Beyond Bechdel

Anne V Coates was a veteran of Hollywood film editing, making her way from leafy Surrey to Hollywood via the Arabian desert. She had first-rate skills and a career to die for.

We celebrate her life and work in this episode.

Some ace footage of chinagraph film marking can be found here: https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/1940s-close-up-hands-of-man-editing-film-on-stock-video-footage/670-83

The match match cut can be found here: https://vimeo.com/52693433

Did you come to tussle? Tuffy came to tussle.

You've heard the word, you know it isn't good, but like us, you're not exactly sure what the deal with fridging is....Let Contrarah and Nick wade through film history and do the hard work for you. Or not, because we're still confused...but we do agree that puppies are soooooo cute.

Come say hi on twitter @Beyond_Bechdel & on email @[email protected].

And hey, while you're here.....STOP SHOVING WOMEN IN REFRIGERATORS

You've heard the word, you know it isn't good, but like us, you're not exactly sure what the deal with fridging is....Let Contrarah and Nick wade through film history and do the hard work for you. Or not, because we're still confused...

This 'Bit' celebrates cinematic heroes (both in front of camera and behind the scenes)

We celebrate:

> Kelly Marie Tran (& Rose Tico)

> Tallulah Riley (and Angela)

> The women working tirelessly behind the scenes at the BFI.

Find out more here: http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/features/pictures/women-movie-camera

43% Last Jedi

37% Force Awakens

35% Rogue One

23% Return of the Jedi

22% Empire Strikes Back

20% Phantom Menace

18% Attack of the Clones

17% Revenge of the Sith

15% A New Hope...

...These are the percentages of screen time for female identifying characters in the Star Wars universe, according to a detailed study by the brilliant Dr Becca Harrison, who gained celebrity, notoriety and a whole heap of abuse for her troubles. Yep, we have a bad feeling about this....so we talk to Becca about how Solo: A Star Wars Story fits into her research.

Find Becca on Twitter @BeccaEHarrison and http://www.writingonreels.uk/

Come say hi to us @Beyond_Bechdel or at https://beyondbechdelsite.wordpress.com/

A Bit Beyond about three amazing women - Meghan, Tayari and Cate.

Meghan Markle's feminist page: https://www.royal.uk/duchess-sussex

Tayari Jones on Death, Sex & Money: https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/death-sex-money-tayari-jones/

Cate Blanchett at Cannes :https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/cannes-2018-cate-blanchett-gender-equality-speech-watch-women-march-times-up-a8350521.html

SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE

You can pass the Turing Test, but can you pass the Bechdel Test?

That's sort of the question asked by Nick and Contrarah as they take a deep dive into #Westworld. Both a TV show and a theme park that would be nothing without its female characters.

We explore the journey to consciousness experienced by leads Maeve and Dolores and get into how their differing paths act as pointers to how to the escape from the televisual patriarchy.

Come as a guest and go Beyond the Bechdel test...

This is the first 'Bit Beyond' just a little snapshot of life beyond the Bechdel test.

- More on Gretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/

- Infinity War music: https://www.youtube.com/user/marvelVEVO/videos

- More on Lisa Joy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTAxMzvSBgE

Please rate and review and spread the joy!

In 2018 Frances Mcdormand used her Oscar-win speech to talk about

**Inclusion Riders**

...and was met with silence from the bewildered Oscar crowd. But the ripples made by those two words turned to waves across Hollywood and beyond.

Contrarah agrees that it's about time that the law is used to help women get the jobs and exposure that they deserve, so she enlists Lawyer Nicci Morris to talk through how the law is changing to ensure fair representation behind and in front of the camera.

Follow us on twitter @Beyond_Bechdel

or on email @ [email protected]

and let's all get some perspective!

Following on from Part 1, in this episode we discuss the role of sex in games (oh yeah) including GamerGate (oh no) and the possibility of well-drawn female characters that are sexy AND have opinions, values and their own plots.

Then we move onto storytelling, especially one girl's beautiful story arc (you'll laugh, you'll cry, you may fall in love with another girl, you'll definitely shoot zombies).

Finally, we make it to a post-gender gaming experience with one stunning and very difficult title.

Featured games:

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt

The Last of Us

Bloodborne

Remember: we are feminist game hunters and feminist game hunters must hunt!

Come tell us your gaming stories: on twitter @Beyond_Bechdel or on email [email protected]