On April 26, 2018, The Artemis Women In Action Film Festival (AWIAFF), presented by Paul Feig kicked off their 4th Annual film festival by holding an awards ceremony at the Ahrya Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills. There was a red carpet before the ceremony that was attended by the stuntwomen recipients and presenters of this year’s awards, including the actors and filmmakers of the festival.
AWIAFF founder and actor/stuntwoman Melanie Wise commented that the purpose of AWIAFF was to raise the awareness of strong female characters in movies and television. The lead sponsor for this year’s festival was CAA and our own Agenda magazine. CAA has been known for their A-list talent and has served as the catalyst to further the movement for featuring powerful women on screen. Agenda played an integral role in spotlighting some of the festival’s filmmakers with full-length interviews with directors, producers, actors, and other key contributors. Agenda‘s print issue #5 “Women & Ageism,” which is available now, features Artemis honoree Ming-Na Wen (who is on the cover and is interviewed); and the film festival founder Melanie Wise. LA Weekly was also a sponsor, along with Citi, and Habibi Bath & Body.
Since AWIAFF’s inaugural festival in 2015, Melanie Wise succeeded in proving that audiences wanted to see strong female characters onscreen – that women in film were not only positive role models, but popular! The first year of AWIAFF had an overwhelming response with unprecedented festival entries (over 2000) and the festival has been gaining momentum each year with this 4th edition having an overwhelming response, both celebrity-filled and highly supported.
“In today’s world, we have a persistent cultural and societal illusion that women are a weaker, inferior sex. As women we are relearning and beginning to understand that words like ‘power,’ ‘determination,’ ‘strength,’ and ‘grit’ are not only attributable to the male of the species. Every single film we screen is a testament to this fact.” – Melanie Wise
I had the opportunity to interview some of the presenters and honorees on the red carpet. I first talked with Stuntwoman Kim Renee who first received recognition in the field as Linda Carter’s stunt double.
Sheryl Aronson: What will you be presenting tonight?
Kim Renee: I am presenting the Lifetime Achievement award going to Debbie Evans.
Sheryl Aronson: Tell me about your career as a stuntwoman.
Kim Renee: I was known for being Linda Carter’s stunt double on the television series Wonder Woman. I am currently Nevada’s SAG AFTA President. I sit on the National Stunt Committee and I help our stunt people have better opportunities and safer conditions.
Sheryl Aronson: Why is this film festival so important to the women in this field?
Kim Renee: This film festival is important because it gives awareness to women who have been trying for a long time to show how talented they really are. Debbie Evans has been a pioneer in this area. She started a long time ago when only men were in the industry around the late 70s. I had people tell me that I couldn’t have children and work in the business. It wasn’t allowed – but Linda and I both had children and still worked as stunt women.
Melanie Wise, Founder/Stuntwoman/Actor
Sheryl Aronson: Why is this film festival so important?
Melanie Wise: I have said for a very long time that until women are seen as physically able, they will always be seen as less. We have a film festival that celebrates physical action. The women come in many different sizes and strengths but it’s really important to us to see women doing physically powerful things. Some of the films being shown at the festival are: women showing up on the frontlines of Vietnam without weapons, we have innovators in business, we have films that cover sexual empowerment and redefining sexuality, and we have narrative stories where women are fighting aliens.
This is our 4th year so we’re hoping that it will keep going strong. We are looking toward redefining how women are seen culturally and that is one of the missions of this festival in particular.
Debbie Evans, Stuntwoman & Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award
Sheryl Aronson: You are receiving a wonderful award for your incredible achievement in this field. Talk about your career and how you got started.
Debbie Evans: I’ve been doing stunts for over 40 years now. I still love it and go to work excited. My interest in motor cycles got me into stunt work. As a young woman I was riding dirt bikes and competing. I was riding for Yamaha by the time I was 15. I rode against the men in the Nationals and International events. So this was a perfect shoo-in for me because the film company needed a girl who could jump a 30 feet ravine on a motor cycle.
I saw that they did things safely without trying to get people hurt so I was hooked. Then they handed me a broad sword and asked me to jump off of this embankment and swing it while riding a motor cycle. I said, “You’re going to pay me to play?” I started training in fights and falls. I’ve done stunts on motor cycles and in cars – my specialty is in cars and motor cycles but then I do fights, falls, water skiing, etc.
Sheryl Aronson: It sounds like you found a perfect way to channel your athletic abilities.
Debbie Evans: I love what I do. It’s what I have been training for my whole life but I didn’t know it as a child. I was in every sport. I’m still that way. In my head, I think I am in my early twenties. I just did a major car chase last week spinning out the car. I just love what I do.
Sheryl Aronson: What has been your experience working as a female in a male dominated field?
Debbie Evans: I grew up riding the dirt bikes against the guys so I was used to dealing with men and being around men and competing with men. So I fit right in because of my background. I knew there were some people who were trying to take me out or take me down, but I would just tell myself that I’m not going to say anything and prove them wrong. And I sometimes still have to prove myself as a woman even though I’ve been doing stunts for 40 years. The guys don’t. But fortunately these types of situations are getting less.
Heidi Pascoe, Stuntwoman/Actor/Champion Diver & Recipient of the Stunt Warrior Award
Sheryl Aronson: What award are you being presented tonight?
Heidi Pascoe: I’m winning the Stunt Warrior Award. I’ve been a stunt woman for the past 15 years … I’ve won SAG awards and other stunt awards, but I am so proud to be given this award by the Artemis Film Festival tonight. I am a world champion cliff diver and I have done cliff diving competitions when there weren’t a lot of women doing it.
Sheryl Aronson: How did you transition into be a stuntwoman?
Heidi Pascoe: It was a male dominated industry so moving into stunts wasn’t a hard transition for me. I went to college on a diving scholarship and did cliff diving on the side. Next thing I know, I’m a world champion and traveling the world doing competitions. As a woman, we have to be twice as good as the guys to get half the respect. I really think now that things are starting to change.
Ming-Na Wen, Actress (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
Sheryl Aronson: What are your thoughts about being honored tonight?
Ming-Na Wen: It’s one of those situations where being honored for something I love to do is incredible, but I think it also stands for being a strong woman and a role model. It also allows women and stunt people to shine and inspire.
Sheryl Aronson: What challenges have you faced in your career?
Ming-Na Wen: For me being Asian or a woman of color, has already been a challenge . Having a very unique Chinese name which I have never anglicized, that’s also been a challenge. On top of it all, ageism is definitely a factor. For me to forge ahead and get an honor like tonight, I feel a sense of gratitude and validation that I am doing something right.
Sheryl Aronson: What are you looking forward to tonight?
Ming-Na Wen: I am looking forward to meeting all the other stunt people because they have been my support, my teachers and mentors for the past 5 years at Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I love them. They are the most down to earth, wonderfully talented, crazy people that I ever met. I’m glad they have taken all the hard licking so that I can play Agent May for the past 5 years; and they make me look really bad ass. I still do 80% of my own stunts, but they have taught me about stunt fighting. So I feel like I have a black belt in stunt fighting.
Danielle Burgio, Stuntwoman, Actor & Recipient of the Unsung Hero Award
Sheryl Aronson: What award are you being presented tonight?
Danielle Burgio: They are blessing me with the Unsung Hero tonight. I was so blown away when Artemis called me. I feel like it’s an honor to be recognized for the grit and determination that it takes over the years.
Sheryl Aronson: Talk about your career and how you became a stuntwoman.
Danielle Burgio: I am a stunt woman, actor, filmmaker – primarily a stunt woman for over 20 years. I feel very honored. I’ve had some brilliant runs on some great shows. I do a lot of wire work and fighting. My biggest credit that launched my career was that I played the double for Trinity in The Matrix sequels. I also have a dance background from being an actress on Broadway.
Sheryl Aronson: Being a stuntwoman is quite different than being a dancer.
Danielle Burgio: It’s really a lot of ground pounding in all honesty. The women are always in these short skimpy things and wearing dresses – I literally had to get hit by a semi-truck wearing a little pink lingerie outfit. On the set you are putting your life in the hands of the people that you work with. I have found such a warm embrace with everyone.
I never thought I would become a stunt person, it happened accidentally. I was a dancer on Broadway and I came to LA to get into film and television – never thinking I would become a stunt person. I was terrified on every job.
Sheryl Aronson: Has there been any one thing you’ve learned being a stuntwoman?
Danielle Burgio: My biggest lesson has been facing all my fears and tapping into that deep reserve. It has been a beautiful gift and I got that mostly from the other stunt women I have worked with.
To begin the night’s festivities, there was a lovely musical performance by recording artist (Agenda EIC) Kaylene Peoples on vocals and flute, and two-time Grammy-nominated artist Bunny Brunel on bass. They were accompanied by guitarist Joe Calderon and Cajon player Bryan Cabrera. They played two audience pleasing, high energy, Bossa-nova selections “The Girl From Ipanema” and “One Note Samba.” Later in the evening was the very entertaining comedienne Sheena Metal.
AWIAFF offered an exclusive preview of the upcoming feature documentary Stuntwomen: The Untold Story, directed by April Wright, produced by Marion Rosenberg. The action-packed short film Imbroglio starred Zoë Bell, Jason Tobias; Alina Andriel, Kiralee Hayashi, Travis Johns; and directed by Christopher Zatta finished the night with a bang.
The Artemis Women In Action Film Festival featured 70 films dedicated to women in action from April 26th-29th. It included narrative features, short films, and a variety of genres, which ranged from action to drama to documentaries. The film festival provided an ideal platform for displaying women in film as the powerful role models they are and have always been!
Enjoy the highlights from the Artemis Women In Action Film Festival 2018! (Images courtesy of Artemis Women In Action Film Festival. Event photos by Bobby Pin unless otherwise credited.) For Sheryl Aronson’s event highlights, please follow this to Facebook… https://www.facebook.com/kaylenepeoples5/posts/1406355462843551?notif_id=1527896010697094¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic
