Arts & Entertainment

Girl Power

Filmmaker chronicles young women in politics,
documenting the inevitability of a woman president.

Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News

documentary jackpot by
having it picked up by
Paramount and distributed
' comment from a young
in 2005.
daughter — before
"I fell into this profes-
Hillary Clinton
sion and found that the
announced her run for president
medium has such an abil-
— inspired a new documentary
ity to.make a difference.
about women in politics.
I only would dedicate my
Filmmaker Amy Sewell, a
time to projects that serve
University of Michigan gradu-
to make a difference.
ate, developed What's Your Point,
"My next book and this
Honey? to focus on young women
movie offer up oral futures
who could be viable candidates in
as opposed to oral histo-
2024 and, in essence, respond to
ries. We want to show what
her own daughter's doubts about
women might be like if we
opportunities.
had seven or eight running
Detroit native Sewell returns to
for office instead of just
the area to discuss her project at
one."
the film's local screening, which
Mitter, a history and
begins 7 p.m. Thursday, June
anthropology major work-
12, at the Maple Art Theatre in
ing as a waitress while
Bloomfield Township. She will be
preparing to move to New
joined by fellow filmmaker Susan
York, was assigned to the
Toffler and Lexie Mitter, also a
investigation of charities
U-M graduate and one of seven
when she was invited into
young women appearing in the
the filming. She had met
movie.
Eliot Spitzer once and
Lexie Mitter of West Bloomfield at U-M: "I talked about my hopes and dreams and what it's like being me."
"One of my daughters told me
experienced another sur-
that women couldn't ride motor-
prise when he recently was
cycles:" says Sewell, now a New
reported to be a suspect in
Yorker. "I had been thinking of buying a
came to my home and college to see
As Sewell and Toffler made the film,
a federal prostitution investigation.
Harley so I asked why. Her answer was
what life is like for someone my age says
they focused on participants' qualities that
"When I first found out about the
that she's never seen it.
Mitter, whose family belongs to Temple
viewers could use as points of identifica-
film, it sounded interesting and exciting,
"At that point, I started thinking about
Kol Ami in West Bloomfield.
tion. In the process, they thought about
particularly because it was something
what else my daughters think is normal or
"I talked about my hopes and dreams
their own backgrounds.
I never had done before Mitter says.
the status quo because they'd never seen
and what its like being me. Religion
Sewell, who converted to Judaism when
"I loved the previous film these women
anything different, and I had an awaken-
entered into my discussions because I
she was about to marry her college boy-
made.
ing about what is male-defined or deter-
want to be a public service attorney. I
friend, worked in publication marketing
"What's Your Point, Honey? has helped
mined.
talked about my upbringing as a Jew and
for 15 years. During that time, she did
me become more cognizant of my envi-
"I discussed this with my filmmaking
the importance my family and religion
some freelance writing, including an arti-
ronment and issues of gender in leader-
partner, Susan Toffler, and we decided to
have played [forming my views] on tikkun cle about children doing ballroom dancing ship positions. It's made me more aware,
figure out, through the voices of young
olam (repairing the world):"
and demonstrating the importance of the
and I think there are lots of ways I could
women, where women and girls stand in
Sewell, 44 — who made the film Mad
arts in public schools.
get into politics.
America:'
Hot Ballroom — turned a Mitter comment
"I decided that the story could be told
"It was a very cool experience to be
The filmmakers looked for participants
into the title of her next book, which is
better visually and bought seven books on involved in the documentary.
of different ethnic backgrounds and walks based on the film and is due out in spring
how to make a documentary:' she explains.
"I found the other women inspiring in
of life. They chose their subjects from the
2009.
"I hired a team, and we followed the danc- terms of their hopes and dreams for the
CosmoGirl! Project 2024, which placed
"Although it didn't make it into the film, ers for a year to make the film. We hit the
future." II]
students in various internships.
Lexie said something that is so profound:'
Mitter, 22, who lives in West Bloomfield
Sewell recalls. "She said, `You don't know
and soon will begin law studies at New
who is out there right now, sitting next to
What's Your Point, Honey? will be shown 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at the Maple
York University, was interning in New York you, who might be the first woman presi-
Art Theatre, 4135 W. Maple, in Bloomfield Township; (248) 263-2111. A 0&A with
State government two years ago, working
dent of the United States, but you can be
filmmakers Amy Sewell and Susan Toffler and cast member Lexie Mitter follows
in the department run by then-Attorney
assured that she's out there somewhere!'
the screening. $10-$50. Patron and supporter tickets help benefit Special Days
General Eliot Spitzer.
"I titled my book She's Out There:
Camp. Seating is limited; for advance tickets, go to www.SmartTix.com or
"The filmmakers asked us a range of
The Next Generation of Presidential
www.whatsyourpointhoney.com .
questions, followed us on our jobs and
Candidates."

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June 5 • 2008

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