Silent women : pioneers of cinema

The 1st book to give overview of early women film-makers in the US, Europe & beyond. Essential reading for students of film studies, media, culture & gender/women's studies. With many black & white photos, this book will appeal to all lovers of the cinema & the early days of the movies. Surprisingly, more women were working at every level in the early years of the film industry than at any point since. Early pioneers, such as Alice Guy Blaché, directed hundreds of films, invented techniques, ran businesses & set up distribution but with the rise of the studio system, their significant contribution to the dawn of the movies has long been forgotten. With chapters on the writers, directors, producers, stars, film editors, cinematographers, critics & fans of the silent era this book acknowledges & celebrates the many talented women who were significantly involved in the rise of the industry. Why did the coming of the talkies & big business lead to the inequality which exists today?Melody Bridges studied English & Drama at Cambridge University & has written, acted & directed for theatre before working in TV where she developed, wrote, produced & directed two television series. In addition to contributing to Celluloid Ceiling, she writes a weekly page for a newspaper, & is Artistic Director of Worthing’s WOW Festival. In 2014, she was a Finalist as Influential Woman of the Year at the NatWest Venus Awards. She has recently given a TEDx talk about inspiring change. www.melodybridges.comCheryl Robson is a producer/director of several short independent films, most recently Rock ’n’ Roll Island which was nominated for Best Short Film for Raindance, London 2015. She worked at the BBC for several years & then taught filmmaking at the University of Westminster, before setting up a theatre company. www.cherylrobson.net It Now Emerges That More Women Were Working At Every Level In The First 20 Years Of The Film Industry In The Usa Than At Any Point Since. Early Pioneers, Such As Alice Guy Blach , Directed Hundreds Of Films, Invented Techniques, Ran Businesses And Set Up Distribution But With The Rise Of The Male-dominated Studio System, Their Significant Contribution To The Dawn Of The Movies Has Long Been Forgotten. With Chapters On The Writers, Directors, Producers, Stars, Film Editors, Designers And Camera Women Of The Silent Era This Book Acknowledges And Celebrates The Many Talented Women Who Were Significantly Involved In The Rise Of The Industry And Explains Why The Coming Of The Talkies And Big Business Led To The Inequality Which Exists Today. Foreward / Bryony Dixon -- Introduction / Melody Bridges And Cheryl Robson -- Girl From God's Country: The History Of Women In Film And Other War Stories / Karen Day -- Early African-american Female Filmmakers / Aimee Dixon Anthony -- The Silent Producer: Women Filmmakers Who Creatively Controlled The Silent Era Of Cinema / Pieter Aquilia -- Women Were Writing: Beyond Melodrama And Hot House Romances / Patricia Di Risio -- Doing It All: Women's On- And Off-screen Contributions To European Silent Film / Julie K. Allen -- Female Legends Of The Silver Screen / Melody Bridges -- Directors From The Dawn Of Hollywood / Francesca Stephens -- Interview With Director Dorothy Arzner / Kevin Brownlow -- Women Film Editors From Silent To Sound / Tania Field -- Who Was The First Female Cinematographer In The World? / Ellen Cheshire -- When The Woman Shoots: Ladies Behind The Silent Horror Film Camera / K. Charlie Oughton -- Critics, Reformers And Educators: Film Culture As A Feminine Sphere / Shelley Stamp -- U.s. Women Directors: The Road Ahead / Maria Giese. Edited By Melody Bridges And Cheryl Robson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. It now emerges that more women were working at every level in the first 20 years of the film industry in the USA than at any point since. Early pioneers, such as Alice Guy Blache, directed hundreds of films, invented techniques, ran businesses and set up distribution but with the rise of the male-dominated studio system, their significant contribution to the dawn of the movies has long been forgotten. With chapters on the writers, directors, producers, stars, film editors, designers and camera women of the silent era this book acknowledges and celebrates the many talented women who were significantly involved in the rise of the industry and explains why the coming of the talkies and big business led to the inequality which exists today. Voted the best book published about silent cinema in THE SILENT LONDON POLL OF 2016 #1 Amazon Best Silent Film Named one of the Best Film Books of the Year by Huffington Post Covers the hidden history of cinemas diverse beginnings including American, European and African-American female filmmakers, cinematographers, editors, critics and screenwriters. With a never-before published interview with legendary director Dorothy Arzner. Essential reading for students of film studies, media, culture and gender/women studies. Taps into the current debate about discrimination within the media and creative industries. Concludes with a chapter by activist and film director Maria Giese, who instigated the Civil Liberties investigation into sexism in Hollywood, on the current status of women behind the camera in Hollywood today. With chapters on the writers, directors, producers, stars, film editors, designers and camera women of the silent era this book acknowledges and celebrates the many talented women who were significantly involved in the rise of the industry and explains why the coming of the talkies and big business led to the inequality which exists today. Contents: Foreword / Bryony Dixon; Introduction / Melody Bridges and Cheryl Robson; 1. Girl from God's country: the history of women in film and other war stories / Karen Day; 2. Early African-American female filmmakers / Aimee Dixon Anthony; 3. The silent producer: women filmmakers who creatively controlled the silent era of cinema / Pieter Aquilia; 4. Women were writing: beyond melodrama and hot house romances / Patricia Di Risio; 5. Doing it all: women's on and off-screen contributions to European silent film / Julie K. Allen; 6. Female legends of the silver screen / Melody Bridges; 7. Women directors from the dawn of Hollywood / Francesca Stephens; 8. Interview with director Dorothy Arzner / Kevin Brownlow; 9. Women film editors from silent to sound / Tania Field; 10. Who was the first female cinematographer in the world? / Ellen Cheshire; 11. When the woman shoots: ladies behind the silent horror film camera / K. Charlie Oughton; 12. Critics, reformers, and educators: film culture as a feminine sphere / Shelley Stamp; 13. US Women directors: the road ahead / Maria Giese The first book to give overview of early women film-makers in the US, Europe and beyond. Essential reading for students of film studies, media, culture and gender/women's studies. With many black and white photos, this book will appeal to all lovers of the cinema and the early days of the movies. Surprisingly, more women were working at every level in the early years of the film industry than at any point since. Early pioneers, such as Alice Guy Blaché, directed hundreds of films, invented techniques, ran businesses and set up distribution but with the rise of the studio system, their significant contribution to the dawn of the movies has long been forgotten. With chapters on the writers, directors, producers, stars, film editors, cinematographers, critics and fans of the silent era this book acknowledges and celebrates the many talented women who were significantly involved in the rise of the industry. Why did the coming of the talkies and big business lead to the inequality which exists today?