MOVIE MOJO: Locally produced films shot from woman’s angle

Shooting a movie from the woman’s angle involves much more than the gender of the person who is filming or calling the shot.

For proof, just ask the six female directors who are screening their self-financed shorts, all filmed in Atlanta, at an event put on by the Woman’s Angle (a local nonprofit focused on educating, mentoring and promoting women directors) on March 20 and 22 at the Plaza Theatre (1049 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta).

Dellis Caden Noble (“Love Happens”):

> The movie that inspired her to be a director: “The one Meryl Streep was in with Kevin Kline [‘Sophie’s Choice’] immediately comes to mind… . But ultimately I’d have to say Alfred Hitchcock’s body of work. He always leaves you wanting more and makes the mind work. He’s not about telling all the answers.”

> How she defines the woman’s angle: “I think the way you define that is just the way that women look at the work. We tend to see it a little bit softer and a little bit more emotionally.”

Angela Barnes Gomes (“Happy Hour”):

> The movie that inspired her to be a director: “I don’t know if there was a particular film. My mother was a librarian before people had VCRs in the house, and she was able to check out film projectors… . So we had film nights at our house. It was a family thing. And it’s always been there, always been something I’ve loved.”

> How she defines the woman’s angle: “Not that there’s anything wrong with Lifetime —- it’s important to have films for and about women —- but the sheer number of women and their different perspectives is how many women’s angles there should be and should be reflected.”

Tracy Martin (“Wheels”):

> The movie that inspired her to be a director: “I’ve loved visual storytelling from a very early age. All types of movies took my breath away —- from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and ‘A Patch of Blue’ to ‘Imitation of Life.’ “

> How she defines the woman’s angle: “Women have been kind of programmed to see ourselves on film from a male’s point of view. My motto is ‘no sex objects, no victims, no girlfriends.’ … We should be telling stories where even if the woman is the protagonist, her plight is universal.”

Kimberly Jurgen (“Flights of Angels”):

> The movie that inspired her to be a director: “Spielberg’s. And the one film that I have to point to —- and everyone always thinks I’m insane for this —- is ‘Jaws.’ I love that movie… . On every inch of his canvas he tells a story —- if you watch the people in the background, the subtle nuances of what the actors are doing with their hands. I just find something new every time I watch it.”

> How she defines the woman’s angle: “What our unique voice is. The way that women see the world… . It’s tough to really define. And that’s good.”

Melanie Mascioli (“Playgirl”):

> The movie that inspired her to be a director: “I think it’s been groups of films and directors, like Deepa Mehta and [her films] ‘Water,’ ‘Earth’ and ‘Fire.’ And Tim Burton —- when I was a kid.”

> How she defines the woman’s angle: “I would maybe even define ‘women’ a little different, coming from a queer point of view. I guess the woman’s angle or points of view are multiple points of view that are underrepresented because there is one point of view that’s so dominant: straight, white male.”

Jenna Milly (“A Peacock Feathered Blue”):

> The movie that inspired her to be a director: “I’m a writer first, by trade … and the movie that inspired me to be a writer is ‘The Color Purple.’ It’s a story about a character that endures and changes so much, and is so inspiring to people. I love that movie. I love everything that Steven Spielberg does. And I love Alice Walker. I love stories about people you don’t normally see.”

> How she defines the woman’s angle: “I don’t think women tell stories necessarily differently than men. We just have different experiences. And less of the market share. But we can write something universal.”

Tickets for the 90-minute screenings at 7:30 p.m. March 20 and 2 p.m. March 22 are $10 and include a party with the directors afterward. For advance reservations, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/55882.