Trailblazer Appreciation: Amy Schumer

Ever hear that women can't be funny? Ever hear that women can't be on late night TV? Ever hear that only certain kinds of women can be sexy?

Amy Schumer doesn't give a fuck.

This week the third season of Amy Schumer's sketch-comedy show called Inside Amy Schumer premiered on Comedy Central. Lets be honest, that in itself is an achievement worth celebrating, since the prevailing theory is that women aren't funny. Amy's comedy is provocative and pushes the limit's of what can be shown on TV.

The Inside Amy Schumer premiere included the viral sensation "Milk, Milk, Lemonade" and the epic collaboration of Julia Louie-Dreyfus, Patricia Arquette, and Tina Fey celebrating their "Last Fuckable Day." Her show takes a massive undeniable stand against the physical standards that Hollywood has set for women. A fantastic season opener to a show that often takes a critical eye to the way women are treated in society.

Amy's hilarious comedy also lead her to this year's MTV Movie Awards as the host. Between Shailene Woodley winning literally every award, and buff action movie stars standing in front of pyrotechnics instead of speaking, Amy stood out for her hysterical monologue.

Amy also wrote her first feature film called Trainwreck,  a romantic comedy that she is starring in along with SNL alum Bill Hader. The movie was directed and produced by star maker Judd Apatow. The trailer is up, and with such a funny, talented cast, it looks like it will be a hit this summer.

Are you exhausted yet? You should be. Amy Schumer has been paving the way for women in comedy, and isn't slowing down now. She's been able to take the stereotypes that hold back women, and use them to push herself forward. For her inspiring perseverance and fearless comedy, we are grateful to have such outstanding idol carving her own path. 

Trailblazer Appreciation: Alison Bechdel

We know the name, Bechdel. A word that has taken on so much meaning beyond the surname of an individual. In the media, the word is thrown around with frustration, venom and occasionally as an accusation. In  our blog, The Bechdel test is noted in the sidebar and noted in all our movie reviews.

But who is the Bechdel Test named after?

Alison Bechdel is an American cartoonist, originally hailing from Pennsylvania. In her early 20's, Bechdel illustrated a panel comic titled Dykes to Watch Out For. It chronicled characters that reflected on contemporary events and day to day living as a lesbian in the North East. In 2006 she released the graphic Fun Home: a Family Tragicomic. It was received with acclaim and awards, and was adapted into a 2013 off-Broadway musical.

Her claim to fame in the movie industry involves a comic she wrote comic with a cynical commentary about the state of mainstream movies. The two girls go to a movie theater, passing posters for violent action movies featuring buff male stars. One girl says she won't see any film that doesn't pass what becomes known as the Bechdel Test: Having two women in it, who talk to each other, about something besides a man. They leave the theater empty handed.

Despite fighting criticism her whole career, Bechdel created work featuring American counter culture and made smart social commentary. Her works are considered some of the best in gay literature.

In 2014, Alison Bechdel was granted the MacArthur Fellowship Award, otherwise known as the Genius Grant providing her funding to continue her work, no strings attached, for the next 5 years.

For more information on Alison Bechdel, visit her website DykesToWatchOutFor or her Twitter account, found here. A website dedicated to finding movies that pass the Bechdel test can be found here.

Trailblazer Appreciation: Nora Ephron

Most people have heard the term "triple threat" on reality shows where someone is aspiring to be a singer/dancer/fashion model or whatever combination of things they can do on camera. Nora Ephron (1941 - 2012) was a journalist, essayist, novelist, screenwriter, director, producer, and a playwright. 

From the early 1980's to her passing in 2012, she worked in the film industry making iconic films. Her work in film lead her to be nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Raspberries alike. 

Nora Ephron's distinctive voice explores the many roles and lives of women. The only other screenwriter that comes to mind for connecting to such a distinctive audience is John Hughes. The thing that makes her work illustrious is not her desire to tell "women's stories" but rather that she tells compelling stories about women. Women exist in her movie world, which lets face is, doesn't exist in the worlds of many prolific screenwriters and film directors. 

From the game changing When Harry Met Sally (1989) to the stunningly beautiful Julie & Julia (2009) so many of Nora's films are hallmarks in the landscape of movie history. She made the romantic comedy something to be appreciated. 

Nora's directorial debut with This is My Life (1992) is the film that made Lena Dunham want to become a writer. 

Other memorable works include Heartburn (1986) (Our review here), You've Got Mail (1998), and Sleepless in Seattle(1993). 

Part of her legacy is that Nora was someone people wanted to be around. After her passing in 2012 the general feeling of shock and sadness has become memorialized in essays of her opinionated, fun loving, nature, and undeniable kindness. She was encouraging and spirited, inspiring friends and fans to go forward with their lives, and take chances.  

If there is one thing to be said about Nora Ephron it's that she showed her love and passion for life in everything she did. Something we should all learn from her and strive to achieve in ourselves. 

Trailblazer Appreciation: Harriet Quimby

Today I came across a wikipedia article about of the the first women avaiators, who also happened to be a screenwriter, actress, spokeswomen, and the first women to fly across the English Channel.

Harriet Quimby (1875-1912) was born in Michigan and made some major accomplishments for women before her unfortunate death in a monoplane accident.

She was the first women pilot in the USA being certified by the Aero Club of America.

She was the first women to fly across the English Channel. (A fact often overlooked due to it's coincidental timing with the sinking of the Titanic.)

She wrote the screenplays or the scenarios for 7 silent movies directed by D. W. Griffith. She even acted in one, herself.

When we talk about the lack of opportunities women have had in Hollywood, and show the statistical lack of equality the knee-jerk reply is to say "well Hollywood has been making movies for 100 years... so you know..." Obviously women couldn't be writing back then, right?

Wrong. If Harriet Quimby can do it in 1911, then don't accept that you can't 100 years later.

Wikipedia - Harriet Quimby