Pioneers of the Cinema: The Herstory

"I am armed with madness for a long voyage," states British born, prolific painter, sculptor, writer and visionary Leonora Carrington. Perhaps the last surviving artist of the original Surrealist artist movement, as well as the famously former lover of Max Ernst, Carrington's life and work is arguably not "surreal" at all, nor is it classifiable in any sense of the word. Indebted to Surrealism, Carrington is nonetheless possessed of unique personal visions born from a fantastical interior life, one based in Celtic legend, alchemy, fairy tales, Tibetan Buddhism, Tarot, Kabbala, astrology, Mexican healing traditions and other mystical practices. This portrait, the first such documentary of her life and work produced in the United States, covers Carrington's entire oeuvre, with footage from the 1940's through 2006, and includes a fanciful dramatization of her famous 1939 short story, "The Debutante."

Using rare footage and exclusive interviews with filmmakers from all over the globe, "Reel Herstory" corrects the historic notion that women behind the scenes in motion pictures held peripheral careers compared with their male counterparts.

Non-US directors speak about the idiosyncrasies of filmmaking in their respective countries. Because of the difficulty of financing, very few American film directors establish a body of work. For American women directors, the problem is two-fold. But in Europe, Canada, and some countries of South America, filmmaking is often government subsidized, making it possible for filmmakers to become prolific in their craft.

There were more women directors before 1920 than at any other time in history. The first director to put a narrative story on celluloid was, Alice Guy Blaché in 1896. Few people know that Lillian Gish became a director in her own right in 1920. Ida Lupino directed over a hundred episodes of "Have Gun, Will Travel," "Thriller," "Gunsmoke," and many independent features.

From Mary Pickford to Barbra Streisand the successful actress turned producer/director is one of Hollywood's longest standing traditions.

This documentary premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Explore the challenging world of the screenwriter with renowned industry writers.

This documentary features the most gifted young directors of the 80's and 90's, revealing the secrets of their success in their craft.

Film editing initially began as a woman's art in France. As veteran film editor, Dede Allen, tell it, "They thought that women were good at little details, like sewing." Before editing became a craft, women were the earliest technicians. Today, the long tradition of women editors carries on.

Who should direct the film? Who should write it? Who should edit the final product? With major Hollywood studios, these questions lie within the producer's domain.

This documentary features the most gifted young directors of the 80's and 90's, revealing the secrets of their success in their craft.

The Producer and the Director must function like two hands of the same heart.