The poster for the Sara Bareilles musical has been released and we decided that it’s something you should know about.

The story of Jenna, a newly-pregnant diner girl with a knack for pie-making, stuck in an unhappy marriage in her small Southern town, Waitress is a musical adaption of the 2007 film of the same name, written AND directed by the late Adrienne Shelly.

Now directed by Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin, Hair), the book is written by Jessie Nelson (screenwriter of I Am Sam, Stepmom, The Story of Us) and the music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles (five time Grammy Award nominee). The show will also star 2014 Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical winner, Jessie Mueller (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical).  

Check out that lady line-up!!

Waitress is set to hit the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA in August.

After the success for the  all female writing team for Fun Home (2015 Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Book for a Musical and Best Score for a Musical), Cause a Cine wishes the best luck to Waitress and it’s cast and crew. 

Written by Claire | Source: Playbill

Emmy nominations were released this morning, and with every awards show, there will be some celebrations but also many snubs. Throughout this piece I will go through some of the nominees and highlight a few favourites, as well as give my immediate reactions.

Actress Uzo Abduba and TV personality Cat Deely presenting the nominations (Getty Images)

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
“Better Call Saul”
“Downton Abbey”
“Game of Thrones”
“Homeland”
“House of Cards”
“Mad Men”
“Orange is the New Black”

As always, very happy to see Orange is the New Black nominated once again. The show has such a diverse range of interesting, exciting and sometimes frightening characters that it needs to be given recognition.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
“Louie”
“Modern Family”
“Parks and Recreation”
“Silicon Valley”
“Transparent”
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
“Veep”

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was definitely a show binge-watched in two days. The show is just plain hilarious, and Kimmy’s consistent positive attitude and strength makes you feel as though you can achieve anything. Likewise, it was sad to see the finale of Parks and Recreation, and say a final goodbye to Leslie Knope. A potential snub is definitely Broad City. 

LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA

Taraji P. Henson, “Empire”
Claire Danes, “Homeland”
Viola Davis, “How to Get Away with Murder”
Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black”
Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men”
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

Orphan Black has such a strong fan following, and it’s great to see Tatiana Maslany being nominated this year. The fact that she plays multiple characters in one show requires such a talent and subtlety to portray each one. Furthermore, every women nominated in the category are phenomenal.

LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY

Lisa Kudrow, “The Comeback”
Lily Tomlin, “Grace And Frankie”
Amy Schumer, “Inside Amy Schumer”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Amy Poehler, “Parks And Recreation”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”

This is definitely a tough category, proving the success of women in comedy this year. Amy Schumer has gained such notoriety this year through her funny, and yet thought-provoking sketches. No nomination for Ellie Kemper for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt? 

VARIETY SERIES

“The Colbert Report”
“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live”
“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
“Late Show With David Letterman”
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”

More of an interesting note, but there appears to be a lack of female variety show hosts. There are two Jimmy’s, but not one female? In fact, when it was found that Letterman was leaving, the American studios would rather get a Brit to fill the spot rather than a woman. WHY aren't there any female late night show hosts? 

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA

Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey”
Lena Headey, “Game Of Thrones”
Emilia Clarke, “Game Of Thrones”
Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife”
Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”
Uzo Aduba, “Orange Is The New Black”

Uzo Aduba is definitely one of my favourite actresses at the moment. She steals every scene in Orange is the New Black, and just brings subtlety and honesty to such a complicated and interesting character. Lena Headey is also another favourite. Seriously, Cersei is just one of the coolest characters on television, and throughout season 5, Heady has dealt with some intense and tough moments, but every time she nails it.

WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
- Joshua Brand for The Americans, “Do Mail Robots Dream Of Electric Sheep?” from FX Networks, Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions

- Gordon Smith for Better Call Saul, “Five-O” from AMC, Sony Pictures Television and Gran Via Productions
- David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for Game Of Thrones, “Mother’s Mercy” from HBO, HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead, Television 360, Startling Television and Generator Productions
- Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner for Mad Men, “Lost Horizon” from AMC, Lionsgate Television and UROK Productions
- Matthew Weiner for Mad Men, “Person To Person” from AMC, Lionsgate Television and UROK Productions

DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

- Tim Van Patten for Boardwalk Empire, “Eldorado” from HBO, HBO Entertainment in association with Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions
- David Nutter for Game Of Thrones, “Mother’s Mercy” from HBO, HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead, Television 360, Startling Television and Generator Productions
- Jeremy Podeswa for Game Of Thrones, “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” from HBO, HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead, Television 360, Startling Television and Generator Productions
- Lesli Linka Glatter for Homeland, “From A To B And Back Again” from Showtime, SHOWTIME Presents, Fox 21, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions and Keshet
- Steven Soderbergh for The Knick, “Method And Madness” from Cinemax, Cinemax Entertainment in association with Ambeg Screen Products, Anonymous Content and Extension 765

WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

- David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik for Episodes, “Episode 409″ from Showtime, SHOWTIME Presents, Hat Trick Productions and Crane Klarik Productions
- Will Forte for The Last Man On Earth, “Alive In Tucson” (Pilot) from FOX and 20th Century Fox Television
- Louis C.K. for Louie, “Bobby’s House” from FX Networks, Pig Newton, Inc. and FX Productions
- Alec Berg for Silicon Valley, “Two Days Of The Condor” from HBO, HBO Entertainment in association with Judgemental Films, Alec Berg, Altschuler Krinsky Works and 3 Arts Entertainment
- Jill Soloway for Transparent, “Pilot” from Amazon Instant Video and Amazon Studios
-Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche for Veep, “Election Night” from HBO, HBO Entertainment in association with Dundee Productions

DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
- Phil Lord and Christopher Miller for The Last Man On Earth, “Alive In Tucson” (Pilot) from - FOX and 20th Century Fox Television

- Louis C.K. for Louie, “Sleepover” from FX Networks, Pig Newton, Inc. and FX Productions
- Mike Judge for Silicon Valley, “Sand Hill Shuffle” from HBO, HBO Entertainment in association with Judgemental Films, Alec Berg, Altschuler Krinsky Works and 3 Arts Entertainment
- Jill Soloway for Transparent, “Best New Girl” from Amazon Instant Video and Amazon Studios
- Armando Iannucci for Veep, “Testimony” from HBO, HBO Entertainment in association with Dundee Productions

As always with writing and directing, the discrepancy between men and women in the industry is very evident. Semi Chellas is the only female nominee for writing, and Lesli Linka Glatter for directing. Likewise, Jill Soloway is the only female to appear in both the writing and directing categories for comedy for the much-acclaimed Transparent. .
I wish all the women well in this category, and especially for being recognised in such a male-dominated one. Hopefully in the future, we can see a more diverse range of nominees.

The full list can be viewed here.

- Stephanie

Stephanie is Cause a Cine's Social Media manager and contributor. 

I think my University is great. I am so glad I get to attend, and am able to study what I love with my cinema studies major. However, halfway through my undergraduate degree, I want to bring up a point I noticed about 3 weeks into my cinema studies subject at the start of this year. The subject was about Hollywood and how the film industry has changed from the 60s to present. It was quite an enjoyable and interesting subject. But it was also, to put it one way, a sausage fest.

Out of four “teachers” for the subject, two were male and two were female. One woman was the subject co-ordinator and lecturer, and the other was my tutor. In my tutorial, majority of students were also female. My friends and I (all girls) were not afraid to speak up and dominate the discussion if we had something to say. These observations made me incredibly happy, as it shows the future of the film and film studies industries being challenged as a male-dominated industry. However, this was not reflected in the academia side of things.

Every film we studied was directed by a male, had male-dominated crews and casts. While we studied great films such as Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Dirty Harry (1971) and Taxi Driver (1976), all films had a male lead for a male dominated story.  The most women we saw in a semi-lead or lead role made up a total of 4 out of 12 films: Bonnie and Clyde, Jurassic Park (1993), Gravity (2013), and Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2, (2003/04) 

4 out of 12 films.

Most of the theorists and readings we engaged with were also male. My teachers may have been female, but the subject was taught through the male voice. Obviously, I understand the context in which the films we studied were made and the time periods we looked at. Female directors have always been significantly low in number, but choosing some films with more female characters surely wouldn’t have been that hard? Or at least some acknowledgement of some feminist film theory approach to the films studied (or other films). At least for a week, even, like in my Introduction to Cinema Studies last year.

I loved studying Thelma and Louise (1991), and while I may have shuddered at the “monstrous feminine” and “castration anxiety” of feminist film theory last year, I did write my exam on the approach, and it has been valuable to my education and knowledge as I can now recognise these traits in many films that I may watch in the future. 

BUT, is it too hard to ask that maybe we could have spent a week or two expanding on these areas in relation to the Hollywood system?

I enjoyed the subject, I really did. But I am just disappointed. There is no subject dedicated specifically to feminist film in our first or second years. I have high hopes for a third year subject on sex and gender on screen, but surely, until then, each subject should draw some ladies into the discussion, even for a week. Because quite honestly, you get tired of hearing about what guys think after a while. Especially since I have so many female classmates and tutors, it is upsetting that we are not provided the representation we deserve to see. 

I am taking two more cinema studies subjects this year, so fingers crossed we hear and see more from ladies there.

In the meantime, what are some of your favourite female-dominated movies, from the late 20th century or now. I'd love to hear them!

- Claire

Hello all, my name is Claire and I am the founder of Cause a Cine.

Cause a Cine is an idea of mine that has been in the making for a while now, and with the guidance and support of my beautiful lady friends, I am so proud and excited to finally launch this blog. 

This blog is a combination of a few things I am passionate about: screen and stage entertainment, writing and feminism. 

I created this blog because every day I see evidence of the marginalization of women in the entertainment industry. Everyday I see a new statistic, video, read a story or see a quote about the inequality of women in these industries, for either performing or in behind the scenes work.

Also, as a media and cinema studies student, I have noticed my courses are filled with male scholars, male opinions and voices. In cinema studies especially, majority of the readings we were assigned were written by men, and majority of the films we studied featured male leads. All films were directed by a man. 

But you know what? I go to my lectures and my classes and I see that half, if not over half of the students I see in these rooms and lecture halls are girls. In my cinema studies subjects, the coordinators are women, and for both subjects I have taken so far, my tutors have been women. Whereas in media, my tutors and lecturers have been men.  

The female voice needs to get out there. Female students and everyday appreciators need to know that men aren't the only ones with a "valid" opinion, that they aren't the only voice we have to hear. 

Everyday I am inspired by amazing ladies who achieve, aspire, inspire and speak up about this marginalization. In particular, I am inspired by women like Reese Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea who started their own production company, Pacific Standard, aimed at producing films with strong female lead roles (and smashed the box office last year with their debut films Gone Girl and Wild); And here at home, with the introduction of another all-female production house The Dollhouse Collective, based in Sydney, run by amazing artists Rose Byrne, Gracie Otto, Krew Boyland, Shannon Murphy and Jessica Carrera. All-female production companies are taking action to create female content and that is what this blog shall do, too. 

I am inspired by so many amazing women, and I could not possibly list them all, but they will be celebrated in future posts, because that's what this blog is all about.

My hope for this blog is for it to be inter-sectional. I want it to be inclusive of women of all identities. When I use the words female/women/girls, we mean anyone who identifies as such, no matter what gender she was assigned at birth. 

I have a lot of plans and high hopes for this blog, but it, like I, is a work in progress. I wish to be the best writer, editor and feminist that I can be, but I am learning. So bear with me, as I learn. 

All in all, I am very excited, and I hope you are, too. 

If you wish to write for Cause a Cine, be sure to check out the Facebook and Twitter accounts for "casting calls", and the Contribution page in the sidebar. Cause a Cine would love to have you!

Let's do this thing.

Claire.