Local filmmaker Emily Ashenfelter knew something in Iowa City needed to change when it came to women in filmmaking. Iowa City hosts Landlocked Film Festival each year — this year’s festival starts today — and several members of the community love the art of filmmaking.
But, as a former film student at The University of Iowa, Emily says she noticed an absence of women filmmakers in this area.
“I wanted to create a group and environment that would be welcoming to women — to let them explore and learn about filmmaking, and meet other filmmakers,” she says.
So Emily started a group dubbed “Iowa City Filmmaker Chicks” on MeetUp.com last summer. She told her friends about it, and they told their friends, and so began the group.
The members of Iowa City Filmmaker Chicks prefer to spend their time actively making films instead of having regular meetings and an established group of officers. Right now, the women have several different projects under way or just finishing up – from a piece for a Public Service Announcement competition to short films that may someday be entered in film festivals.
Members participate in whichever projects they’d like, in any capacity, no matter age or background.
“We involve every aspect of filmmaking,” says Emily. “Writing, editing, shooting, acting, creating background noise, or even flipping a light switch. Filmmaking is such a collaborative process. You really need a group effort because there are so many elements involved.”
Currently, members range in age from midteens to 60-plus. Some members have film degrees or are amateur actors, but others have never been involved in film before.
In addition to working on film projects, the group also does lots of information-sharing and swapping of best practices. For example, Emily’s strong points don’t rest in knowing how film equipment works. Joanne Seeberger, another ICFC member, loves learning about the latest in cameras and HD, so she teaches Emily and other group members about the technology behind the equipment they’re using.
“Everybody has different strengths,” says Joanne. “You learn from people and play off of each others strengths.”
They throw in a little bit of professional development when they can, too, like getting together and conducting sessions on storyboarding.
The group purchases some of the equipment it uses; members also borrow equipment from Public Access Television. In the near future, the women plan to show some work at a local library or other venue so members of the community can see what they’ve been up to.
“We’re supporting women,” says Emily. “We want to get their interest and confidence levels there in terms of film.”
And nothing does that more than gathering a group of like-minded women together to work on a film project where they can determine for themselves how they’d like to contribute.
“It’s just so fun,” says Joanne. “I’ve met a lot of new people, and it’s incredible to see an idea actually end up on film.”
— LEAH
Filmmaker Chicks at Work
Several Filmaker Chicks have movies in the works.
“Mezzotint” is directed by member Mary Blackwood, who’s also the director of Landlocked Film Festival. The project combines a ghost story and period film. The movie uses modern techniques in sound design and hand-held camera techniques. The film is set in 1949 and uses appropriate props, costumes, and locations.
“Standby” is directed by ICFC member Emily Ashenfelter, who works at PATV and is on the board of directors for Landlocked Film Festival. The film is about a middle-aged woman who makes a movie about herself and her husband as a young couple. With zero experience in moviemaking, the characters inadvertently film the parts in between scenes because the camera isn’t working properly. Their final product ends up being everything except what they really wanted to capture on film.