A Feminist Bash plus Miss Representation

Okay I don't meet to brag, but we just had a heck of a party! ( click here from FB) About 100 people came including our guests of honor Gloria Steinem, Geena Davis, Pat Mitchell, and Amy Richards. Whole teams came from three fabulous documentaries (!WAR, Connected and Miss Representation) including the filmmakers. There were also other actors, filmmakers, activists and all around fabulous people. If you are a feminist in Park City, this was the place to be! The spotlight was on Geena for her fabulous work at the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media . If you are not aware of the research she has done please find it on her web-site. The facts around women's lack of representation in the media, or the distorted view of them, will shock you in to action. Please consider supporting her important work!

My idea for next year is to gather together women writers, producers, filmmakers and other change makers to help make SUNDANCE and the industry in general much more gender balanced. I am so inspired by the films I have seen over the past few days that deliver the powerful message that we can all make a difference.

MISS REPRESENTATION - link to YOUTUBE clip

Yesterday I attended the premiere of this fabulous film that Greg and I were honored to support. This documentary by Jennifer Siebel Newson ( pictured center above) "explores women's under-representation in positions of power and influence in America and challenges the limited portrayal of women in mainstream media." It was extremely well done delivering powerful facts, images and opinions, but it is also a call to action. Please visit their website to learn more www.missrepresentation.org. I am excited to be a part of their outreach.

Here are a few facts from the film - WOMEN ARE

- 3% of clout positions in the mainstream media

- 3% of Fortune CEOs

- 7% of mainstream film directors

- 16% of film protagonists

- 17% of Congress while women make up 51% of the population

Also present at the party was the founder of Common Sense Media, Jim Steyer. If you do not know about this site, you must. I introduced him to my son Matthew who loves the site, and they had a great talk about Halo. How cool is that?

"Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.We exist because our nation's children spend more time with media and digital activities than they do with their families or in school, which profoundly impacts their social, emotional, and physical development . As a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization, we provide trustworthy information and tools, as well as an independent forum, so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume."

More film commentary to come this week!