Beyond Bechdel

In these strange times we wanted to bring listeners comfort, in the form of coping tips, media recommendations and the sound of three people laughing through the madness. Hope this helps.

Jen's brand new web series Phase 2 can be found here: www.youtube.com/channel/UCuS1mtCoDwYXiq2zALzLYqw

We're all on twitter if you want to talk:

Stay safe.

2020 - sounds good doesn't it? We predict great things for filmmaking in this new decade! Contrarah asked some previous pod guests what they are most looking forward to.  She and Nick also finish their discussion on the best films of the last ten years. 

In a Hole

Doll's House

Key time codes:

5:01 - Just Jen

27:02 - Audrey Fox 

40:31 - Emma Butt 

1:02:05 - Becky Matthews 

(49:00 -Segue into the role of the score in filmmaking)

Our final lists:

Contrarah              

2010 - Winter's Bone

2011 - We Need To Talk About Kevin

2012 - Zero Dark Thirty

2013 - The Bling Ring

2014 - Selma

2015 - Fifty Shades of Grey

2016 - Certain Women

2017 - Lady Bird

2018 - Private Life

2019 - The Farewell

Nick

2010 - Inception

2011 - Tree of Life

2012 - Cabin in the Woods

2013 - Enemy

2014 - Whiplash

2015 - Knight of Cups 

2016 - Moonlight

2017 - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

2018 - Infinity War 

2019 - 1917

The last decade saw some fantastic movies and some big steps forward for women in film, but no one told Nick that, he just loves himself some MAN movies full of MEN. Thank goodness Contrarah weighs in with some big time, money-making, award-winning female films.

Contrarah and Nick continue their review of cinema from 2010 to 2019 - this time looking at 2014 to 2017, and they may have finally found some common ground. Do you agree with these choices?

The last decade saw some fantastic movies and some big steps forward for women in film.

Contrarah and Nick review their tastes in cinema from 2010 to 2019 - each with a wildly different focus. Did your movie make the cut?

Computer gaming - it's for boys only, right? Wrong!

And yet, history hasn't been kind to the gamer community, especially in terms of gender discrimination. Instead of laying blame, maybe it's time to look at whether the games themselves are contributing towards a culture. Contrarah enlists the help of Dr Esther Wright (https://twitter.com/EstherWrigh_) whose recent PhD delves deep into stereotypes within the historical Rockstar Games universe. Listen as they discuss campfire confessionals, seedy underbellies and the lack of trans representation, as well as the world's most lit photography assignment.

We're pausing on episodes for a while so that the team can bring you even more content, thank you SO MUCH for listening to this season.

Shout out to all of our kind and talented guests and to the audio genius of Andrew Evans (https://twitter.com/AndrewDEvans)

And to all you murdering psychopathic gun-toting outlaws...just pass that weapon to a nearby female (or non-binary if you can find em) NPC, she can handle herself too.

What is Cinema?

Scorsese thinks he knows, but does he? Nick with his TV industry work knowledge and Contrarah debate this question focussing on art, entertainment with a segue into what exactly is a human being? Plus, do we want our Netflix content even faster?

Bonus Drinking Game: Take a sip every time someone says Transformers!

Tell us your definition of cinema at: [email protected] or https://twitter.com/Beyond_Bechdel

It's easy to look back at films from 20 years ago and cringe hard, wondering, "what were we thinking?"

Yet the 90s brought us so many good things, including a new a golden age for the romantic comedy - a genre sometimes frowned upon today. Writer/director/producer Just Jen thinks we shouldn't dismiss 90s romcoms as featherweight, when the lessons they're bringing are more empowering than at first glance. 

The 90s romcom heroine as feminist Trojan Horse. Who knew?

Learn more about Jen's thoughts on culture @JustJen_02 on twitter and her own filming work https://www.instagram.com/sassyjamproductions/?hl=en on instagram

Tell us about your fave romcoms @Beyond_Bechdel

Amber Hunt, Amanda Rossman, Elizabeth Andes.

You might not know their names. All women. All important. Listen to find out why.

Bad things happen to women every day, and women are doing invaluable work to make the world a better place. We get to be a part of the process through the power of audio. Contrarah makes the case for true crime pods, but not all true crime media is the same.

Serial: serialpodcast.org/

Want to recommend a true crime podcast? Email [email protected] and/or tweet us @Beyond_Bechdel

Remember old-school nurses? The white-starched uniform, kind bedside manner and comforting, feminine presence? Cinema remembers. A movie was made that sought to turn that stereotype on its head. 

Nurse Ratched is widely known as the most deliciously heinous member of the nursing profession. She's also - according to our guest Audrey Fox - a Trojan Horse, standing out as a powerful women in a world full of dangerous men. 

Contrarah and Audrey discuss Louise Fletcher's magnificent performance, as well as life behind the scenes on the set of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Tell Audrey all of your medical problems https://twitter.com/audonamission

Tell us we must be crazy to make a podcast in a looney bin like this: https://twitter.com/Beyond_Bechdel

Thanks as always to https://andrewevansmusic.com/about/ for our theme tune.