Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
The things that often inspire me to sit down and start typing are a little bit… off. There is nothing I love writing about more than things that are a little weird, a little uncomfortable and yet all too ubiquitous to ignore. In fact, it’s not unusual for me to grab my laptop and start writing a sweet or touching film, only to abandon it after 30 minutes to pursue some strangely funny thought that entered my mind like a lost gnat.
This is exactly why I found myself compelled to write a film about dick pictures last year. I know I’ve told you about my adventure in Milan, Italy where I spent 10 days last year writing a film in the Wes Anderson Cafe. But what I didn’t tell you is that the film was about a recently single woman facing the realities of a dating world where intimacy is traded for smartphone photos of our private parts. In fact, it’s called Private Parts.
The funny thing about writing a movie about dick pictures is that while I’m really proud of the film, it’s kind of a hilarious phenomena to explain to my mentors and family why it’s doing so well in competition. In fact, this strangely saccharine script about dick pictures was not only the runner up at IndieFest, it was a finalist at the Seattle International Film Festival.
Just like my characters, I’m having to face that really bizarre experience of talking about my very intimate inspiration. Inevitably, if you tell people that your movie is about guys sending women pictures of their penises, people ask if you have received one. The answer is yes. And I think more of us have than we would ever admit. I’m not pretending to be a nun-wannabe over here. But I can tell you this: the number of times it was exciting is equal in measure to the number of times it was totally unexpected and a little bit gross.
And to be fair, it’s not as if I haven’t sent a scandalous photo of my own ever. I too have traded in intimacy with pixels.
To this day, I don’t know how I feel about sending sexy pictures back and forth with boyfriends or random partners. If I’m being totally honest, I always get more of a thrill from the weird gifs of my boyfriend’s face contorting one way or another than anything else. But these photos, they reveal something about how we form our relationships now that have never been part of our romantic entanglements before. And if you don’t believe me, you just need to know that there are now lawyers out there that have cease and desist letters on file for divorcees and the broken hearted to prevent their own private images from being saved or shared.
Alas, it turns out that our most private moments reveal some of the most profound truths of our humanity.
I’m proud of the script and if you live in Seattle, I’d love for you to join us for a live reading at SIFF in December! For those that don’t know: “SIFF Catalyst First Draft live script table read series, now in its fourth year, features unproduced scripts that were finalists in the 2016 Catalyst Screenplay Competition.”
Private Parts will be read December 14th. You can RSVP here. And maybe when it’s done, we can trade a few stories about our own adventures in exchanging our private parts.
This whole thing started with a mission: support female led films on opening weekend whenever possible.* If you want to read more about why, you can read that post here.
This is one of those depressing months that reminds me how much more work there is to do in terms of getting more women in leading roles. There is only ONE, ONE movie this entire month that stars a woman in the leading role and that woman is Meryl Streep. While I’m happy for Meryl, I’m a little depressed that this is the state of our cinema. The Intervention comes close, but ultimately, it’s an ensemble cast full of amazing women (and dudes) so it doesn’t reach the same threshold.
So let me make a plug for a movie I saw last weekend that had many great women in supporting roles: The Hunt for the Wilderpeople. While there was not a female lead, the women that served as supporting characters were funny, thoroughly thought out and talented beyond belief in their roles. So, if this list depresses you, go check that one out.
AUGUST 5TH:
Five Nights in Maine (Written and Directed by Maris Curran)
A young African American man, reeling from the tragic loss of his wife, travels to rural Maine to seek answers from his estranged mother-in-law, who is herself confronting guilt and grief over her daughter’s death.
AUGUST 12TH:
Florence Foster Jenkins (Starring Meryl Streep)
The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.
Disorder (Written and Directed by Alice Winocour)
Vincent is an ex-soldier with PTSD who is hired to protect the wife and child of a wealthy Lebanese businessman while he’s out of town. Despite the apparent tranquility on Maryland, Vincent perceives an external threat
AUGUST 26TH:
The Intervention (Written and Directed by Clea DuVall)
A weekend getaway for four couples takes a sharp turn when one of the couples discovers the entire trip was orchestrated to host an intervention on their marriage.
Black Songbird (Written by Raquel Deloatch)
Blinded by ambition to find the killers of her childhood friends and advance her career, rookie journalist Knight Daye is recruited by the FBI to go undercover as a party hostess at a club that fronts for organize crime. Knight enters there glamorous world, but learns that there is something more sinister lurking behind all the glamour.
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One additional note before I go: I am not able to tell you if these movies are objectively good or feminist friendly, as I have not seen all of them. The point of this list is to give you a place to start. The truth is that we don’t have a lot to choose from, but part of the battle is giving you the information. Information is power. However, shared knowledge is also key. So if you see one of these films or have seen an early screening, please let us know if you recommend it or not in the comments.
This whole thing started with a mission: support female led films on opening weekend whenever possible.* If you want to read more about why, you can read that post here.
July is one of those months you really HOPE happens in the summer blockbuster season when women will get BOTH a big hit (here’s hope for Ghostbusters) and a serious drama (the smartly titled, Equity). But for a special bonus, we are also getting wider distribution in the US for a foreign winner in Our Little Sister.
JULY 1:
The BFG (Written by Melissa Mathison and Starring Ruby Barnhill)
Ten-year-old Sophie is in for the adventure of a lifetime when she meets the Big Friendly Giant. Naturally scared at first, the young girl soon realizes that the 24-foot behemoth is actually quite gentle and charming. As their friendship grows, Sophie’s presence attracts the unwanted attention of Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater and other giants. After traveling to London, Sophie and the BFG must convince Queen Victoria to help them get rid of all the bad giants once and for all.
Our Kind of Traitor (Directed by Susanna White)
A money launderer for Russian gangsters asks a couple vacationing in Marrakech, Morocco, to deliver incriminating evidence to an MI6 agent.
JULY 8:
Our Little Sister (Written by Akimi Yoshida and Starring Haruka Ayase and Masami Nagasawa)
After the death of their estranged father, three siblings (Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho) invite their half sister (Suzu Hirose) to live with them.
JULY 15:
Ghostbusters (Starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones)
Paranormal researcher Abby Yates and physicist Erin Gilbert are trying to prove that ghosts exist in modern society. When strange apparitions start to appear in Manhattan, they turn to brilliant engineer Jillian Holtzmann for help.
JULY 22:
Absolutely Fabulous (Directed by Mandie Fletcher, Written by Jennifer Saunders, and Starring Joanna Lumley and Jane Horrocks)
Edina and Patsy are still oozing glitz and glamor, living the high life they are accustomed to; shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London’s trendiest hot-spots. Blamed for a major incident at an uber fashionable launch party, they become entangled in a media storm and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi.
Into the Forest (Directed by Patricia Rozema and Starring Ellen Page)
In the near future two young women living in a remote forest discover the world is on the brink of an apocalypse.
JULY 29:
Equity (Directed by Meera Menon, Written by Amy Fox and Starring Anna Gunn and Alysia Reiner)
An investment banker tries to work her way up the Wall Street ladder while a prosecutor keeps an eye out for corrupt practices. Senior investment banker Naomi Bishop is threatened by a financial scandal and must untangle a web of corruption.
Tallulah (Directed and Written by Sian Heder and Starring Ellen Page)
A dissatisfied Beverly Hills housewife tired of caring for her toddler hires a stranger to baby-sit.
Bad Moms (Starring Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell)
When three overworked and under-appreciated moms are pushed beyond their limits, they ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun, and comedic self-indulgence.
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One additional note before I go: I am not able to tell you if these movies are objectively good or feminist friendly, as I have not seen all of them. The point of this list is to give you a place to start. The truth is that we don’t have a lot to choose from, but part of the battle is giving you the information. Information is power. However, shared knowledge is also key. So if you see one of these films or have seen an early screening, please let us know if you recommend it or not in the comments.
Friends, life has been crazy exciting recently. Between celebrating new wins with our business and enjoying the very first days of summer, I am proud to say that I’m involved in a lot of amazing and inspiring stuff over the next few months.
And wouldn’t it just be delightful if you were part of that? Or we could meet? I would love that. One of my favorite things in life is meeting my internet friends IRL. (I mean, one of my best friends is someone I met on Twitter!)
Here’s where you can find me and my film this summer:
Thursday, June 9
Victoriana Showing with Q+A at the Sie Film Center
Denver, Colorado
Tuesday, June 14
Networking at The United State of Women Summit
Washington, D.C.
Thursday, June 16
Victoriana Showing on Facebook Live
(Followers of the Being Geek Chic page only - so go “Like” if you don’t already!)
From Minneapolis, Minnesota
Thursday, June 16
Showing at EFP Denver at the Bug Theater
Denver, Colorado
Saturday, June 25
Victoriana Showing for Private Audiences
Online
*If you wish to take part in this online screening - please email [email protected]
Wednesday, June 29
Speaking at 1 Million Cups
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Thursday, June 30
Speaking at Ignite Denver
Denver, Colorado
July TBD
Victoriana Showing with MNWift
Minneapolis, Minnesota
September 15 - September 18
Showing Northstar Science Film Festival
St. Paul, Minnesota
This list will be updated in the coming weeks as more things become confirmed, but please reach out on Twitter if you’re around for any of it. As always, tweeting @lizgiorgi
And thank you for dealing with a little bit of shameless self-promotion today.
This whole thing started with a mission: support female led films on opening weekend whenever possible.* If you want to read more about why, you can read that post here.
Summer movie season is here. That means blockbusters. Crazy expensive budgets. Huge marketing campaigns. And action movies and RomComs opening against each other. It also means a very thin month of options for stories about women by women and starring women.
JUNE 3rd:
Me Before You (Directed by Thea Sharrock and starring Emilia Clarke)
Young and quirky Louisa “Lou” Clark (Emilia Clarke) moves from one job to the next to help her family make ends meet. Her cheerful attitude is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy young banker left paralyzed from an accident two years earlier. Will’s cynical outlook starts to change when Louisa shows him that life is worth living. As their bond deepens, their lives and hearts change in ways neither one could have imagined.
The Fits (Written and Directed by Anna Rose Holmer)
Toni trains as a boxer with her brother at a community center in Cincinnati’s West End, but becomes fascinated by the dance team that also practices there. Enamored by their strength and confidence, Toni eventually joins the group, eagerly absorbing routines, mastering drills, and even piercing her own ears to fit in. As she discovers the joys of dance and of female camaraderie, she grapples with her individual identity amid her newly defined social sphere.
JUNE 10th:
Diary of a Chambermaid (Written by Hélène Zimmer and starring Léa Seydoux)
A scheming servant works for a wealthy couple in France during the late 19th century. Part of a long-term three part series from the director.
Viktoria (Directed by Maya Vitkova and starring Irmena Chichikova)
Unwanted by her mother, Viktoria is being born with no umbilical cord and doesn’t need Boryana until the hardships of life bind them together. Premiered at Sundance in 2014, the wider release is also available online too.
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One additional note before I go: I am not able to tell you if these movies are objectively good or feminist friendly, as I have not seen all of them. The point of this list is to give you a place to start. The truth is that we don’t have a lot to choose from, but part of the battle is giving you the information. Information is power. However, shared knowledge is also key. So if you see one of these films or have seen an early screening, please let us know if you recommend it or not in the comments.
