There aren’t many times where society needs to revert to the good ol’ days, but with an encouraging increase of women working in film production, a reflection on some of the previous female industry leaders feels celebratory this Women’s History Month.
Women have always fought for more diverse and equal representation on screen, but in recent years the spotlight has been given to those behind the camera of both Hollywood and independent films. Looking beyond the Academy’s influential shift, inclusivity in production has been perhaps more prominent with smaller production companies. Our mission at Candid Broads has always been to represent diverse stories and characters and encourage all women’s creative abilities both on and off camera.
A Look Back
In many ways, we look at the women that paved the way in production to guide us through this work. There are careers and stories which help us give the spotlight back to women off screen. Mary Pickford, for example, made the industry her own in the 1910s. From starring in several soundless productions, to eventually starting the Mary Pickford Corp, she shaped her own role not only on the screen, but also in her work as a producer. She placed importance on showcasing women’s talent by hiring her own troupe of female support including screenwriter Frances Marion. Pickford approached each project as a way to prove her own ability. From editing, to producing her own films, all aspects of her productions were created and controlled by her.
We’ve seen these achievements and shifts with today’s leading women, whose work is often globally recognised. Similarly to Pickford, Greta Gerwig began her career on the screen, before making her directorial debut for Lady Bird, which went on to be nominated for 5 Oscars. Through her own storytelling, and her work off screen, she actively supports the progress that women have made in the industry. Regina King also made waves in this space that very often lacks diversity, with her recent feature One Night in Miami, which in 2020 was the first film to be selected at the Venice Film Festival, directed by an African-American woman.
However, these names are arguably only a few of the better-known women in film, receiving significant recognition from several audiences, media and Hollywood itself. Indie productions don’t receive the same attention as these much larger production houses (hence the word indie), even though female directors tend to be more prominent on these sets. There are, however, extraordinary works and progress being made by some of these lesser-known women behind the camera, who are leading a new generation of empowered filmmakers.
A New Generation of Filmmakers
Cat White founded Kusini Productions Ltd in 2020, with the ambition of creating opportunities, changing the narrative, and championing the voices of Black women and girls. Her company provides a platform for new and diverse voices by bringing together likeminded filmmakers, directors, writers, activists and actors. We are currently co-producing a film with Kusini Productions, called All is Mum, which looks at the challenges of a working mother during another lockdown. Though only 2 years old, Kusini Productions continues to put female voices at the centre of each story and creates opportunities for underrepresented groups, both on and off screen.
Also making a mark in this space is Audrey Gagneux, whose recent debut short film, Lily Meets Charlie, premiered at the BAFTA-qualifying Underwire Film Festival 2019 where Audrey was nominated for Best Screenwriter Under 25. The film has also reached 500,000 views on YouTube. Along with bringing better representation of women on screen, Audrey’s work is written and produced with women at the forefront. We are currently collaborating with Audrey on a short film titled Ice Cream, which follows the story of a woman dealing with Anorexia and a difficult relationship with her mother. Audrey also chairs the Rising Women working group for Time’s Up UK, which aims to give a platform to female talents across all crafts for Film & TV. Like all the women mentioned so far, Audrey celebrates what women can bring to the set, so that anyone working on a film feels seen, validated, and supported.
Ella Greenwood, Founder and CEO of Broken Flames Productions, wrote, directed & produced her first film Faulty Roots when she was 18 years old. The film was selected for BAFTA Qualifying festivals including Carmarthen Bay, at which she won the Rising Star Award and is now in development for her first feature film; an adaptation of Faulty Roots. At the heart of all of Ella’s productions is promoting awareness of mental health.
Ideas to Action
We feel our duty at Candid Broads is to create a workspace which puts women in production in the spotlight. We continue to strive for diversity and inclusion on and off the screen, which has been reflected in recent works including Kotti, a short comedy, which was nominated at a US festival that celebrates women behind the camera.
Other recent work which put our values into practise includes Poles, which is based around a young woman coping with depression and was nominated at BAFTA qualifying at the Underwire Festival. We’re pleased to be actively shaping tomorrow’s industry with our recent short, I Am, which explores Schizophrenia and breaking down the stigma around mental health. The film was nominated at several film festivals including BIFA-qualifying Manchester Film Festival 2022. Receiving recognition for a film about such a prominent issue really reinforces our mission as a production company.
Women behind the camera rarely get the recognition they deserve, but with each production we are seeing the future we want come to life. We want to give the spotlight back to women off screen as well as on, and this is something we’ve put into practice – not only with each production, but also by engaging with a wider community. We recently held an event with Kusini Productions & Track Films Ltd which was open to everyone and celebrated female-led stories. It was a night of screenings, as well as a panel of powerhouse women who are making strides in their field. We were pleased to be able to donate 80% of the ticket prices to The Page One Project; a programme designed to offer support, guidance and empowerment to individuals who come from underrepresented backgrounds in the creative arts. The evening was a reflection of our work and our ongoing mission; to celebrate the women shaping the industry of tomorrow. May we and the rest of the industry continue to create opportunities for them, nurture them, and celebrate them.
Oriane Pick is an award-winning French actor and producer, who has produced and acted in numerous projects.
In 2020 Oriane founded Candid Broads Productions, which aims to produce entertaining female-led stories. Her first production under the new company was the award-winning web series “Call It a Day”. Serving as Showrunner and lead in the series, it was selected by numerous prestigious international Web Festivals including Rio, Seoul, New Jersey and Pilot Light, and won Oriane the Grand Jury Actress Award and multiple ‘Best Actress’ nominations.
Oriane’s latest films as part of the company include ‘I AM’ (official selection at BIFA-qualifying Manchester Film Festival and recently awarded in 6 categories including ‘Best Film’, and ‘Outstanding Leading Actress’ for her performance), and ‘POLES’ (official selection and Best Sound Design nomination at BAFTA-qualifying Underwire Film Festival), both films seeking to bring a new perspective on mental illness which currently are in the festival circuit.
