“What is it you offer? What is it you do? What is it you need?”
As leader of Women in Film’s Malibu chapter, Candace Bowen, a charismatic lady with long, braided hair nearly the length of her body, does not beat around the bush at her monthly breakfast meetups. She knows the women at these gatherings are all there for one thing: career advancement.
On the second Friday morning of every month, a “WIF” sign goes up outside the entrance of the Chart House restaurant. About 50 women attend these meetings, and at Bowen’s insistence each attendee must introduce themselves and voice their career needs. It may sound elementary, but it’s effective. How else will the group learn, as they did at last August’s meeting, that Kathleen Holland arrived from Minnesota nine months ago to pursue acting and writing (“My goal is to take mature women’s roles and put them up there.”); or that Sandra Angeline is a TV editor looking for work; or that aspiring actress Maria Russolo just moved from New York, as did producer/editor Crescent Diamond?
Just don’t ramble too much.
“If you talk too long, the mic cuts off on ya!” the lively Bowen promised, eliciting laughter.
At last Friday’s meeting, Florida-based entertainment attorney Richard Warren Rappaport delivered a speech called “Let’s Make a Film!” Memorizing the names and areas of expertise of attendees, he went around the room, calling on various people to share their insights as he explained the intricacies–and the obstacles–inherent in putting together a motion picture; a difficult process akin to a miracle if it can reach the multiplexes. Rappaport and the ladies shared many laughs en route to setting up their hypothetical film. Rappaport knows firsthand both sides of the equation. A BMI artist/songwriter, Rappaport created the tropical ballad “Sail Into the Sun,” and the soulful “Louisiana Way.”
“This is a serious, serious breakfast,” Bowen said, emphasizing the importance of women sticking together in an industry where many feel the oft-discussed invisible glass ceiling is still in full force.
Women in Film was founded in 1973 with the goal of advancing women’s role in the global entertainment and media industries at a time when women’s representation in the professional guilds, like the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America, numbered in the low single digits.
The foundation provides an extensive network of contacts to its membership, scholarships for young women, and film finishing funds and grants to struggling women filmmakers.
Since 1989, Bowen, an actress, has organized the monthly Women in Film breakfast at the Chart House Restaurant and the annual WIF Malibu Golf Classic that raises thousands of dollars for its scholarship programs.
“She’s a doer!” Ghen Laraya said. “She’s definitely someone who inspires me on a daily basis.”
For two years, Laraya has been a WIF board member. As the club’s vice president of technology, Laraya brings her legal experience as a technology IP attorney, to “educate the membership how technology and media help.” Laraya explained WIF president Cathy Schulman is “concerned there’s not enough women on the executive level.”
The nonprofit attracts remarkable diversity among its membership: actress Delora Penn of Tampa, who works as a stylist for such clients as Jennifer Love Hewitt; local scribe Tory Enterclose, who is “looking for some human interaction as I spend all my time writing;” the outrageous Gabrielle Portman, who admitted, “I have a therapist who told me to join!” Now based in Kansas, Judy Ann Goldman, who used to work as a Malibu Times writer in the early 2000s, dropped in on August’s meeting to promote her documentary, “Rise and Dream,” about poor kids in the Philippines performing music.
WIF is more than just a monthly coffee klatch. Participants can shadow a producer on programs such as Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show. WIF has a fund offering up to $15,000 to help indie filmmakers complete projects. They partnered with Univision, which is soon launching an English language station for women. A December holiday party is imminent.
There’s also the 15th annual golf tournament fundraiser, which, in June, featured Smokey Robinson. Thanks to a member’s daughter, Brown landed the Motown singer after trying for 15 years. Connections, and how to capitalize on them, is how this group rolls.
Success stories shared at these meetings can be empowering, especially as many feel that Hollywood is still a boy’s club. “I do feel most of my bosses have been men and a lot of my clients have been men,” Laraya said. “I can commiserate. Interacting with men is markedly different. But I’m energized by the challenge to change these statistics.”
According to organizers, the Malibu breakfasts have a good track record.
“Many come back,” Laraya continued. “Maybe not to this specific event, but they come to our monthly happy hour at Capital Grill at the Beverly Center.
“Candace once said WIF is like the mafia! You never leave, it keeps pulling you back.”
For more information, visit WIFF.org