On Feb. 1, at Crosstown Arts Sharon Fox O’Guin, deputy film commissioner of the Memphis and Shelby County Film and Television Commission, spoke to an audience of filmmakers.
It kicked off the free 2016 speaker series of the Film Fatales Memphis Chapter.
“The goal is to break barriers,” said Melissa Sweazy, 40, of Memphis. “There’s still a disparity and it’s trying to figure out collaboratively how to change that.”
Sweazy is an award-winning writer and director. She was also on the panel of speakers at the TEDxMemphis talk at the University of Memphis in August 2015.
Graduate film student Katey Perkins, 26, said she is excited about the speakers’ series and getting to ask questions to an entertainment attorney for free.
“It would be nice to have (female) connections and mentors that are in different parts of their careers,” Perkins said. “A lot of professors in the film program are male.”
On May 2 at Crosstown Arts at 6:30 p.m., Entertainment Attorney, Anita Modak-Truran will be speaking and answering questions.
“We’re only going to be strong by the more people (we have) and the more diverse we get,” Sweazy said.
Filmmaker Laura Jean Hocking, from Memphis, Tennessee, is a current member of the Film Fatale Memphis Chapter.
“For a long time I was the lone wolf. I just felt there needed to be more support for other female filmmakers,” Hocking said. “I was like where are they? There has to be female filmmakers in Memphis. It’d not just a sausage party.”
Hocking’s done it all: producing, directing, writing and most of all editing.
Phoebe Driscoll, 24, of Los Angeles, California graduated from Rhodes College in May 2015 and is another member.
“The most dangerous thing I hear is this idea to leave Memphis. That’s a very detrimental mindset,” Driscoll said. “Coming from Los Angeles, I’m choosing to stay because one of the things we have working for us is the tightknit community of people who want to see you succeed.”
Driscoll directed a feature documentary called “Pharaohs of Memphis” during her junior year at Rhodes. It won Best Hometowner Feature Award and Audience Choice Award at Indie Memphis in 2014.
“What’s exciting is we are plugged into the wider database of Film Fatales at large,” Sweazy said.
Sweazy talked about her recent film getting into a festival in New York because programmers reached out wanting Film Fatales members to submit, waving the entry fee.
“Being a Memphis member gives you access to New York, Los Angeles, to international chapters,” Sweazy said.
Film Fatales Memphis had their first panel at Indie Memphis in November and a chapter member from London joined the panel.
“It’s empowering,” Hocking said
Sweazy said they have one current Rhodes College student member and they are adding a student from the University of Memphis as well.
To be an official member, a woman must have directed a feature film. To be an associate member, a woman must have directed a short film. There is no fee to join.
“Student filmmakers teach us and we can teach them,” Hocking said.
The Film Fatales Memphis mission is to encourage and support female filmmakers.
“There’s more young women who want to be actresses because it’s not glamorous to be a (female) director and I want to make it glamorous,” Hocking said.
Sweazy said they offer resources, perspective and support because they are all in varying stages of development or preproduction.
“I’ve gained the ability to network with people,” Driscoll said. “I’ve gained friendship.”
Film Fatales is a network of female filmmakers started in New York 2013 by filmmaker Leah Meyerhoff.
“It’s helpful to see women who have succeeded that you can reach out and ask questions, who understand where you are coming from,” Perkins said.
Sweazy said the Memphis chapter was organized and started by filmmaker Rachel Taylor in spring 2015. She was on the phone call to Meyerhoff with Taylor.
“We want people to know who we are. There are so many interesting voices in this city,” Sweazy said. “That’s what’s exciting about the speakers’ series to give those people a platform to talk to the community.”
