as they are in 130 countries around the world. This is the FOUNDATION of any truly civilized democratic society.
WHERE:
Screenings and discussions taking place on Tuesday 2/21 at Mount Saint Mary University for the Gender and Media Program, on Wednesday 2/22 at The Parlour Room in Hollywood for a Pre-Oscars Night for Women’s Rights, and on Saturday 2/25 at the 24th Street Theater, as a benefit for the homeless women of Skid Row, the “Never Turn Away A Woman” project by Vanessa Alva. Screenings will be followed by panel and Q & A with the public led by Lopez and Massetti. On Wednesday special guests and super DJs will join us for a night of conversation, music and dance.
EQUAL MEANS EQUAL is a New York Times Critics Pick which won the Best U.S. Documentary Audience Award at Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival in 2016. The film’s Executive Producer Patricia Arquette brought public visibility for women’s equal rights back center stage after being sidelined for decades with her speech at the 2015 Oscars.
To learn more about Equal Means Equal go to:
www.equalmeansequal.com
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To learn more about Women Occupy Hollywood go to:
https://womenoccupyhollywood.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/WomenOccupyHollywood/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/WomenOccupyHwd
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/womenoccupyhollywood/
YouTubeChannel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCll6UkH7yXp_O-R9hxbKElA
Wednesday 2/22
WHO:
Pistol & Stamen & Denise Weaver
Heroica Films & Women Occupy Hollywood invite you to a
PRE-OSCARS NIGHT FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS:
Kamala Lopez (Director of documentary Equal Means Equal)
Ivana Massetti (Writer/Director & Founder of Women Occupy Hollywood)
Lizzy Jagger (model/activist)
Roberta Hanley (producer/activist)
Natalie White (artist/activist)
Sarabeth Stroller (model/activist)
WHAT:
Did you know that the number of women in the film industry has actually GONE DOWN this year? Join us for a drink and pick up some important knowledge in answer to #OscarsSoMale again in 2017.
A group of working Hollywood women invite you to see short clips from the award-winning documentary EQUAL MEANS EQUAL, hear some incredible speakers and learn that WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ARE NOT GUARANTEED EQUAL RIGHTS BY THE CONSTITUTION and how that affects YOUR LIFE! Oh yeah and dance to chill beats, with super DJs and great special guests at the super-swanky Parlour Room in Hollywood!
EQUAL MEANS EQUAL is an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. A New York Times Critics Pick which won the Best U.S. Documentary Audience Award at Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival in 2016, the film’s Executive Producer Patricia Arquette brought public visibility for women’s equal rights back center stage after being sidelined for decades with her speech at the 2015 Oscars.
WHERE:
The Parlour Room
6423 Yucca St, Los Angeles, CA 90028
WHEN:
Wednesday Feb 22nd 9pm
Donations to the ERA Education Project to continue our outreach gratefully received here: http://heroicafoundation.org
Saturday 2/25
WHO:
Vanessa Alva (Founder of Never Turn Away A Woman)
Kamala Lopez (Director of documentary Equal Means Equal)
Ivana Massetti (Founder & CEO of Women Occupy Hollywood)
Isabella Diaz (Artist and Equal Means Equal interview subject)
Judy Vaughn (Director of Alexandria House)
Alexandra Monsibaez (Spanish Public Coordinator for Union Rescue Mission)
Cathy Hillman – (Founder/President ofGreater L.A. Chapter of the US National Committee for UN Women)
WHAT:
Screening of Equal Means Equal and Post-film panel discussion and Q & A to benefit “Never Turn Away A Woman,” a movement to empower and provide a voice for the women of the Union Rescue Mission/Women of Skid Row.
The city of Los Angeles is facing a growing homeless crisis that affects women and children in gender specific ways; come and learn more about how systemic gender discrimination and the absence of gender equality play into the overall picture and what you can do about it. Please join the wonderful speakers listed above to discuss the future of women in America.
EQUAL MEANS EQUAL is an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. By following both real life stories and precedent-setting legal cases, Lopez discovers how outdated and discriminatory attitudes inform and influence seemingly disparate issues, from workplace matters to domestic violence, rape and sexual assault to the foster care system, the healthcare system and the legal system. Along the way, she reveals the inadequacy of present laws in places that claim to protect women, ultimately presenting a compelling and persuasive argument for the urgency of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment.
For tickets and to learn more about Never Turn Away A Woman please go here:
https://www.gofundme.com/woman-at-skid-rows-union-rescue-m-2w7prus
All proceeds from your ticket sales will be used to provide direct services and necessities for homeless women in Los Angeles.
WHEN:
Saturday February 25th at 7:30pm
WHERE:
The 24th Street Theatre1117 W 24th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007
JOIN US!
Onward LES FEMMES
Support the fight.
Please DONATE to Women Occupy Hollywood
on our website:
womenoccupyhollywood.com
