Archive for December, 2008

I have recently discovered a blog that introduces us all to women in film, TV and Theatre. Not only will you find news on women centric entertainment but also interesting facts and stats behind the women who make their profession in the film and television industry.

My interest in this is three-fold:

1st. As a career consultant, I often wonder why I don’t see more women listed in the various professions associated with a production? Is this still a male dominated industry? Are women not interested in applying for positions as Directors, Producers, Writers or any other behind the scenes jobs? If they are interested, where are they?

2nd. I would love to see and support more women centric entertainment that appeals to women and men alike. By supporting these ventures, it may open more doors for those struggling to get into the business.

3rd. Personally, I have been disillusioned with much of what I see coming from Hollywood, especially as it pertains to women. To the untrained eye, I believe I’m seeing less and less of women on the screen. In following the credits, I see very little women behind the scenes and I question how any man can write about women when they always claim not to understand us? That I say with a little smile on my face, but I am tired of seeing so much of life, love and the world through from the male perspective.

I will mention that there are great female actors and I am especially glad when I get to see women that are over 40 years of age. I was going to say over 35 years, as it seems most women are mere 20 somethings playing opposite the much older male actors. What is not so great is how few the parts are, and how wimpy the characters can be sometimes, unless your character is designed to be sporting male traits. Humm??

It appears to me that I have to do more digging to find out about what is being produced by women in so many categories of entertainment. I truly believe that many people have their head in the sand if they don’t think their is a disproportionate amount of male centric entertainment being splashed across our TV screens and theaters. I am certain there are great female directors out there and others with incredible talents that are being overlooked. I don’t know the industry enough to have inside knowledge on its decision making and criteria for getting the job on the set of any movie or TV show. If I studied that labour market further I could glean some insight, but somehow I think the answers will not necessarily be surprising.

This is what I do know, there are great blogs and information circulating out there that can help you tap into what is going on with Women in Hollywood and www.womenandhollywood.com is a great place to start! It is insightful, well written, and entertaining in itself, click on the link I have provided to Melissa Silverstein and enjoy.

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This is a busy time of year for people, and no matter how much time we think we have it is never enough. This year I vowed to get my Christmas cards out early, I did not. Truth be told I hardly pick up any at all, most friends are no longer liking that tradition and I didn’t feel that inclined either. I enjoy a phone call, placing or receiving, there is something about hearing the voices of people I consider important in my life.

Today I spoke to my sister, she lives over four hours away from here and will not be making it this year for Christmas. Our conversation was great, she was decorating her gingerbread tree and we were laughing as she told the story of her husbands heart-felt attempt to lesson her duties this year by decorating their home. While she was out with her daughter this all took place, points are given for the thoughtfulness, creative/artistic merit….that may be left in the eye of the beholder. She has made some slight changes but I believe the Santa hats on a set of antlers they have hanging in the room will remain. That’s what decorators might call whimsy?

I decorated more than usual since we are having dinner at our home this year. I have been decorating for oh…three weeks. It is a work in progress that must end and if you looked at the final result you would question why it took me that long.

Due to the influx of guests that will be sitting in our living room on Christmas day, I called my Mum and she came up with an idea, put our large tree in our entrance way outside. It looked lovely right up until the freak snow storm and winds decided to hit it straight on. Now, I anticipated some wind and securely fastened my outdoor friendly ornaments in place, but snow on a fake tree, hummm? It is now wrapped up with plastic and string, awaiting a day when this all passes and I can confidently and gingerly reveal it. So far that day has not come, instead the wind continues to swirl the snow all around, it is a giant snow globe out there! This is Vancouver were are supposed to be griping about yet another rainy day, that’s tradition!

Oh well, traditions may be dying out in some areas but others are just beginning. Planning is still laughable as it pertains to mother nature, she has her own agenda. Festive bobbles, lights, toys and noise makers keep us amused. In the end it comes and goes wrapped with the memories we choose for it, for me this year it said “don’t take it seriously, have a good laugh.”

Job search in December can be challenging and I hear your frustration of trying to keep looking despite what appears to be a slow hiring time. There is no doubt that some companies will put the hiring process or the interview process on the back burner, but there are others that may not.

To minimize the frustration, I believe in strategic job search. Firing off a hundred resumes right now and seeing what will stick is not my idea of strategic. I don’t know why I always picture that process is like spaghetti being thrown at a wall, if it is done properly it just may stick but if it is not, it will fall to the floor. A big mess and may I say not very appetizing. But, I digress.

A good strategy can start with proper planning, with a path that is created from the the future to the present. This normally requires some up front research. Think of it this way; you wouldn’t buy a house, a car, or plan a vacation without doing your research. You may have a vision of what you want in the not so distant future and you work from there to create it. Spending the necessary time determining what your requirements are, what is available and how to work towards a successful outcome, all stems from your detective work.

Become an investigative reporter, create questions that need to be answered and contact people in the know. I would suggest being selective as to who you will speak with, as this is a big deal and you want to make sure the advice you are receiving is reputable, with no hidden agenda.

Ask yourself “why don’t I afford the same due diligence to my career and job search that I do to buying my car or anything else?” After all without a solid career, the house, car and vacation time is difficult to afford.

So, if December seems a little slow in the department of hits on your job search, use it as a time for research and setting up appointments to meet with people in the new year. Research companies, as there are plenty of resources in which to do that these days. Online being the most popular, community directories and also don’t forget your local Chamber of Commerce or similar link to the business community, if anybody knows who is in or coming to your city it is probably them.  Gather information and pull together a file on companies of interest, this is a proactive stance at time when things seem stagnant.

If you are in need of employment right now, realize that nothing is beneath us, we are all in service to each other no matter what we do and if you need to make ends meet, do so now! Be honest with people, let them know you are available and if there is anything that comes up you are willing to work. There are lots of establishments that you may frequent that could provide an opening, your familiarity alone makes you a good candidate. There are companies that pride themselves on the diversity of their staff, no age or background restrictions, Home Depot comes to mind, many clients I have known have found an open door in places such as that.

Temporary work is OK, to keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach. Two jobs to fill the place of that elusive full time opportunity. December and the beginning of the new year can be slow or maybe not. The job you may have in these weeks encompasses research, networking, establishing meetings for January, just plain old preparation.

Start January ready, optimistic and with all of the things you need in place to be successful in your search. Times may be tougher right now but there is always someone hiring somewhere and there are steps that you can take to be noticed in a sea of applicants. Use the help that is available in your community and beyond, don’t go it alone.

There are community agencies to support in times of need, coaches and counsellors such as myself who are more than willing to assess your situation and offer assistance, credit counselling agencies for those that find themselves in financial difficulty, friends and family. Use your time wisely and the expertise of many and 2009 can open doors for you that you believed had closed. Welcome to a year of positive transition!

Over the years the one thing I have enjoyed is home improvement and decorating. I love the satisfaction that goes along with taking an idea and turning it into reality. Most the time it is born out of a leisurely hour pouring over a decorating magazine or walking through a show home with my eyes dancing around everywhere. My photographic memory kicks in, must have list starts typing away in my head, file in my brain for upcoming projects is opened, and there you have it…something is about to moved, demolished, primped or bought.

My husband knows the look in my eyes and then the usual statement that follows “I have an idea”. This is where he says, “Oh, No.” He envisions his time being taken up to accommodate my idea and that causes him stress. Lots of times though it does not involve him at all. He just comes home to a newly designed room, painted walls, landscape changes, or hammer and nails being put away.

One of my favourite things to do is to organize the garage and tool area. I am particular that my tools and machinery have a place so that I can access it quickly when inspiration hits. Paint cans and accessories have their shelf, drills and drill bits stored, peg board with inside and outside tools displayed and larger garden equipment placed and hung accordingly.

This is how I remember my fathers garage too, orderly and it certainly was the space in which something to enhance our home had its beginnings. Of course in those days I never saw my mother or any other mothers stepping into that domain, but times have changed. Today, you see women all the time in the local home improvement stores, tools have even been modified and marketed differently and informative workshops are offered monthly for the DIY divas. Women, just like myself, have seen an increase in our self esteem as we venture onto the next project, learn, grow, face trial and error and eventually reap the benefits of our idea coming into reality.

If you have something you want done around your home be adventurous. I encourage you to get beyond waiting for someone else to do it and unleash your inner builder, decorator or landscaper! Thinking about a career change…how about the trades? Or, like me it can all be something that inspires you and stays a past time, either way satisfaction is guaranteed.

By the way, I did this post in between cooking a dinner which is normally not my idea of fun. This followed a day I spent in home cleaning and decorating mode, lighting improvement discussions and more,  today I was a”jack (or Jill) of all trades.”

My Blogroll: Lise

I want to share with you the blog of a friend who allows people into her daily life, but also candidly tells it like it is as she battles cancer. Going through treatment is an auguous thing that some readers may understand, but many others will not.

When we view this from the blogging perspective it still leaves enough room for us to stay safely away from some of the feelings that come up in their presence. It can be very therapeutic too for the blogger. Writing essays, journaling and now blogging allows what needs to escape from within, a route in which to do so. Unlike the journaling of yesterday, blogging is visible to anyone who wishes to peak inside the mind of another. We can learn many things from this cleansing experience, but in this case we still can’t touch the depth to which cancer can affect someone. Especially somebody that we love.

When I read Lise’s blog I really feel the learning extends beyond her body, knowing cancer and the treatment it requires is another education I’m sure all of us would rather never to be schooled in. She really pushes on, despite the challenges of it all… no choice I guess. What I do know is that she has had an incredible year, completing her Masters, surgery, offers for work, opportunity to use her talents and battling the affects of Chemo.

So given that 2008 has been packed so full with so much learning and life experience please join me in congratulating her for every bit of strength she can muster. On the days when its too much maybe send a little note of encouragement. Keep up the confidence, you can do it!

Chemo Woman rocks on but will complete her gig in Spring of 2009, but Lise will be rocking on for many years to come! (Insert applause here)

First let me state for the record, I am not a gamer, nor will I ever be. Somehow the thought of spending hours on end in a chair with my mouth hanging open and my hand gripped to a controller is not my idea of fun. No offense to those who have fallen in love with their PlayStation. We all have something we can immerse ourselves in.

Though there used to be more men than women playing, apparently women gamers are on the rise.  They are spending their money happily on games and some even are being recognized for their knowledge and skill in the gaming world. All the more power to them, maybe some of these young women will start up their own companies. Now that would be cool, I’m all about supporting women entrepreneurs.

Interestingly, I do believe the delineation between men and women’s entertainment is ever disappearing. It is not that men are lining up to participate in so called women’s entertainment (that’s a chick thing) but women are following the men further into what was considered their world.  Regardless, what I have noticed is that sexism is alive and well in the gaming world, despite the supposed growing presence of women.

Take for instance a game in which the hero, in an espionage type series, moves through the game strong and focused on accomplishing his mission. Every man around him in combat or a position of authority is wearing exactly what you would expect in a lab or war zone. They are “real” men, with real weaponry, real language and the camera covers their every militaristic move. The visual effects are really good, there is a real sense that you are in combat and battling the beasts that surround you.

But then there is the inevitable, a woman scientist in the middle of this mayhem, who is obviously integral to the story, is wearing heels, garter and stockings (noticeable when she had to pull up her tight skirt momentarily in the middle of a battle zone), a blouse that is cut down so low I’m not sure why she is wearing it, and finally her white lab coat.

Another woman who obviously is no stranger to combat and a motorcycle, also was unable to find anything else to wear that day except an extremely low cut outfit, combat gear not required. Humm? But, wait even better is the beauty and the beasts that must be killed. Due to some unfortunate circumstances they have turned into these monsters, when they are finally revealed beyond their beastliness they are wearing skin tight cat suits to which the camera pans over them in a constant motion so that every curve of their bodies should be well and truly memorized before their eventual demise.

The way I see it, the gaming world may be open to the dollars of women gamers, but I don’t see the makers truly representing women in the way they could be. They still have to cater to the male demograph with the typical female characterizations. “Real” women, with real language, in believable attire for a warrior or soldier, need not apply.

See women are not men.

If women were out there in the middle of the combat zone or raiding tombs they would not be doing it in short shorts, a tank top, garters or low cut blouses. The cat suit doesn’t protect them from anything. However, all of this may distract your enemy long enough to kill him.

Overall, the gear afforded to women in the gaming stories I have witnessed, seem just a touch sparse. The attention to detail in the production and character development may be impressive but apparently just like Hollywood there is most often an inability to create non-sexualized female characters. (Hollywood: a rant I will save for another day)

So, even though the female gamer may be inching ever closer to a previously male dominated industry, I am hoping there may one day be some gain in the way the female character is portrayed. Just a little more reality might be a good thing, if you don’t know what women in combat wear, or how a scientist or archaeologist dresses on the job, I will be happy to provide you with some pointers. Here is a hint: they are most likely not getting their uniform from Victoria’s Secret.

(References to the game referred to in this post, is courtesy of research and personal “in house” observation:)