Tig

Ok so this film is a Netflix documentary about a period in Tig Notaro's life (stand up comic) which was particularly poignant: she nearly died from a serious illness;her mother died; and then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I know, it's a whole tonne of shitty events to happen so close together. But what makes this doc so interesting/riveting/whatever adjective you want to use, is that she worked all of these devastating life-events into her stand-up - she managed to make them funny. Something that only a genius is capable of.

I was lucky enough to attend a free screening of this at the BFI Southbank Centre (8th June) where there was a Q&A with the Director afterward (Kristina Goolsby). Honestly one of the most eye-opening things I've ever been lucky enough to witness. So as everyone is aware sexism in LA is becoming particularly relevant recently due to a number of payment scandals and big ass names speaking up about it. But I always wondered how big shot producers/investors were able to get away with this sexism. Because, unfortunately, it's kind of a given in our current society to have this undercurrent of sexism, it's just there and is something we deal with. Something shitty that we deal with and something we're striving to change, but nonetheless, it's there. But to be overly sexist? Luckily that is a point of recognition that society has collectively demonised. You would no longer get away with firing something purely because they were a woman in a workplace, or at least, you wouldn't get away with wording it exactly like that. So I always wondered, how can these big ass people in Hollywood get away with not giving funding to female producers/directors, purely because they're women? And she answered me:

She said (and this is by no means a direct quotation, I am very much paraphrasing here) that she would go into these meeting quite naively, kind of regretting to accept the fact that her gender would affect their ability to gain funding (as it fucking should be). But then they would pitch and something peculiar would happen, they would work their arses off to present a Roughcut of footage to present and then would be suddenly met with this wall of condescending bullshit. You know the types, "well done girls/ladies, you guys have done SUCH a GOOD job" etc. etc. And then they would proceed to agree to give funding as long as their 'boy over here helped out by directing/producing'. now, I'm not saying let's exclude men, that is not how to solve the issue. That is not a positive solution and, fucking hell, they make up half the population and are just as talented/brimming with ideas, it would be pure dumb to fully exclude such creativity from the world. But when you are repeatedly met with this suggestion when there is a perfectly good female director/producer in front of them you have to question their motives. It has clearly become a gender thing. Which is shite. Utter Shite.

But I'm optimistic. I think we're entering an exciting era where women in film are on the rise, and funding for women, although still hard, is no longer impossible. and we're getting to the stage where there are many grants solely aimed at women, which although is amazing- I'm not sure I totally agree with. It should just be an organic progression, but i guess we're not capable of that... Anyway, there's no denying the opportunity this presents, and who knows? in a couple of years time, being a woman may actually help my case if all of these big ass arseholes are trying to create the illusion of equality in order to 'keep up appearances'.

Anyway, one heck of a rant over, it was an extremely positive experience and one that has encouraged me further to pursue film.

In a sentence: Bloody brilliant (and I know I hardly mentioned the doc, but I promise you it was really good and definitely worth a watch).