New York Powers Up
by Winnie McCroy

Nearly 100 women gathered in the dimly-lit cocktail lounge of Manhattan 's Time Hotel this week for the launch party of lesbian networking group POWER UP (Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching UP). As they sipped cosmos and traded business cards, women sought out other film editors and screenwriters to share their stories.

When Victoria Loughery read about POWER UP Los Angeles in a recent issue of Curve magazine, she knew it was just the kind of thing that would be a big hit in New York . She got on the horn, talked to the founders, and helped make it happen. Her motivation was simple. “There is definitely a velvet Mafia,” said Loughery with a knowing smile. “I think we need a flannel one, too.”

According to executive director and founder Stacy Codikow, the group has attracted 400 members since it first formed six months ago. Recent events in Los Angeles have included the release of POWER UP's list of the "Top Ten Most Powerful Gay Women in Show Business," and a Beverly Hills $1,000-a-plate fundraiser with special guests Sharon Gless, Scott Lowell, and Hal Sparks of Showtime's hit series Queer as Folk.

Party attendees who spent $150 to become founding members were eager to join this maverick organization, and thought the fee well worth its possible returns. Some benefits of membership include access to the group's résumé bank, and invitations to monthly networking mixers, seminars and workshops. Membership also affords eligibility to apply for one of the two $10,000 yearly filmmaking grants POWER UP offers.

Members get the added bonus of benefiting from any other members' success; POWER UP members are asked to cull possible hires from an availability list before seeking outside help--akin to a lesbian filmmakers union of sorts.

A central board of directors governs both POWER UP LA and the new ancillary group in New York . This honorary board includes such names as Donna Deitch (Desert Hearts), Jane Anderson (If These Walls Could Talk II), and Jan Oxenberg (“Chicago Hope“). While the LA group focuses primarily on independent filmmaking, organizers anticipate the New York group, with its differing demographics, will have different needs, possibly including Broadway productions and more community-based theater.

Cofounder K. Pearson Brown says of the move, "We were delighted to come to New York . It is a logical place to start the first ancillary chapter. Our first out of state members were from here."

Brown says since the groups' inception, eight people have been hired from availability lists, two earning six-figure salaries. The group has also been approached by a literary agent who they say was so impressed by the caliber of POWER UP members that he expressed a willingness to read material for representation. Brown is heartened by the response.

"In ten years, we want to be a recognizable name, something that everyone wants to be a part of," said Brown.

Codikow and Brown anticipate the groups' continued success, and have planned an awards ceremony and film screening for the end of the year.

"Networking and connections is how it all happened," said Brown. "Someone recently said, 'It's like a good old boys network for us.'"

For information about the group, visit POWER UP online.

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