Whenever I need to refer to those on high with the money and power to make business decisions in a creative industry, they are THE SUITS.
I’m sure you can think of a few.
Last week for my monthly Bechdel Test Talk (which originated on this blog), we took the SAG Award nominees, the Independent Spirit Awards nominees for Best Picture, and the IAWTV (International Academy of Web TV) Winners to see how they stacked up against the Bechdel Test.
When I have more energy, I’ll update this with the score for the SAG Winners.
Normally, we don’t ‘score’ based on the Bechdel Test; we use it as a starting point for deeper discussions on how it affects our audiences and thus society.
For this Broadcast, however, scores seemed appropriate:
YES – MAYBE/DUBIOUS – NO
SCORE: 2-7-5
INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS (Best Picture Nominees only)
SCORE: 1-2-2
SCORE: # of shows 7-1-4
# of awards 12-2-6
See full lists below.
Shocker, as Co-Host Etta Devine stated. When there’s a lower barrier to entry (Whether The Suits, or the numerous people in -between, or society itself), Where most entertainment (web TV) is self-produced, The Bechdel Test flies high above the rest.
Methinks it’s time to show The Suits why creativity breeds quality.
There is far more diversity in the Web Series World as well, and not just in neat little boxes easily consumed by any audience. Some suggestions: My Gimpy Life, Out With Dad, The Unwritten Rules, Breaking Point and there are so many more but I can’t think of them past midnight. Follow Web Series Watch’s blog for news and recommendations (yes, that is my own web series and I’m too tired to disguise self-promotion either – besides, frick it. I’m proud of it.).
Watch our nifty 30-minute Broadcast to hear why some of the movies are dubious. Silver Lining Playbook, anyone? Full list and links we mention after the video.
Special special I love you forever thanks to Etta Devine & Caroline Sharp who join me on this adventure every month.
LA Times Story: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/moviesnow/la-et-mn-sundance-2013-women-lag-men-even-in-independent-film-study-finds-20130120,0,712589.story
Ted Hope’s Blog: http://hopeforfilm.com/?p=8838
SCORE: 2-7-5
yes:
The Paperboy
Les Miserables
dubious:
Flight
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Zero Dark Thirty
Skyfall
trouble seeing film:
Rust and Bone
The Impossible
no:
Lincoln
Hitchcock
Silver Linings Playbook
The Master
The Sessions
SCORE: 1-2-2
yes
Moonrise Kingdom
dubious
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Keep the Lights On
no
Bernie
Silver Linings Playbook
SCORE: # of shows 7-1-4
# of awards 12-2-6
yes
Best Comedy Series – Squaresville
Best Ensemble Performance – Squaresville
Best Drama Series – Leap Year
Best Writing (Comedy) – Squaresville – Matt Enlow
Best Costume Design – The League of S.T.E.A.M. – The League of S.T.E.A.M.
Best Makeup/Special Effects – The League of S.T.E.A.M. – The League of S.T.E.A.M.
Best Design (Art Direction/Production) – Continuum – Eric Whitney – computer voice
Best Editing – Continuum – Blake Calhoun
Best Directing (Comedy) – My Gimpy Life – Sean Becker
Best Female Performance (Comedy) – My Gimpy Life – Teal Sherer Teal
Best Directing (Drama) – Anyone But Me – Tina Cesa Ward (but it’s complicated in a good way)
Best Interactive/Social Media Experience – The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
maybe
Best Original Music – Cost of Capital – Rob Gokee
Best Male Performance (Comedy) – The Jeff Lewis 5-Minute Comedy Hour – Jeff Lewis – Poker Episode ?
Best Visual Effects (Digital) – H+ The Digital Series – Faction Creative and The Sequence Group: VFX Supervisor Ian Kirby; Digital Effects Supervisor Chris van Dyck; VFX Producer Caleb Bouchard
no
Best Animated Series – Red vs. Blue
Best Cinematography – H+ The Digital Series – Brett Pawlak – up to Episode 12. silent conversation probably about work between two women in Episode 13.
Best Female Performance (Drama) – Blue – Julia Stiles – Blue
Best Male Performance (Drama) – The Booth at the End, Season 2 – Xander Berkeley – Lead
Best Writing (Drama) – The Booth at the End, Season 2 – Christopher Kubasik
Best Supplemental Content – Red vs. Blue
The Bechdel Test Talks began 
