Expensive friends-

Just a little over 15 years in the past I had a loopy thought: to attempt to begin a dialog asking the place the ladies have been in entrance of the digicam and behind the scenes in Hollywood. I referred to as my weblog Girls and Hollywood as a result of to me, Hollywood is in every single place. My exploration grew right into a calling that I by no means anticipated. It allowed me to journey throughout the globe talking with others who have been passionate about this situation. The work helped delivery the Athena Movie Pageant, which is now a full-fledged teenager at 13 years outdated.

Fifteen years later, the dialog is totally embedded in our tradition and is roofed by mainstream retailers. Girls, a few of whom acquired their begin at Girls and Hollywood, are working in all kinds of roles throughout the trade. It was not too way back that it was at all times a shock when a sequence had a lady director as a part of its season. Now, it’s unacceptable in the event that they don’t. The work will not be accomplished, removed from it, however to be able to proceed the revolution, evolution is important.

It’s time for Girls and Hollywood 2.0.

As of April 1, The Girls and Hollywood weblog will not be publishing unique tales. We are going to hold the positioning dwell as a result of it has turn out to be a terrific useful resource, notably for college students of the trade.

Don’t have any concern: I’ll nonetheless be launching the reality bombs and amplifying ladies’s voices. However will probably be differently. In Her Voice: A Girls and Hollywood Podcast will launch in April and will probably be a spot the place I’ll cowl information and interview creatives. I’m excited to get again to speaking to the ladies who’re effecting change and nicely as these whose inventive visions are coming to our screens.

We are going to proceed the weekly publication of the Girls and Hollywood Publication of content material by and about ladies and non-binary folks opening in theaters and streaming. The Ladies Membership, our group for ladies and nonbinary creatives to attach and assist one another, is flourishing.

Over time, notably by my work within the Inventive Improvement Program on the Athena Movie Pageant, I’ve realized that I not solely wish to talk about the change that we have to see, however I wish to be part of it. To that finish, I can be launching the Inventive Doula Program. Half strategic marketing consultant, half doula, we would be the inventive advocates for these gifted voices and tasks written by ladies or non-binary writers which have ladies/women on the heart of the tales.

There are a lot of folks to thank for the success of Girls and Hollywood. First thanks goes to the Dobkin Household Basis for its continued assist. There could be no Girls and Hollywood with out the Dobkin Household Basis. The workforce – writers, editors, fellows, interns, social media experts. No one does this work alone. I’ve been so fortunate to have individuals who cared in regards to the work as passionately as I did, notably Laura Berger, who satisfied me virtually a decade in the past that I wanted an intern and is now accountable for every part that goes on the positioning. Everybody who has been part of the work over time has had an immense contribution in conserving ladies entrance and heart within the narrative.

I wouldn’t have the ability to make this shift if I didn’t imagine that I’d completed what I got down to do 15 years in the past. I couldn’t be extra thrilled that the dialog is flourishing and sturdy and {that a} new technology has taken up the mantle and is pushing for increasingly more change. I’m so excited to proceed to be part of this motion.

Onward,

Melissa