Women Over 40 Rock!

Of all the wonderful things I’ve enjoyed in watching the current Olympics…Phelps’ eight gold medals, the gymnasts, the diving, the runners, the volleyball….all of it…the above quote is my very favorite.  It was what Dara Torres, the 41 year old mother who was part of our womens’ swimming team said while being interviewed after they medaled in the team swim event. This was her fifth Olympics. Lots of people would have said she was too old to try again…but Dara knew better. She picked up three silver medals in this one.

And she’s not the only one of us middle-agers who has refused to run our lives by a time table:
Dolly Parton, at 62, though not appearing in it, is currently working on the previews of the stage version of her 1980 film for which she wrote the music & lyrics, “9 to 5″.  And in said show, among others, is Allison Janney, who, at 48, is taking on the role Lilly Tomlin played in the movie, with Lillys’ blessing.
Natalie Cole, at 58, is coming out with a new album, Still Unforgettable, the long-awaited follow-up to Unforgettable: With Love, her blockbuster tribute to her dad seventeen years ago.  Alfre Woodard, 55, and Kathy Bates, 60, have a movie about the lifetime friendship of two middle-aged women coming out: “The Family That Preys”, directed by Tyler Perry. Molly Shannon stars in a new NBC series “Kath & Kim”, based on an Austrailian sitcom of the same name. Ms. Shannon plays a divorced mom dealing with her daughter moving back in with her. (Gee, think their might be a few women who will totally understand that plot??) Helen Thomas, the ‘older’ reporter you’ve seen at presidential press conferences for the past 50 years, was the the subject of a recent documentary, and she’s still right there with the press corps at every presidential press conference.
And of course need we mention the ladies in “Mamma Mia”? Now in its fifth week on the top ten list.
So Dara Torres knew what she was talking about when she said “You don’t have to put an age limit on your dreams.” She didn’t. The other women above, and the many I didn’t have room to mention, didn’t. I’m not. And you don’t have to either. None of us need to put a age or time limit on what we want to accomplish, and by gosh, we ain’t goin’ to! So there! Thanks, Dara, for putting into words for us.

Judith 66-and-goin’-strong Drake, blogger for In the Trenches Productions, The First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40

This headline on a small blurb in the “Quick Take” section in the other days’ LA. Times caught my eye. Lee Margulies was quoting Martha M. Lauzen, the executive director of the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State U. She had just issued a study that found that women are (can you believe it??) underemployed as movie reviewers at our 100 largest newspapers. - The occasion for bringing this to our attention was the ‘revamping’ of the TV reviewing show Roeper & Ebert (or Roeper and the various critics taking Eberts’ place the last few years). Revamping meaning that the two middle-aged men will be replaced by two younger men, i.e. no women.
So not only are most of our films mainly peopled with male actors, they are also mostly directed by men, and yes, reviewed by them as well. As Ms. Lauzen is quoted as saying, “The underemployment of women film reviewers, actors and filmmakers perpetuates the nearly seamless dialogue among men in U.S. cinema.”
So what else is new? I know, I know, we women (especially those of us ‘in the biz’) have known this for ages, but it still gets my dander up! Women make lots of money, spend lots of money, and yes, actually do go to the movies. But why on earth would that sway any of the movie moguls? Even though almost every time a movie starring women (especially ones with women over 40, like “Mamma Mia”), with themes that would interest women opens it make oodles and oodles of money. I guess the men running the film biz are just like most of the other men I’ve ever known…too myopic to notice that when women are involved, whether writing, directing, speaking out politically or simply working in their neighborhoods, a new, exciting and refreshing breeze comes thru, and there are millions of us out here who are ready to feel it.
Hopefully, even though under represented in all things film, we women will continue to support the few women filmmakers out there, be they actors, writers, producers or directors, and continue to speak out as well, in the ever lingering hope that we, and they, will eventually began to be noticed and supported, and that the female ranks in the film world will grow ever bigger. Here’s to us!
Judith women-filmmakers-rock Drake, blogger for In the Trenches Productions, The First Entertainment Website for Women Over 40

‘’ Sordid Lives: The Series” debuted on July 23 on the Logo channel.  The series is an offshoot of the very successful play written by Del Shores.  Los Angeles Theater audiences are familiar with the hilarious writing style of Del Shores.  The titles of his plays hint at their rich humor:  ‘Daddy’s Dyin’ (Who’s Got the Will?), ‘Southern Baptist Sissies’ and ‘Sordid Lives’, to name a few.  Del grew up in what he describes as the “tiny Texas Republic Bible-thumpin’ town of Winters.”   His writing reflects his southern small town roots.  It is outrageous, and also big-hearted.  ‘Sordid Lives’ was called “a black comedy about white trash.”

In 2000 ‘Sordid Lives’ was released as a film, starring Olivia Newton-John and Beau Bridges.  The rest of the cast was mainly made up of what I’d call Del’s repertory company – actors who’ve consistently worked with him over the years.  Many of the actors who were in the play and film are also in the series.  Not only is Del Shores loyal to his actors but he also writes absolutely delicious roles for everyone, including older women.  His female characters are eccentric, opinionated, strong or loopy, but always pitch perfect and very, very funny.

IMDB described the storyline of ‘Sordid Lives’:  “We become intimate with the ‘Sordid Lives’ of a family in a small Texas town preparing for the funeral of the mother. Among the characters are the grandson trying to find his identity in West Hollywood, the son who has spent the past twenty-three years dressed as Tammy Wynette, the sister and her best friend (who live in delightfully kitschy homes), and the two daughters (one strait-laced and one quite a bit loose.)”   With all these wonderfully, richly-drawn characters thrown together, you know you are in for some huge laughs.   The series stars Rue McClanahan, Caroline Rhea and Olivia Newton-John, as a singing ex-con.  The rest of the ensemble cast consists of some of the finest character actors Hollywood has to offer.  Hopefully your cable provider carries the Logo channel because you don’t want to miss this series and what is sure to be a rollicking good time.
Jan Bina, blogger for In the Trenches Productions, The First Entertainment Network for Women Over 40

All aboard the self-esteem express! Carson Kressley is at it again.

Back for a second season of Lifetime Television’s How to Look Good Naked, Mr. Kressley works overtime trying to convince us that “how you carry yourself means more than having a perfect body.”

This is no ordinary makeover show. Here we are more concerned with fixing our perspective than fixing our bodies. It is about bridging the gap between what we think we see when we look in the mirror, and the reality before us.

The young women profiled are particularly susceptible to the images of primped and airbrushed supermodels, and live with oddly distorted feelings about their own bodies.

One episode features Grae, a successful and attractive young woman. Faced with a full-length mirror, and overwhelmed with humiliation, she tears up as she speaks of being nothing but an observer in her own life, unable to fully participate. All this over body image? As observers, we are perplexed by her words, as she despairs over her shape and searches for a mold to fit into. “I don’t even know what I am. I’m not a pear. I’m not an hourglass…” What we see is at odds with her confusion. We are hooked. We want to understand.

Confronted with three cardboard cutouts of women in their underwear, she is asked to comment on what she sees. She compliments the three bodies, finding them all attractive. She particularly likes the third one, finding beauty in the long legs and nice shape she so desires for herself.

Carson takes special delight in peeling the top layer from the cutout, revealing that this body is, in fact, her very own! It is a stunning moment of awakening for Grae, as she takes that first step to understanding how skewed her perspective has been. Now she MUST acknowledge her own beauty.

The series provides quick tips on makeup, hairstyle, and how to dress without spending a lot of money. There are no admonitions about diet and exercise, no mention of cosmetic surgery or treatments, no quick fixes. Carson gives the ladies credit for knowing these things already. He understands that the problem lies in the heart and mind, and once you “start seeing the possibilities,” the rest will follow.

The climax of each episode is the “naked” photo shoot, when a professional photographer gives the participants the full movie star treatment. The spectacular results speak for themselves. The average American woman, as glamorous as any magazine cover girl!

After her shoot, Grae was asked, “Do you look good naked?” She triumphantly replied, “Holy, Moses! Yes!” From self-loathing to self-loving in five days… yet nothing about her changed, at least not physically. Mr. Kressley gently persuades the women to see themselves as they really are, using a large dose of common sense, a flair for the dramatic, and offbeat sense of humor.

Season two of How to Look Good Naked, with its new hour-long format, is a breath of fresh air on the television landscape. It’s time to shatter those ingrained images of acceptable beauty and bring on the new. Carson Kressley, in his casual style, verbalizes what we all should instinctively know, but don’t. Beauty begins in the mind.

How to Look Good Naked has hit the magic formula.

Posted by Mandy Crest, Blogger for Women Over 40 Rock! and In The Trenches Productions

I recently read the article “Stumbing on the Path to G-Spot Utopia” in the Los Angeles Times that not every woman has a G-Spot. Can that be right? After all that has been written about this famous location and all the worry that went into trying to make it perform well, that it could be nonexistent just doesn’t seem possible. I realize that things work in cycles and that what is true at one time may prove not to be true later only to be proven true again later on. I suppose that is what will happen with the G-Spot as well. I just don’t know if I can wait that long. I don’t know if I can take the insecurity of it all. Just what if it IS true and that all women don’t have this desirable SPOT. The newspaper article did say how you could try to see if you actually had the physical properties that meant that you indeed had one but it involved mirrors and positions that seemed somewhat uncomfortable to me. What if I went through all that and still wasn’t sure if I had one, as I had never seen one before. Plus the description in the paper made it sound like they all have slight differences.

What the hell am I exactly looking for anyway? Could the G-Spot just be a place in your mind and the more active and creative your mind the more excitement for everyone? What was I to do? I definitely didn’t want to spend any more time on this as I had done enough thinking about this in the past. I just don’t have the energy for the G-Spot search right now.

Here is what I came up with and I would love to know what you think about my solution. I AM JUST GOING TO “ACT AS IF” I HAVE A G-SPOT WHETHER I HAVE ONE OR NOT. And that is it. I am going to “ACT AS IF” the elusive G-Spot is there and working properly. I am not going to follow the story in the paper and buy into all its ramifications and everyone’s thoughts and opinions about it. That will just take up so much time and most likely make me unhappy. So for anyone who is interested I have a beautiful and well functioning G-Spot (Now keeping it activated could be a problem but that is for another blog).

Claire Callaway, blogger for In the Trenches Productions, The First Entertainment Website Celebrating the Power and Beauty of Women Over 40

Well this film doesn’t star a woman over 40 ( it stars a 66 year-old African American male) but there are a lot of marvelous and interesting women over 40 in this magical, enlightening and inspirational new documentary. And since we’ve been talking about “therapy shopping” lately this film is a definite alternative to shopping for lifting your spirits.

A MAN NAMED PEARL moved me in such a way that I want to share this film with everyone.  I can’t say it any better than this review by Bill Thompson of the Charleston Post.“In a sea of pedantic, heavy-handed political documentaries,  A MAN NAMED PEARL offers both an effective social statement on race relations and human potential”

It tells the inspiring story of self-taught topiary artist Pearl Fryar.  It is a subtle and intriquing film that is certain to open hearts and minds.  It offers an upbeat message that speaks to respect for both self and others, and shows what one person can achieve when he allows himself to share the full expression of his humanity. Pearl’s garden is a living vision of peace, love and goodwill and this documentary reflects the true essence of this man and the amazing life lessons that can be learned or reaffirmed from the truly remarkable and astoundingly gifted Pear Fryar.

“Gardening books will tell you that some of these things in my garden can’t be done, but I had never read them when I got started. Not knowing ahead of time that something is supposed to be impossible often makes it possible to achieve. I didn’t have any limitations because I really didn’t know anything about horticulture. I just figured I could do whatever I wanted with any plant I had.”

“In this life you’re gonna have obstacles. The thing about it is, don’t let those obstacles determine where you go.”

Those are just two examples of Pearl’s philosophy to live by.  So instead of that shopping spree or that chocolate eating fest check your local newspaper this weekend to see if A MAN NAMED PEARL  is still in a theatre near you and if not the DVD is expected to be out in December 2008.  A MAN NAMED PEARL should definitely be in your DVD library or next to your pocketbook and the chocolate stash.

Debbie Zipp, blogger for In the Trenches Productions, The First Entertainment Website Celebrating the Power and Beauty of Women Over 40