My weekend was busy with a concert on Saturday night at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts. (Yes, that has become my second home. LOL) Sara Hickman played to a sold-out crowd, and her show was great. In addition to telling great stories in music, she also tells great stories to introduce songs, and the audience loved her. So did I.
What a terrific voice and awesome guitar playing.
If you’d like another preview of her music check out this YouTube recording of her song, “Simply.”
And here is the cover of one of her CDs. What an amazing artwork.
What I’m Reading: Shared Disbelief, a Lupa Schwartz mystery by J. David Core. I’ll be reviewing this title next Sunday, so do come back if you are interested in knowing about the story.
Celebrating Strong Women: Today, in a nod to the Oscars last night, I want to honor women who are making a significant impact on film-making.
First I have to mention Cynthia Salzman Mondell of Media Projects Inc., a Dallas-based production company. I met Cynthia when I was executive producer for a film project, and she and her husband Allen, were on board to direct. As filmmakers, the couple has a focus on films and videos that have some social impact, and the story line of that project fit their criteria.
This was not long after the release of one of their first major documentary successes, West of Hester Street, a docu-drama about Jewish immigrants settling in America’s heartland in the early 1900s.
With her husband, Cynthia has created over 30 social-issue documentary films and educational videos. She is past president of Women In Film – Dallas and past president of the Board of New Day Films, a nationally known independent film cooperative based in New York City. Cynthia was nominated for an Emmy for her work on a Public Service Announcement for Meals on Wheels in conjunction with Women in Film – Dallas, and in 2004, she was honored with the Women in Film’s Topaz Achievement Award
Last night, several names more familiar to the general public received awards for their achievements. I was thrilled for Julianne Moore for her win for best actress in Still Alice, a story that is dear to my heart. I was one of the early reviewers of the book when Lisa Genova self-published it, and the novel went on to be picked up by Simon & Schuster after a number of strong reviews. I smile with delight over the success the book, and Lisa, have had. I know it wasn’t just my review that led to the success, but I do share in the joy.
In the February 15th issue of Parade Magazine Amy Spencer did a feature on Julianne Moore, How Lucky Am I, also giving a nod to other women who are proving that women can star in and carry a film. It used to be that women were always second to the leading man, and Hollywood would not bank on a woman carrying a film. That attitude has changed considerably due to the work of Julianne, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Banks, Meryl Street, Helena Bonham Carter, and so many more who are directing, producing and acting in stellar films.
Who is your favorite woman in film? Did you agree with the Oscar nods?