Pretty Tough is much more than a brand or a film, but it just so happens that their narrative short will be shown at the Artemis Film Festival this year. The main premise of the story is that of two competitive sisters who join the high school soccer team. Recently, I had the opportunity to ask Jane Schonberger about writing this film and the importance of raising strong girls in today’s society.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?

A love for stories and storytelling. I’ve been a consumer of entertainment my whole life as a voracious reader, TV watcher and moviegoer. I’m always considering how best to bring specific stories to people who aren’t physically there and how to create content that informs socially and culturally while still being engaging.

What inspired you to create Pretty Tough? What do you want the viewers to take away from this film?

“Pretty Tough” was established as a media and lifestyle property to honor all the girls who love to compete on and off the field. We try to redefine what it means to be female by smashing stereotypes and defying conventions. Girls today are just as likely to be warrior princesses as pink princesses. Since our launch, we have discovered that girls and young women have a very visceral connection to “Pretty Tough.” They intuitively understand they should not be reduced to one identity and, hopefully. viewers will see multi-dimensional female characters in all our books and content. Being a girl is about so much more than bras and makeup.  We want young women to know that being pretty and tough are not mutually exclusive and that being a female athlete is not an oxymoron. We’re also constantly trying to educate publishers, network executives, TV producers and filmmakers that girls need not be relegated to secondary roles.

Why are you so passionate about strong women in film?

When discussing gender diversity in film, there is a popular saying: “You can’t be what you don’t see.”  Young girls model themselves after characters they encounter in popular culture.  When I was growing up, it was hard to find anything but damsels in distress in books and film; strong, active female characters were uncommon.  Even now, female protagonists are often depicted as bitchy or back-stabbing, and this “mean girl” persona translates into acceptable behavior. Girls need to see strong women who are supportive of one another and have meaningful goals.  At “Pretty Tough” we like to draw attention to the strengths girls possess and inspire them to feel beautiful because of their incredible abilities.  Our brand empowers and motivates young women to remain true to their grace, strength and individuality.

How did you hear about Artemis Film Festival?

Founders Melanie Wise and Sean Newcombe reached out to me prior to their inaugural event, and I was thrilled to learn about their vision and mission. Putting a spotlight on ass-kicking women is something we’ve done at “Pretty Tough” for over a decade, so it’s great to know other groups recognize the importance of featuring strong women in front of and behind the camera.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of working in the indie film industry?

The obvious drawbacks are lack of funding and infrastructure, but the benefits outweigh the shortcomings when it comes to telling authentic stories that might not fit a particular mold. Every time major studios or networks claim that a female can’t carry a show or a film, we have examples like” Hunger Games” or “Scandal” to prove otherwise. Hopefully ,stories featuring strong, capable women will become more and more commonplace.

Any other upcoming works you can mention?

We’ve just set up a middle-grade series called “Peace, Love, Softball” with a major female athlete (to be announced shortly). The series follows a girls travel team in SoCal with each title focusing on a different player. The first title will be released Spring 2017.

Any special filming stories regarding “Pretty Tough?”

We were lucky to cast Adelaide Kane in one of her first roles after moving to Los Angeles. Adelaide embodied Charlie in so many ways, and she went on to play another very strong female protagonist – Mary Queen of Scots in the TV series “Reign.” Although Adelaide is a capable athlete, my daughter, an elite soccer player, was her body double in many of the soccer scenes!

We were also lucky enough to have soccer superstar Brandi Chastain (who kicked the winning goal in the 1999 Women’s World Cup) play herself in a cameo role. That was thrill for both my daughter and me who were at the Rose Bowl for the championship game against China. Brandi epitomizes being “Pretty Tough,” so it was great to be able to write a part specifically for her.

This is one time I really wish my daughter could attend the festival with me because I know she would thoroughly enjoy this film. But in her stead, I will be pleased to watch it on Sunday, April 24, and hopefully I can come back and use their resources to inspire my own daughter to not give into media stereotypes in this ever-changing world of ours. In the meantime, be sure to check out the links below to find out more about this company, including this film.

http://twitter.com/prettytough
https://twitter.com/jschonb
http://www.prettytough.com/

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