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ALL AMERICAN GIRL MEETS C.I.A.!
by Michelle Thompson aka Seahurst Part 1

ALL AMERICAN GIRL MEETS C.I.A.!
Or
ITTY BITTY TITTYS...OH MY!

About two weeks ago I was lucky enough to be able to visit the movie set for POWER UP'S first feature film called The Itty Bitty Titty committee. Never having been on a movie set before, it was an absolute thrill for me to meet the principals involved in what is sure to be a success for POWER UP. The day I was there, they were filming a wedding scene on the steps of a small church in the LA neighborhood of Los Feliz. When I arrived, Stacy Codikow, the Founder and Executive Director of POWER UP greeted me so warmly, and then had a directors chair brought over so we could sit and talk, while watching the action. (Okay... remember last season of The L Word when Kit is at the recording studio and all the women come to watch? Remember Shane sitting in the directors chair looking totally hip...like she actually belonged there? Yeah, well...that was me on the set!!! Okay...well, I don't exactly look like Shane...hmmm...and I am not hip in any way, shape, or form, BUT I was sitting in a directors chair, on the set of a movie, totally looking like I belonged!! I was!!!)

Seriously though, being invited to this set was so important to me as a woman, as well as a lesbian. I say that because this movie is one that I think will both entertain viewers, as well as inspire the women who see it. actress's J. Karen Thomas, Daniela Sea, Colette Divine

While being a youth oriented film, it is also a romantic comedy, mixed with a political message. Its subject matter, is one that will resonate with women of all ages. We as women matter...our lives matter, and what we do with them matters.

Of course, no one said you can't laugh along to way to finding your purpose! However, don't think this is your typical romantic comedy. If you do, you are in for a shock! There is no Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in sight! This is a romantic comedy for us! For women...for lesbians! This is a romantic comedy where All American girl Anna (Melonie Diaz), falls for very radical Sade (Nicole Vicius), and where Shulamith (Carly Pope) a ‘straight until she's not' feminist, picks up, and then falls for a butch named Calvin (Daniela Sea). It is a romantic comedy where it is not the diversity of the characters and their families that make the political statement. It's not even the fact that they are lesbians. What makes this films political statement and causes all the hoop-la is the fact that the women are members of RADICAL FEMINISTS groups! I know, I know...the ridiculous notion that women are equal to men...how dare they!!!

According to Stacy Codikow, The Itty Bitty Titty Committee is the "gayest and most political film we have ever made." Yet, at the same time, it's premise guarantees there will be lots of laughter to go hand in hand with its political message. The name of the film is a perfect example of how they have combined their message with a comedic flair. Itty Bitty Titty originates from the idea that our main character Anna, works for a plastic surgeon who performs a lot of breast enhancements... whether they are needed or not.

She sees women coming into the office every day that are unhappy with how they look, because they listen to societies definition of what sexy should look like. So, Itty Bitty Titty is as Stacy's says, a way of saying "find yourself, love yourself... be okay with yourself."

Based on a story by Jamie Babbit (But I'm a Cheerleader), the story was written by Tina Mabry and Abigail Shafran, both recent college graduates. These three women, along with Producers Andrea Sperling (Pumpkin, Harsh Times, D.E.B.S.) and Lisa Thrasher (Starcrossed), combine their personal experiences and talent to guarantee a laugh out loud funny story with a very serious message.

Anna's path takes her on a journey to find her purpose in life, and along the way, she meets Sade, the leader of a radical feminists group called C.I.A., which stands for Clits In Action! (Okay, just knowing what that stands for prepares you for the laughs that are ahead in this movie.) C.I.A. is a group of 20 year olds who are trying to make their statement to the world through their actions as well as words. Unfortunately, something always seems to go wrong so they are never credited with the work they have accomplished. For example, after one defiant act of civil disobedience, the news media reporting the story, misunderstands the message the C.I.A. painted on the wall, to identify them by, so they end up reporting the wrong name, therefore on one realizes it was their doing. These poor women never seem to get a break, and at some point realize that the only ones listening to them...are themselves.

Then enters the older women's group, "Women For Change." They of course have actual meetings with agendas and budgets. They march on Washington, taking a much more organized/grown-up stance than the C.I.A. What you have is two different organizations, with two very different ideas of how to further the cause. But, in the end, what they prove to us is that when women of all ages work together, we can and will make a difference in the world, and in our hearts. Then comes the romantic part (my favorite), women falling in love with women...add lots of belly laughs to the mix, and you have the formula for a great movie!

While on the set I was able to speak with several members of the cast and crew. And, it was while I was talking with them I got the sense of just how much of a difference we can make...one woman at a time. The making of this movie holds true to this idea. Power Up is a non profit organization, therefore its budget for making this film is not even close to that of a major Hollywood studio film. So, how do they get a movie made? They use what financial resources they have obtained through fund raising and membership donations, and when they have no more, they call in all their friends to help. And, help they do. Whether it is the young woman who flew in from Toronto to be part of the crew, the two women who ran a film festival in Germany that Stacy attended who came over just to help out, or friends of friends...they are a network of both women and men who give their time and talent in order to further the lesbian film industry.

Most pull double duty as both crew and as extras just to make this happen. It truly is a family affair. As I was talking with Stacy and she was pointing out to me who everyone was, and that they were all connected somehow, I realized that this movie really is no different than any other lesbian community I have been a part of. Whether we are in need of financial support, help moving, starting a new business adventure, the name of a connection when moving to a new town, a couch to crash on... whatever it may be, we call on each other...our friends and family to help us along the way. This is what POWER UP is doing, and I believe it is a venture that is worthy of all our support.

I want to share with you what it felt like to be an invited guest on this set. Every single person I spoke with, whether in passing, or in a formal interview session, was incredibly warm and open. They talked with me like I was someone they knew, making me feel instantly comfortable. I was only on the set for two hours, yet they made me feel not like a guest, but like I was a part of this family of friends and colleagues . They were friendly, excited, determined... truly believing in what they are doing. For instance, Jamie Babbit whose idea this story is based, is an accomplished Director, her credits including But I'm a Cheerleader, as well as episodes of Gilmore Girls, Nip/Tuck, Malcolm in the Middle, The Bernie Mac Show, and many others. Her career is most certainly on the up swing, yet she makes it a point to always talk with other gay and lesbian film makers about giving back. And, what a great way to do that by working with Power Up, an organization that is made up of all volunteers.

"There are so many queer people that are in the professional realm of television and movies, you know, that I always try to encourage the other gay and lesbian people that I work with, that get paid a lot of money to do TV, to really do homegrown projects too, because there's so many complaints in the gay community that gay movies are terrible, but then the people who are complaining aren't making queer films. So, it's like you know, stop complaining and start making! You know, because we get so much experience and we learn so much working on big budget TV stuff, it's nice to be able to use that experience and put it back into queer films."
- Jamie Babbit

Jamie Babbit

Jamie and her producing partner Andrea Sperling have both been a huge part of POWER UPsince the beginning. In fact, Babbit's short film Stuck was the first short film POWER UP produced. It is about two eighty year old lesbians who break up, and is a favorite among viewers. It is because of their close relationship with POWER UP that Itty Bitty Titty Committee was chosen to be the first feature film production. I was also able to speak with Daniela Sea, who got her audition for this movie because of a connection she made with Stacy and Lisa Thrasher, Executive Vice president of Film Production & Distribution while attending the Power Premiere, the annual fund raising gala. This is what I mean about making connections, and calling on our friends... women coming together to empower other women.

It is through these connections... whether they happen at a big Hollywood gala, on a small budget movie set, or at a monthly lesbian potluck in Tucson, AZ, where we inspire, empower, and support the emotional and/or financial growth of our fellow lesbians. I love it when that happens!!

The lead actress in IBTC is Melonie Diaz. She is 21, and already able to celebrate having the lead role in a feature film. While she is pursuing her acting career, she is also attending NYU. I asked her what it was like juggling a career with school.

"I go to New York University's film and TV department; specializing in directing. Between my academics, writing scripts, family, friends and love I hardly find time to audition. It is absolutely nuts!!! My two careers have been by far one of the hardest things to juggle. Each semester I have to choose which one is priority. Being in film school has completely changed my perspective on being behind the camera. I have a deep appreciation for my crew. They are the ones that make it happen. They are the magicians that build a world for me and the rest of my cast to exist in. At the end of the day I really can't complain. I figure no one else is going to hustle for me so I am just gonna have to bust my ass and do it myself. The positive in me tells me that it will pay off." - Melonie Diaz

Since this movie is about radical feminists groups, I was interested to know if this young woman felt that those types of groups helped the women's movement in real life, and if she thought there was still a need for these groups.Her answer was one that I can honestly say, gave me great confidence in the next generation of women!

"Absolutely! My biggest confidence in this film is that it will inspire women all over the world to get up, get angry and commit some radical feminist acts!!!!! I hope that young women look at us in the film; feel a growl in their heart and know that they two (no matter how small the act is) can make a difference in young women's lives in the world. There is a desperate need for groups around the world! Women are being molested, raped, pimped, abused and there is hardy any one fighting to stop these terrible circumstances. All we need is a collective voice, one like the one is found in the IBTC." - Melonie Diaz

To tell you the truth, when sitting down to write this article, I was lost as to how to share with you all that I had recorded during interviews, as well as to try to convey how important I believe organizations like POWER UP are to the women's community. I just couldn't figure out how to include it all, and make it flow smoothly at the same time. Well, thanks to a friend of mine, I tried to do what she told me. "Just tell us what it was like to be on that movie set, because that is what we all want to hear about." I hope that I was able to do that, but if I have left any doubt in your mind at all, please let me reiterate what a joy this experience was for me.

I have no doubt that The Itty Bitty Titty Committee is going to be a huge success, because I believe in the women who are filming it... I believe in the message they are imparting...and I believe in the women's community, that you will all want to watch as these women make their journey to discover their purpose in life...and find love and laughter along the way.

part 2 still to come