Backwards and in Heels: The Past, Present and Future of Women Working in Film

by Alicia Malone

Overview

Women in Filmmaking and Their Struggle Against Bias

"After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels" –Ann Richards

#1 Bestseller in Acting & Auditioning, Performing Arts, and Guides & Reviews

Women in filmmaking since the beginning. Women have been instrumental in the success of American cinema since its very beginning. One of the first people to ever pick up a motion picture camera was a woman; as was the first screenwriter to win two Academy Awards, the inventor of the boom microphone, and the first person to be credited with the title Film Editor. Throughout the history of Hollywood, women have been revolutionizing, innovating, and shaping filmmaking. Yet their stories are rarely shared. This is what film reporter Alicia Malone wants to change. 

The first female directors. Backwards & In Heels tells the history of women in film in a different way, with stories about incredible women who made their mark in each Hollywood era. Every story is inspiring, detailing the accomplishments of extraordinary women and the obstacles they faced. Backwards & In Heels combines research and exclusive interviews with influential women and men working in Hollywood today, including Geena Davis, J.J. Abrams, Ava DuVernay, Octavia Spencer, America Ferrera, Paul Feig, and many more; as well as film professors, historians and experts.

Time to level the playing field. Think of Backwards & In Heels as a guidebook, your entry into the complex world of women in film. Join Alicia Malone as she champions Hollywood women of the past and present and looks to the future.

Learn little known facts about:

• The first females in film direction
• Iconic movie stars
• Present day activists

If you enjoyed books such as Renegade Women in Film and TV or The Purple Diaries, you’ll love Alicia Malone’s Backwards & In Heels. Also, don’t miss Alicia’s #1 Bestseller in Movies & Video Guides & Reviews, The Female Gaze: Essential Movies Made by Women.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633536173
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	08/15/2017
Pages:	242
Sales rank:	409,236
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Alicia Malone is a film reporter, host, writer and self-confessed movie geek. She first gained notice hosting movie-centric shows and reviewing films in her native Australia, before making the leap to Los Angeles in 2011.



Since then, Alicia has appeared on CNN, the Today show, MSNBC, NPR and many more as a film expert. Currently, she is a host on FilmStruck, a cinephile subscription streaming service run by the Criterion Collection and Turner Classic Movies, and she is the creator and host of the weekly show, Indie Movie Guide on Fandango.



Alicia is passionate about classic films, independent movies and supporting women in film. In 2015, Alicia gave a TEDx talk about the lack of women working in film and why this is important to change. In 2017, she was invited to give a second TEDx talk, where she spoke about the hidden stories of the earliest women working in Hollywood. Alicia has also spoken at conferences around America, and because of this, was named of one the 100 Worthy Women of 2016.



Alicia has traveled the world to cover the BAFTAs, the Oscars, the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival and SXSW. She is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, and over the years has interviewed hundreds of movie stars and filmmakers.



She also wrote this bio, but knew it would sound way less egotistical if written in third person.

Table of Contents

Introduction 13

Part 1 The Past 17

The First Pioneers (1890s - 1920s) 18

The First Female Filmmaker Alice Guy Blaché 21

Social Issues on Film Lois Weber 24

The Movie Star Businesswoman Mary Pickford 27

The First Film Editor Margaret Booth 34

The Award-Winning Writer Frances Marion 37

The Action Hero Helen Holmes 41

Struggling in the System (1930s) 44

The Only Female Filmmaker Dorothy Arzner 46

Mae West: The Sex Symbol vs the Code 50

The Oscar Winner Hattie McDaniel 54

Erasure and Exoticism Anna May Wong 58

The Woman's Picture 64

Waging Their Own War (1940s) 66

The Pin-Up with the Patent Hedy Lamarr 69

The Lawmaker Olivia de Havilland 74

The Illusion Rita Hayworth 78

The Femme Fatales 84

The Dream Factory (1950s) 87

Fighting Against Stereotype Dorothy Dandridge 90

The Myth Marilyn Monroe 95

Mother of Us All Ida Lupino 98

New Hollywood (1960s & 1970s) 103

The Famous Feud Joan Crawford Bette Davis 110

New Hollywood Icon Jane Fonda 114

Female Filmmakers, Finally 120

The Blaxploitation Hero Pam Grier 125

Modern Hollywood (1980s - 2000s) 129

The Female Executives 136

The Firsts: Female Filmmakers of Color 141

Oscar Queen Meryl Streep 143

Part 2 The Present 153

Filmmakers Fight Back 154

Information Is Power Dr. Stacy L. Smith 157

History Maker Ava DuVernay 160

Men Who Help Women J.J. Abrams Paul Feig 166

ReFraming The Issue Keri Putnam 173

Taking Action Maria Giese 176

Acting Up 180

See It, Be It Geena Davis 181

America Ferrera: Facing Fear 187

Transforming Hollywood Mya Taylor 191

Scene Stealer Octavia Spencer 196

Using Her Voice Jennifer Siebel Newsom 199

Mother-Daughter Icons Debbie Reynolds Carrie Fisher 205

Below the Line 210

The Risk Taker Amy Powell 213

From Producer To Director Denise di Novi 216

Writing Her Own Script Nicole Perlman 219

Editing History Joi McMillon 223

Striking Images Rachel Morrison 226

Part 3 The Future 233

The Future is Female 234

Select Bibliography 236

Acknowledgements 239

Author Bio 241

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Starting in the very early days of film, Backwards & in Heels covers women holding all different positions throughout the film industry. From editors, to directors, to producers, to actresses, women have done it all. The problem is, in many areas, the number of women who have held these positions is few and with very little recognition. It is a battle for women that is still being fought today." –My Current Interests

“Alicia Malone is one of the most inspiring voices in media today. Her book is a painful eye-opener that everyone with an interest in film should read.” –Chris Stuckmann, Film Critic

“Alicia is a wonderful human whose voracious appetite for, and knowledge of, cinema and its history is immense and passionate. I can't think of anyone more suited to dig into this very important part of the story of film.” –Elijah Wood

“Alicia Malone has opened my eyes to stories and stats about Women in Film, making me recognize the constant prejudices and imbalances that occur in the film industry even today, but also the ways in which women have been and continue to be celebrated. Proud to be a fellow feminist for film!” –Maude Garrett, Founder of GeekBomb.com

“Alicia Malone gives me hope for the future of film appreciation. Her knowledge and curiosity are matched only by her enthusiasm for all things cinematic." –Leonard Maltin

Editorial Reviews

"Starting in the very early days of film,Backwards & in Heelscovers women holding all different positions throughout the film industry.From editors, to directors, to producers, to actresses, women have done it all.The problem is, in many areas, the number of women who have held these positions is few and with very little recognition.It is a battle for women that is still being fought today."- My Current Interests

From the Publisher