Madelyn Ritrosky - LIKDIT!

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So I do this slightly-different-for-the-SSL-blog series called "Ladies I Know Doing Interesting Things!" or "LIKDIT!" It's pronounced "liked it!" with a clear exclamation point at the end. Each LIKDIT! post will be exactly as you might expect - it's about a woman I know personally (even if it's just an acquaintance) who is out there doing or making something - taking risks, ya know. I'd like to point out, though, that almost every woman in my life (that I like) is doing something that I find courageous, or difficult, or adventurous, or truly kind. I think any interesting person dabbles in this kind of stuff from time to time. The LIKDIT! gals just happen to be doing that stuff outside of their work or family life and in a bit more public way - with a creative or philanthropic edge.

So here we go. I first met Madelyn Ritrosky when she contacted me about showing SSL at a Reproductive Rights Task Force in a nearby town. At the time, our final sound and score was not finished, but after talking we decided to use her group as our first test screening. She was super nice and awesome at helping us organize it. We got to talk afterward and I found out she was writing a book called Stardust&Moonbeams which involved some young couples in the 20's and some feminist ideology. I got to read a draft of it, and I really appreciated how she was exploring the female gaze - the female eye looking at the male body, which is unfortunately too under explored in our world. Even the fantastic female gaze magazine Filament isn't being made anymore :(.

Madelyn Ritrosky - write/producer Stardust&Moonbeams

Well, turns out, she is in the midst of turning a section of the book (one particularly focused on the female gaze) into a short movie, and I'm excited to see how they go about it. She's got a team of women to make the damn thing and some great actors on board, and now, they just need some funds. You know me - I love looking at hot men, seeing feminist ideals in movies, and supporting local movie makers. If you are so inclined go help fund this project, go HERE and do it. Why? Well, here's a few things the Stardust&Moonbeams crew had to say about it:

• This is entirely about positive, equitable, empowering sexual dynamics between women and men
• 99% of the media is a "male gaze" turned on women – we're tired of that and want a "female gaze" turned on men; you'll not only see it, you'll hear about it at a cocktail party, inviting you to question what you usually see in the media
• There's a huge audience out there for this, and we expect a great festival run. Contributors say, "It's about time!" and "Filmmaking needs this."
• Women ARE the filmmaking team, which is really rare

Thanks Madelyn for caring about the female gaze and for getting out there and following your passion!

Motus Dance - LIKDIT!

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 Well, my friends, it's time for a new installment of LIKDIT! In case you're new here, this is a slightly different-from-SSL-norm series I do, and it stands for "Ladies I Know Doing Interesting Things!" I pronounce it as "liked it!" and, quite importantly, I always say it in a way that one can clearly tell there's an exclamation point at the end.

Here's the lowdown. LIKDIT! women have to be people I know personally, not just any ol' gal I read about. Also, they have to be doing something sort of open to the pubic, something that is more than a job or a business, or some personal awesomeness. I gotta have rules. Otherwise, I would just have too many women in my life to include. No, it must be something more purely creative or philanthropic in nature, and she/they have to be putting themselves out there.

Which brings me to Ms. Heidi Keller Phillips and the women of Motus Dance. Motus debuted in 2003, and they've grown into a thriving little bright point of dance here in Indy over the last 10 years. I actually met Heidi around that time Motus began. She auditioned and got the part as "Woman" in a short we were doing called Embolism. So, I've kind of watched Motus grow up. Heidi was a core artist at the time, but she became the director a few years ago when the original director, a fine woman herself, went off to pursue other interests more full time.

They have classes, workshops, and a full schedule of shows throughout the year, which frankly, I love watching. Now, as I say in these LIKDIT!s often, I'm no expert or professional critic. I don't know nothin' about no dancin' or no dancers. I just like what I like. The dancers choreograph and create their events from the bottom up. The performances are unique, lovely, and sometimes pretty eery, plus the costume and music choices are always superb, and often unexpected. Oh - and in the past few years, they have really figured out how to create lovely lighting that compliments the pieces and enhances the whole experience. That is kinda big in my opinion because much like sound is often neglected in indie movies, from my perspective lighting often seems neglected in indie dance and performances. They're the whole package, folks.

So, here's to the ladies of Motus Dance! I thought this was a good time for their LIKDIT! because they are holding their yearly event, Pairing, in a couple weeks (The evening of June 8th to be exact). It's pretty cool - kinda like a relaxed gourmet dinner, but during each course you get to watch a dance piece inspired  by the wine you're being served. So you get wine, dance, fancy appetizers prepared by awesome local chefs, and lots of fab guests to mingle and get drunk on wine with. Go HERE for more info.

Also, check this Motus promotional piece. It's quite lovely if you ask me - and created by our own Charles Borowicz (one of our Science, Sex and the Ladies directors, as I'm sure you know).
Motus Dance Pairings Teaser from Charles Borowicz on Vimeo.

Ladies of Hassenpfeffer - LIKDIT!!!

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Poppy, Betty, and Lilly - A Hassenpfeffer Photo

Another installment of LIKDIT!!! (Ladies I Know Doing Interesting Things!) The only problem I see with this series is that I just know too many awesome ladies. It's hard to choose who's next sometimes, but I guess I just have to choose one and keep the rest for later. So...this LIKDIT! is for the Ladies of Hassenpfeffer; Poppy Staccato, Lilly Lou, Eleanor Stackhouse, and Alabaster Betty.

These women are part of the house show at White Rabbit Cabaret in Fountain Square here in Indy. The  Hassenpfeffer house show also includes The Muncie Brothers, a funny duo of....mimes?, dirty clowns?...(I'm not sure what to call them, but they sort of MC, and one talks and one doesn't), and a lovely belly dancer called Aaminah. However, I'm focusing on the 4 ladies up top because they are the ones telling the twisted little Hassenpfeffer stories through dance up there on the stage.

I know I'm not going to say this in any sort of accurate knowledgeable-about-dance-technique-or-history sort of way, but here goes. The Hassenpfeffer show is kind of set up in cabaret style where the MCs interact a bit with the dancers, and there's a loose (and kind of dark) story line. The dance numbers are a mix of cabaret, burlesque, and straight up contemporary dance. What I really love about these ladies is that they aren't just putting on some corsets and trying out some moves cause there's a burlesque craze out there. There's some real technical skill in this group and the choreography (all done by the ladies themselves) usually has a unique quality with really great character performance from the dancers. Plus, the costumes are always fantastic and often unexpected.

I highly recommend you check out one of these shows. Lucky for you there is a Hassenpfeffer show this Saturday, July 28th (that's 2012 - for you readers from the future). Doors open at 8. Show starts at 10, and it's 10 well spent dollars. Also don't bring kids, cause this venue is a classy ass bar.

Now, I also have to say that I have extra love for these ladies because some of them have alter egos that you might just see in my movie (Science Sex and the Ladies - of course), and one of the alter egos may even own that classy ass bar. Thanks for being awesome and doing interesting things, ladies!

Eleanor Stackhouse - A Hassenpfeffer Photo

Lilly Lou - A Hassenpfeffer Photo

Alabaster Betty  - A Hassenpfeffer Photo

Poppy Staccato with the Muncie Brothers -A Hassenpfeffer Photo

Emma Alyce Weber - LIKDIT!

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Welcome to another installment of LIKDIT (Ladies I Know Doing Interesting Things). As always, our lady is someone I actually know, and she is putting herself out there with something interesting. LIKDIT isn't about something related to job or family or normal private life. This is about something creative or philanthropic that these LIKDIT ladies are doing in a more public arena. Check out the whole LIKDIT group here. Ah...there are so many to choose from, but today I decided on Ms. Emma Alyce Weber.


Emma came into our lives as a pre-teen actress. She did a small non-speaking role as a1950's daughter in Science Sex and the Ladies during our principle shooting in Spring of 2009. Just a few months ago we called her back, now a rather talented teen, to do a line in our re-shoot of the movie's ending scene. She was fantastic with the line, professional and easy to direct. We also learned that she's a singer/songwriter with a recently recorded album.

I'll be real honest. I love music, but I'm not a music buff. I'm not one to seek out new music, and I don't usually get into random indie/local/rock bands/musicians. It's just not my cup a' meat, ya know. However, I know the gal, and I thought her gumption to write and record music at this age was pretty cool, so I took a listen. There are 4 songs on her album, all available streaming on her MusicStore site HERE, and you know what? I liked them. I was really pleasantly surprised. I came home and had Charlie listen to 'em too...and then we laid down the 4 bucks and bought the album. It was a good decision. (Here's her iTunes site)

Like I said, I'm not a music buff nor any type of music critic, so I'm not gonna try and convey what her music is similar to or give you a big critique. I'll just tell you what I liked. It has a kind of raw sound which I enjoy, and her lyrics were - I don't know - emotive and unusual, a bit unexpected from a 15 year old. The songs never get repetitive or boring - which is one of my biggest annoyances in music. They make me want to play them again and listen to the lyrics some more.

All I can say is I'm impressed with this young lady. She's doing her thing and doing it well...and at only 15. I guess it's possible she may be 16 now. I'm not sure but either way...Rock on Emma.

She's also a local Indianapolis area gal, and you can hear her live next week at the Earth House Collective on Friday, July 20th at 7pm (that's 2012 - for those of you reading this well in the future). Check the details HERE

Sarah Aaron - LIKDIT!

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If you missed the first installment of LIKDIT! (Ladies I Know Doing Interesting Things), then check it out HERE. It includes a little background about what this series is all about. I'd like to point out, that almost every woman in my life (that I like) is doing something that I find courageous, or difficult, or adventurous, or truly kind. I think any interesting person dabbles in this kind of stuff from time to time. The LIKDIT! gals are just some of the extraordinary women in my life. They just happen to be doing something outside of their work or family life that is a bit more public - with a creative or philanthropic edge.

Made in France Postcard

So...Sarah Aaron is this installment's LIKDIT! You can see her above all dressed up as a 1940's mother for her role in Science, Sex and the Ladies. I decided to use this one because I just think she looks so damn lovely in this picture. Sarah has created a collection called The Museum of Love and Marriage. She has a blog (check it HERE) where she posts pictures of the items and gives a little background or thoughts about them.  It's just really neat unique stuff that she has acquired from all kinds of places over the years. She has beautiful old marriage certificates, pictures of couples and weddings, super old valentines, and a huge variety of love related items. I always love what she posts, and I've also been at the place that holds all these items. It's actually pretty amazing; a lovely experience to see these things. If she's not updating the blog, you can find her on the Museum of Love and Marriage Pinterest site HERE.

She's also an artist herself and makes the crazy coolest folk art I've seen. I asked her to make some "paper dolls" for a scene in our movie because I knew that whatever she created, I would love, and I was not disappointing. (I won't even mention the giant paper mache pterodactyl she made for the movie.)

Part of her contribution to Science Sex and the Ladies

 Now I'll let her tell you about the Museum of Love and Marriage: "It started years ago....15 maybe 20 years ago. I'd been thinking about love. It was one of those eras of my life. I loved everything sentimental and romantic. It occurred to me then that so many of the objects and stories that mark our lives with love, end up in dusty drawers or stowed in shoe boxes under the bed....their stories lost to the ages.  Military museums elaborate about every weapon and bullet used to fight a war. Yet, love goes on about it's business. I was talking to my sister-in-law, Linda McKibben Johnson, one day and I mentioned this observation. I added that there should be a museum for these artifacts of love. Linda says "Stay right there." She got up, went to her bedroom and came back with a beautiful, white lacy blouse. She dropped the blouse into my lap and said "Get it started!" I was dumbfounded... "Me?" I thought. She explained that the handmade lace blouse was a wedding blouse from Cuba and had belonged to a dear friend of hers - John Ledbetter- who had passed away. His wife was from Cuba and had worn the blouse during their wedding. She died at a young age. They never had any children and John wanted the blouse to be cared for.  She liked my idea for a museum and so with that blouse, I began the Museum of Love and Marriage. Before you load up the kids and head out to see this magical place...read on. Right now, the museum is pretty much in boxes. The very thing I was working to change. I have been working to get a datebook featuring many of these items published and that is still my dream." 

early 1900's marriage certificate

celebrating 50 years of marriage

Brett Favre wishes you a Happy Valentines (don't look at the picture he added on the back;)

Western love

tea cup and saucer found at a flea market in North Carolina

A Valentine to a lucky niece or nephew

Sonny and Cher!

 

Ana Slays Ya and The Tornado Sirens - LIKDIT! #2

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Ana Slays Ya: pivot, blocker, and occasional jammer
photo credit Michael Guio

I am proud to say that the second installment of this blog's newest series LIKDIT (Ladies I Know Doing Interesting Things) features Ana Slays Ya and the rest of her teammates on Indy's own Roller Derby team, The Tornado Sirens. I was inspired to feature these kick ass ladies when I realized that the Tornado Sirens are having a hometown bout this Saturday, March 24th...and it just so happens that:

1. I personally know Ana Slays Ya. Me, actually knowing the lady, is one of my requirement for being featured in LIKDIT!. Ana Slays Ya is a fellow molecular biologist that I've had the pleasure of working with or around for...well I guess probably almost 10 years now. I remember back in the day when she decided to try out for the Tornado Sirens. It was, it seems, a fantastic decision.

2. I'm a Roller Derby fan. You may have heard about or seen the fakey roller derby of old, but the modern, grassroots roller derby that has popped up and grown rapidly all over this country is far from that. The women of roller derby are athletic and skilled, with outrageous derby pseudo-names who work their asses off after work to train and travel and bring joy to fans everywhere.

Personally, I was hooked the moment I saw my first match. It is fun, fast-paced, athletic, and all with a irreverent, wild kind of flair. It's not slow like golf or baseball, and it's not 1000 hours long like football, but it is aggressive, full contact, full speed, skilled sport. It's just plain good to watch. It takes a minute to get a handle on the rules, but they aren't crazy complicated, and when you start to see the strategy and plays, then you'll really get into it.

I was lucky enough to see both the Naptown Roller Girls league (started in 2006) and Ana Slays Ya taking some of their first steps in the world of roller derby, and like I said, I loved it back then.. What is really cool though, is how much they have grown and advanced in the past 6 years. The team became a member of the National Flat Track Derby Association, the governing body of the sport, and frankly, they've just gotten really good. I didn't know when I first saw them how much they could advance in skill, strategy, power, agility, and speed, but in their first few years, I watched them growing better by leaps and bounds. I have to admit that I haven't been able to get to many bouts the last 2 years, but I hear their growth has not slowed. I almost can't imagine how awesome they would be if I went to the bout this Saturday (of course I can't, though, because I have prior commitments - which seems to always be the case lately). I mean, now they even have a competing junior varsity team (The Warning Belles) and a newbie team (The Third Alarm) where they can pull seasoned players from - which brings me to the 3rd point.

Photo by Marc Lebryk

3. The Tornado Sirens (plus the 2 other teams, the refs, coaches, fans, etc that make up the Naptown Roller derby League) are doing some interesting stuff. Like I said, this league was created from the ground up in 2006, and outside of busting ass training as athletes, they bust ass on marketing and business too. They have a slew of hip sponsors. They raise money for great charities every season. They have great merchandise, like sweet calendars, and they appear all over the city for events. I just saw them rolling it out for the Indy St. Patty's Day Parade. As a result of all their work and savvy, they pull in huge crowds. They busted out of their first venue, and now play at the Pepsi Coliseum on the State Fair Grounds - which is a big venue and where our NHL team plays. All of this was done by people who have jobs and kids and other things going on in their lives, but they've done it for the love. They love playing the game, watching it, and bringing a badass, exciting female sport into the cultural consciousness. Everyone who's contributed to this should be very proud. Maybe not everyone in Indy has heard about or attended a Naptown Roller derby bout, but I think a whole hell of a lot have, and that makes me proud to be from Naptown, baby!

I hear that when roller derby teams from other cities play here, they are often amazed at our crowds; which I think is a a shame, because we play some pretty good teams, and they should have cities that are behind their bad asses. If you are not from Indy, then find your local derby team and go. There is probably one near you, and I promise, it's worth getting into. If you are from Indy, go to their bout Saturday...or the one in April...or at least tell some friends about them. I think the Tornado Sirens are a Naptown Treasure - and we should treat them as such. So here's to Ana Slays Ya and her team having a great bout, a great crowd, and a win this Saturday!

Ashley Rose - The First Installment of LIKDIT!

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I decided to start a new series on my blog. I'm calling it "Ladies I Know Doing Interesting Things!" or "LIKDIT!" I'm going to pronounce that as "liked it!" and I will always clearly say it in a way that you can tell there's an exclamation point at the end.

Each LIKDIT! post will be exactly as you might expect - about some woman or women I know that do or create something I think is cool, a bit out of the ordinary, and worth mentioning on my blog. Here's the deal though, they will always be women I know personally, not just any ol' gal I read about. I'm not saying they're all going to be my best friends, but we'll be acquaintances at least. It's also not going to be something like, "my friend Leslie makes the most badass mix tapes." She does, but it doesn't fit the criteria. It has to be something that they sort of open up to the pubic, something that is more than a job or business, something more purely creative or philanthropic in nature. I'm not sure how this will evolve, but that's my thoughts at this point. We'll see.

This brings me to Ashley Rose Sullivan, the first LIKDIT! To start with, she make a webcomic called Rabbit and Red. I'm no trained critic, so I'll just say this. It's just so damn sweet and fun. It'll put a flippin' smile on your face every time. I kept seeing them here and there on Facebook as she would post them, and eventually I just went and looked at all of them (she's been posting them since about November), and I feel downright good about that decision.

Lonely Monster

She also has a blog where she posts all these pics she's made. I really enjoy seeing what she's come up with, and I like her short comments about them. Some of my faves have been Star Trek Gender Bender, The Siblings Tenenbaum and Lonely Monster Outside of all that other stuff, she's a writer too, and she's also the founder and director of the cool and maybe insanely rigorous Somerset Shakespeare Camp in rural southern Kentucky. Honestly, you should really just check her out. Go here: http://www.ashleyrosesullivan.com/AshleyRose_Sullivan/Home.html
Did I mention she made a family portrait that I love of me, Charlie, and our cat Ramona; inspired, I believe, after Charlie and I each posted some creepily serious pics of ourselves posed with our cat.

The Sibling Tenenbaum

Star Trek Gender Bender

My Family Portrait (minus the newly acquired Tina the Cat)