7th Annual Focus On Female Directors Film Festival

Happy New Year Everyone!

Let's ring in the New Year short film style! The Egyptian Theater is hosting a short film festival called the 7th Annual Focus On Female Directors this Thursday, Jan. 5th at 7:30pm.

This is the first year that I’ve found out about this event in advance, so I’m excited to attend. Many of this year's filmmakers are new to me, which I love, however, there is one contributor who’s work I celebrate as often as possible. Perhaps you've heard of Penelope Spheeris, Director of one the most celebrated films of our time. Ms. Spheeris will not only be showing her 1998 short film "No Use Walkin' When You Can Stroll", but she will also be hosting a post-screening discussion. (Awesome...)

Here are  trailers for some of the films I'm looking forward to:

I have a very soft spot in my heart for beautifully shot student films. 

"Tsyuako" - byt Mitsuyo Miyazaki 

The only thing I love more than Stop Motion Animation is food. I'm real excited for this one. 

"Zergüt" - by Natasha Subramanian and Alisa Lapidus 

Pretentious short films with semi-famous actors get me every time. I'm sorry.

"Animal Love" - by Mollie Jones

I'm sure there will be many more great things to see. I hope you can make it! 

Thursday, January 5th @ 7:30 PM

Egyptian Theater

6712 Hollywood Blvd.

Hollywood, CA 90028

Tickets Here!

P.S. In honor of the possibility of meeting Penelope Spheeris, I would like to share a very special moment with you. My BFF Dawn and I paid homage to the Queen of Schwing herself this Halloween. (I'm Garth)

See you on Thursday!

xx

LAF

THIS WEEKEND: Forbiden Fasion @ The Bootleg Theater

Hi Everyone,

This weekend, The Bootleg Theater is hosting a 3 part runway show and silent auction featuring designs from some of the uppn'comers from the LA art scene. Forbidden Fashion @ The Bootleg Theater brings the semi-punk, mostly DIY spirit of the venue itself to the runway. All of the fashions we'll see walking stealthely down the isle are comprised of stolen, found and recycleable materials. Badass. The show is curated by costume designer Ann Closs-Farley.

I haven't been yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing how this translates in to a moving performance, err.. fashion show. Let's check it out. Let me know what you think!!

December 1st - 17th
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays
Doors @7pm, Show @ 7:30
Tickets: $20

xx
LAF

TODAY: SlutWalk LA

"We live in a world where we're taught 'Don't get raped' instead of 'Don't rape!'.." Anonymous

In case you haven't heard of "SlutWalk" here's a little backstory...

After several reported rapes on the campus of York University in Toronto, Officer Michael Sanguuinetti told a group of young women that they should avoid "dressing like sluts" to prevent further incidents.

And thus was born.. SlutWalk! Activists Heather Jarvis and Sonya Barntet organized a rally of "Sluts" to publicly expose the idea that women who are in control of their own sexuality should not be targets of physical or social violence.

These rallies have been popping up all over  Canada and the US, with tens of thousands of women showing up to support the cause.

The movement is not, however, without protest from some of it's own initial supporters. The use of the word "Slut"  has been a highly controversial topic within the Feminist community. Some argue that the word or label inherently condones both women and men to behave irresponsibly. Rather than erasing the stigma of the "Slut" they are embracing it, and thus reducing the idea that the way a woman carries herself comes down to her behavior in the bedroom. Another school of thought blames the movement for making promiscuity seem "cool" and "political".

Whether you find Slutdom empowering or degrading, dangerous or powerful, you should at leas check out the SlutWalk that is happening in LA today. Look at what they're saying, and form your own opinion. Then, share that opinion - and lets open up a real place where we can talk about rape and victimization of sexualized women.

SlutWalk LA
West Hollywood Park
647 N San Vicente Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Saturday, June 4 
12:00 noon

Thank you.