NZ Film Believed First to Have All-Women Cast And Crew

Pioneering New NZ Film Believed First to Have All-Women Cast And Crew

Last year was the 125th year celebrating women's suffrage. We are in a time where gender equality is at the fore. Nevertheless, we still have a film industry known for its alarmingly low statistics for women in any role beyond moviegoer. The driving forces behind a new short film have a vision to challenge these stats and empower women in the industry through creating opportunities for work driven by, and centred on, women.

The Wellington-based creatives behind this initiative, director Tabitha Arthur, writer Courtney Rose Brown and producer Bethany Grace Miller, say they are thrilled to be working with a 28-strong all-woman team. Through research they believe their short film, The Girls, may be the first all-woman narrative short film - funded or partially funded - to be documented in Aotearoa, outside of the 48Hours film festival.

The decision behind aiming for an all woman cast and crew was to challenge and tackle traditional patriarchal structures within film. Arthur says she has heard many stories of talented and passionate women who have left the film industry “because of seriously negative experiences working in this male-dominated industry including harassment, belittling, or constant undermining”. Determined to do better, the team have focused on relationships and building on the work together. They are using this project as a means to mentor emerging artists and empower women in film.

An award-winning writer, The Girls is one of Brown’s first ventures into film after building a strong foundation in the Wellington theatre scene, and completing her Masters in Creative Writing (Script Writing) at the prestigious International Institute of Modern Letters. Providing a snapshot of the complexity of relationships within a matriarchy, The Girls explores intergenerational conflict, expectations, and stereotypes - painting a richly-layered black Kiwi comedy.

Brown says the idea for The Girls came from “the film trope of a woman becoming pregnant being the worst thing that could ever happen to her. This short film plays with stereotypes in a classic 'Kiwi dark comedy' style where everything isn't quite what it seems.” Growing up with a self-proclaimed Christian background and moving into the “queer liberal bubble of Wellington”, Brown says she enjoys “playing with the tension of these interactions and searching for the playfulness within the space”.

The script has been workshopped with Kathy McRae (Shortland Street, Filthy Rich) through EAT (Emerging Artists Trust). It has also received a small amount of funding support from EAT, but in order to cover necessary costs, the team says they are looking for additional support. They are aiming to submit the film for NZ International Film Festival and Show Me Shorts 2019, followed by international festivals and next year’s Maoriland Film Festival as the film is showcasing important perspectives that need to be given light.

Producer Miller says “the greatest statistic for women in film is their attendance at the movies. We want to see more women at the forefront of films - both in decision-making positions and on our screens”.

This film is a step in the right direction.

Toi Ngākau Productions and LightShade Creative present The Girls (Working Title), a short film written by Courtney Rose Brown, directed by Tabitha Arthur and produced by Bethany Grace Miller.

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