For the past two years, not only have I had the amazing opportunity to chat with Melanie Wise, the founder of the Artemis Film Festival, but I actually attended this unbelievable festival. In 2016, I attended completely on my own at Melanie’s invitation, and in 2017, my daughter accompanied me. This year, I will not be in attendance, but I am ecstatic to share with you my third interview with the delightfully engaging Melanie!

RH: Melanie, so glad to get to chat with you again this year!

MW: Ruth, it’s always great to chat with you. It’s such a busy time right now, and everything seems to happen all at once sometimes. But it’s all good.

So I noticed that this year is the first year you’re not doing crowdfunding for the festival, right?

That is correct. This is the first year we are going after corporate sponsorship. And we are still accepting contributions and we greatly appreciate them. I just felt that if we wanted to have any kind of longevity with this event, it was time for us to start bringing in sponsors.

I would agree with you on that because it makes you seem more legitimate.

It’s amazing to me that people downplay crowdfunding. I find it very interesting. Crowdfunding is absolutely a part of our everyday world now. But some people still have a negative view of crowdfunding, and some will even look down at you if you choose to go that route.

When it comes to women’s events, I’ve noticed a strange dichotomy. People will talk and talk and talk. But when it comes time to support women’s events, there is a still a lack of the level of support that is often seen at other events.

To be honest, I see that somewhat myself. We hear about Hollywood being inclusive, and yet they still tend to do a lot more talking than action. And there still is this ideal when it comes to women of what beauty should be by today’s standards. I mean, it’s changed somewhat, but those old stereotypes still exist.

You know, if you look throughout history, standards of beauty shift and change all the time. In the 1500’s, it was very pleasing to have a woman with a large belly. And now we tend to have this standard of youth. It’s a real hamstringer. In fact, this is one where I have to confront my own judgments about youth, age and what’s pretty and what’s not. As I look internally, the standards that I hold myself up to are very different than the standards that I impose on the outside world. We have, especially in media, a very rigid idea of what’s pretty or not. And I certainly don’t wish to be defined by that standard because it’s so rigid.

My experience has been that so many of us women still don’t understand how to support other women. There is that competitive approach that still seems to exist amongst women, and it really harms women as a whole, especially in terms of succeeding. It is so sad to see women not supporting other women. 

First of all, there are women out there that do support other women, they do it very well, and they do it in spades.

I couldn’t agree with you more!

I have so much appreciation for those supportive women. But this leads me back around to this undeniable fact. Women are the majority of the population, and in the majority of households, women marshal most of the spending and the monetary choices made in that household. When I consider the power that women currently have, I am at a loss to consider why women have not taken over the human race. If we wanted to, we have the resources to do it. I realize there are gender issues, and I’m not negating that.

Unfortunately, I notice pockets of women sometimes who struggle to support other women because those other women don’t share exactly the same beliefs. There is a kind of intolerance that exists. Conditional support is really not support. We do have to use some discrimination in judgment when it comes to supporting things, and petty differences should not be the thing that divide us.

I understand completely what you’re saying, Melanie. I really do go out of my way to support things, even if I’m not necessarily passionate about something. If I notice there is an issue, a show, a movie, or whatever, if I realize that it it has value, I will do my best to be supportive. And thankfully, I have some wonderful supporters as well who do the same thing for me. I am grateful to both the women and men who go out of their way to support me. But even in my line of work, there are trivial differences that sometimes divide us. And I do not understand why it has to be that way. It is okay for us to have a difference of opinions. In fact, some of my best friends and I don’t agree on major issues, but we still get along. 

That is the best way to be, Ruth. The beauty is that if those conversations happen where you may not agree, but you’re open to hearing other people’s opinions, those conversations can have extraordinary value. However, when we approach issues with a zealot’s attitude that says, “This is the way it has to be,” that sets things up for people coming to the table wanting to fight about stuff. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t fight for what you want because I do believe in that too. But to me, fighting over opinions is a colossal waste of time.

I do my best to support “women powered” ventures and things that have merit. And it doesn’t matter what I think about something. I hold up the idea that while it may not register hugely in my world, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value in someone else’s world.

I often surprise people with my views on diversity. I have been judged so much of my life because of what I look like and who I am and where I grew up. People tend to think I shouldn’t care about diversity. But the fact of the matter is, I do! 

And of course, diversity is a very important issue to me too, especially in the entertainment world. I literally get sick to death of looking at homogenized casting. That is not what the world looks like. And if you really break it down, these kinds of casting practices and choices, you realize they erode the quality of the message created when they follow the practice of homogenized casting.

One of the things I realized when looking out into the animal world…for example, if you look at the squirrels that hang out in my backyard, they’re fat, well-fed, and fluffy. They have the benefit of being born where some ‘sucker’ is willing to stand there and pass out food, and that would be me. However, if you just observe nature, you will find places where squirrels are seen as vermin, where they’re treated like garbage, and nobody wants to feed them. There is this element of chance in everyone’s lives in terms of where you struggle and where you don’t. The whole point I’m getting to with this ridiculous diatribe is that we all have something we suffer over or that makes our life difficult. And it’s very challenging to stay very aware that everyone in this world, if they have a third-dimensional body, guess what…suffering is part of the game! For example, we were not born with male organs, so we have to suffer the fate of what it means to be female in this society at this time. And no matter your race, ethnicity, creed, you have some kind of struggle.

Now, this is your fourth year of the festival, my third year to be involved. And I have such a great respect for what you guys do. Your festival was my first ever festival–at this point, my only festival–and I absolutely love getting to go and watch the incredible films that come in each year.

And we have an extraordinary lineup of films this year. Our schedule is full of astounding films. Obviously, our narrative stuff is incredibly stellar, and every year I’m proud of our documentaries because we get to share pieces of history about women that are very little known. This year, we’re coming back to the table with more history that people don’t know about. The quality of our films rises every year, I think, and I’m always really proud of our lineup. This year, we had a quantum leap in quality, resulting in truly stellar film program.

Our documentaries are breaking extraordinary ground this year. We’ve got a couple of documentaries that break into business. One of them is called Perfume War, and essentially what the protagonist is doing through her business is reducing war efforts in other countries by literally making perfume. You can look at it and say it’s social business, but it is a viable business venture that has an extraordinarily positive fallout for everything that it touches. They’re honestly making perfume, not war. And how cool is that?

Now, I think our biggest job is to inspire people, to literally unbox the role that people see culturally as what a woman does. I think we’re succeeding. Truly, I think we kick it out of the park on that front.

The other documentary that is very interesting this year is called Mary Janes the Women of Weed. It is an extraordinary exploration into cannabis for its medicinal uses, its recreational uses, the legislation and the social consequences that fall out of it. The thing they really point out in the documentary that I think is absolutely germane is that it is the first potential billion-dollar industry where women have a strong foothold.

I am not a recreational user of cannabis. I have actually studied cannabis from a medicinal standpoint. There are so many uses for this plant that has been so heavily regulated. And the consequences of the fallout of marijuana socially is usually in minority groups.

Now, I will be honest. I don’t support recreational marijuana, but I don’t mind sitting through something and keeping an open mind even when I don’t necessarily agree. In fact, I regularly step outside my comfort zone, and every time I challenge myself that way, it’s always been a positive experience. And even if I come away not agreeing with most of what was said, at least I was exposed to a different viewpoint, and I understand where the other side is coming from. 

And I would suggest that is the basis of compassion. Many times, it is sorely lacking. We lead lives that are so busy. We’re ping’ed nine million times a day through our technology, and we’re seeing all sorts of shifts in our economic structure. We’re living in a world where our ability to give attention and focus on things is teeny tiny. And all that does make a difference.

Unfortunately, technology does have a downside. It’s also a place where I have been shocked at what some people will actually say on social media. 

You’re so right. On social media, I think you can see the worst of everything. Now, I know we’re all human and we have our buttons. But we all live in this world, and for better or worse, we’re in it together. I really don’t understand the concept of just being mean for the sake of being mean, but it does seem so many are aiming for that. Our ability to address people in a kind manner seems to be lost. Furthermore, technological advances are diminishing human connection at an extraordinary rate. I think as that ability to be self-absorbed grows, we’re going to see the loss of social grace. In fact, we are already seeing that.

I fully agree with you. Somedays, I go through my social media feed and something just pops out at me, and I honestly cannot believe someone has written that. Maybe they had a bad day, but when it shows up again and again, it really makes you wonder.

Now I’ll be the first to say that I’m all for being irreverent. I’m probably one of the most irreverent people I’ve ever met. I’m not saying we should be sterile or not be ourselves. But I think we need to balance the line of being authentic to ourselves and having fun where we find it. But I really don’t think it takes any more effort to be nice.

Back to the festival, where and when is it being held this year?

We are in two locations this year. The Artemis Awards Gala on the 26th of April–that’s a Thursday evening–is in Beverly Hills at Ahrya Fine Arts Theater. Then Friday through Sunday (April 27-29), we’re at the Laemmle Monica Film Center in Santa Monica. This year, we are screening seventy-eight films, and we’ve got two screens. I really hate mentioning just a few films because then you have all these other films there that are just as amazing in their own right. We have some extraordinary action narrative action films this year. And of course, we have amazing honorees. This year’s program is nothing short of stunning.

This is the first year you’ve had two screens, right?

Yes, that is right. We have to make it through the growing pains. We’re still growing, and getting sponsorships can be hard when our footprint is not quite big enough to get the attention of some of the sponsors. But it will come in time. We have to convince sponsors that sponsoring the festival is a strategic position for them. . We are able to offer them exposure all through the event, and they can market their products to those who attend the festival. I understand their position, and I realize it’s just business. Thankfully, there has been plenty of news this year around gender issues in the media, and if people want to market to women, we have the perfect vehicle to do that. And, of course, we attract a lot of men to this festival too.

I’m honored that we have joined the gender parity discussion. We answer that conversation by showing powerful, intrepid females on screen. I don’t think sitting around having a time complaining makes a dent or a difference. I think the best thing we can do is inspire people to look at the roles that women are supposed to occupy in this world differently. The thing that keeps me doing this is that our media has an influence that reaches the entire world. We have the capacity to shift cultural perceptions very quickly through the media that we create and distribute. Here’s the deal: Nature makes hundreds of different varieties of apples, but if you show up in the grocery store, you find about five. It’s no different with our typical distribution outlets.

The variety of content out there is far greater than what comes through those pipelines. In fact, we have another film this year called Beauty Bites Beast, and it addresses ending violence against women. The issue is prevalent on every single continent. I know we’ve shown other films that deal with that particular topic., And the creator of this film has literally traveled the nation teaching self-defense to women. The film is an extraordinarily well-made documentary, and last year, they were struggling to get programmed, We have this perception of women that they aren’t supposed to be violent because that promotes violence. Even in this country, we’ve enacted legislation to end violence against women, but nowhere in that legislation are we providing any access to self-defense.  Honestly, if you want to stop violence against women, the fastest way to do that is to give them tools to defend themselves. I’m really proud to screen this particular film because it’s an extraordinary statement. The opening is very powerful with this guy hitting on this woman We can’t hear what the guys says to her, but you can tell in her body language that his behavior is not okay. This clip lasts maybe ten seconds,.She clearly conveys she’s not interested, he doesn’t stop, and finally she cleans his clock! I’m not interested in promoting violence, but if someone is doing something to you and you want them to stop, being able to stop them is a very important skill right there. This film needs to be seen by every man, woman, and dog, and it should be shown on college campuses. It should be shown everywhere, and yet they are having trouble getting their film seen! I just don’t get it.

As far as panels, we are offering one called “A Sex Type Thing.” It all boils down to what chromosome you were born with. I think women have an extraordinary right and reason to be up in arms and angry. I have not met one woman in any industry who has not been touched by some kind of bias, discrimination, and/or harassment. The bottom line is there are so many extraordinary things that have to shift and change in order to change the paradigm about how women and men interact. It’s such a deep subject. We could go on for days, months, weeks, and years, but you have to move past talking to doing.

I couldn’t agree more. I actually got over-saturated with the media response to the “Me Too” movement that I stopped caring until it affected some women I knew personally. I was challenged to change my thinking, and finally, the movement had a face rather than just being a faceless movement.

You know, I recently wrote a blog post about this very issue. In the film industry, pretending that these things didn’t exist is an absolute fallacy because you walked into this industry with the knowledge that this was going on, especially if you were focused on acting. You knew the casting couch was not a fantasy or a rumor. It’s a hard reality. The fact that we are now bringing the discussion to the table is very late. As was pointed out to me by my co-founder, Zac Baldwin, there are literally hundreds of women who have experienced harassment and discrimination, spoke out, and you’ve never heard their name. .Women speaking out in our industry took extraordinary risks to do so. I feel this is an important year for the festival when we will be exploring and speaking about strength, determination, grit, and power.

What other panels are you having at the festival?

We actually have six panels this year. We have our all-stars of stunts that will feature our stunt honorees. We’re also going to do our warrior women panel, which always has an excellent collection of people. This year, we have three businesswomen on that panel. After all, they’re warriors in their own right, and we need to see more women in business who are doing an amazing job and having success. Then Miz in the Biz is hosting a micro-budget, low-budget film panel on how to make the most of your dollars. Seed & Spark is going to come in and do a panel as well. Actually, both of those are going to be more like workshops. And then Mary Janes–we’re gonna do a cannabis panel. I think there’s an extraordinary conversation that needs to happen there. We have thirty film screenings and six panels this year and an awards gala.

I tell you, the panels at the festival are amazing, and those sound fantastic! Can you tell us what guests are coming to the festival this year?

Well, we have our stunt honorees this year. We’ve got Debbie Evans, one of the longest-working stuntwomen in Hollywood. She is a walking legend. Alicia Vela-Bailey, who has worked on many studio films. There isn’t a person alive on the planet who has not seen the stunts that she’s done because they’re that well-profiled. Danielle Burgio, whom I think you’ve met. Heidi Pascoe, another stuntwoman. Cassandra Ebner and Kachina Dechert. That makes six stunt honorees. Our talent honorees that I can mention are TJ Scott and Ming-Na Wen. We’re so excited to honor all of them. And we still have a few people we haven’t announced yet. All will be in attendance.

Sounds like you have quite a lineup! And you always improve upon it each year. I can attest to that fact. 

The only thing that’s hard for me is the opening night. It’s always running fifteen to twenty minutes late. It’s such a zoo, and and lots of fun too!

Well, you know, it’s Hollywood. It’s okay. {laughs}

Not really, no. I’m not faulting them for taking the time to talk and visit with everyone and take pictures on the red carpet and all. But I’m one of these people who always has in my mind how I’m going to have everything done on time. I always have the best of intentions.

Melanie, I think anybody who knows you knows where your heart is. 

We always come to the table with an extraordinary plan to make the trains run on time. And anything after the Awards Gala is incredibly on-time. We’ve actually gotten a lot of compliments for running a well-organized film festival. As far as the presentation speeches for the honorees, every year those speeches are so pithy and well-thought-out. And their perspectives are beautiful. I’m so glad that all this happens on our stage.

I’ve worked in a lot of different industries besides film. I was raised by a man, and I’ve worked in very male-dominated worlds. I had to come to the world of film to feel the glass ceiling that lots of women experience.

I’m so grateful that this film festival and all the people connected with it–you especially, Melanie–have opened my eyes to the plight of women in film and in general. I knew virtually nothing before getting connected with you.

I’m glad to have made that impact. If you look at statistics in Hollywood, minority men have better statistics than all the women. It’s time for women to come to the table and understand their value. We need to learn to be better negotiators and better askers of things. I find it interesting that all these traits are encouraged and lauded in men, but then when women do the same thing, they get called out for being too masculine. I can only hope that festivals like the Artemis can help women change these perceptions.

Thank you so much, Melanie, for taking the time to speak with me today. Although I cannot attend the festival, I’ll be there in spirit.

Thank you, Ruth, for all you do. And if people are interested in the festival but cannot attend, you can check out our streaming content here. You’ll find the films and more by checking out that link. It’s a great way to virtually enjoy the festival. And while we will miss you, I am very excited for this year’s festival! I hope lots of people join us.

In so many ways, it is with a heavy heart that I realize I will not be at the Artemis Film Festival this year, but I know that this event will be one that is definitely worth attending. Melanie and her entire staff are some of the hardest-working people I’ve ever seen, and every year, the content of these films continues to amaze, inspire, and teach. Melanie’s passion is to appreciate and highlight women for who they genuinely are rather than how popular media attempts to present them. While Melanie acknowledges the fact that women have made transcendent strides in recent years, she is pragmatic and perceptive enough to understand the disparity that still exists for women in today’s society. Little by little, it is festivals like the Artemis that are attempting to alter the present so that the future will be better for the generations of women that will exist long after we have shuffled off this mortal coil. I applaud the intensive labor that Melanie and her co-workers accomplish in terms of the festival as well as all year long. They are the tireless champions and warriors who refuse to rest until authentic change occurs, and I believe they are making a dynamic difference in this world.

Therefore, if you are in the LA area from April 26-29 and want to experience an incredibly phenomenal film festival jam-packed with outstanding performances by women, I invite you to the Artemis Film Festival. Furthermore, if you are unable to attend and/or you would like to donate, be sure to visit all the links below. I highly recommend following Melanie and the Artemis year round for the best in women empowerment news and stories, and I can only hope that in the near future, this festival will attain the kind of notoriety and recognition that Melanie and her staff deserve! 

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