There’s a new organization on campus that’s gaining attention, and new members, quickly.
The Women’s Film Organization looks at how movies express diversity. The leaders of the group, freshman Film Production major Janel Roach and freshman Film Studies major Ife Oluwamuyide, give a presentation every week and watch a movie afterwards that is relevant to that topic.
“I try to do a presentation on a problem in film making, or a just a social justice issue in film and the ideological messages that the film contains,” Roach said.
This Tuesday focused on Hollywood whitewashing, which occurs when a character that was originally written as, or was a real person, of color is cast as a white person. Roach and Oluwamuyide gave a presentation on the history of whitewashing in media and why they feel it’s an issue.
Roach created this organization because she felt that “there isn’t much inclusion in the film community. People of color, especially women, weren’t able to express themselves as much as the men. I thought maybe there should be an organization that promotes that inclusion and representation in film.”
The Women’s Film Organization focuses on inclusivity in media.
“I hope they [organization participants] will be well versed in social issues. It’s not just black people who need to be represented in film, and it’s not just white women who need to be represented in film. There’s a whole slew of other people,” Oluwamuyide said.
The organization is also not just for women. People from all walks of life are welcomed and considered an important part of the organization’s meetings.
“I want to open people up to [social justice] and kind of create a conversation and have a discussion, even if it is opposing view points; just to get to talk it out,” Roach said.
The organization wants to expose these issues to people who might not otherwise be exposed to them. Roach said she picks movies that audiences may not be exposed to and wants to create a cross-cultural bridge.
Roach said their goal for the meetings is “for people to leave the meetings with a different insight and a different view on how they want to make or see films. I just want to promote diversity and representation.”
Lexi Mason, freshman Digital Arts major, went to the meeting this Tuesday. She said she was interested because she is white and wanted to gain a new perspective. Mason wants to continue going to meetings to see how it grows and to gain a “better perspective” that differs from her own.
Roach and Oluwamuyide are looking for officers for this organization to make it official. Their meetings have been increasing in attendance since the organization’s creation, and are every Tuesday at 8:30 in Kreisher 101E (The Arts Village).
