Reel Women Seen

REEL WOMEN SEEN tells the story of the realities faced by women in the film and TV industry yet simultaneously depicts the necessary, possible and achievable ways to transform them. The story is set in common TV backdrops – from a police procedural to a sitcom (complete with laugh track), to a medical drama, to a webisode series. One continuous narrative unfolds through a series of brief parodies, ending with resolve for change. The project features an ensemble cast of women as widely diverse as imaginable. Shot in Vancouver and Toronto, and supported by unions, guild, industry professionals and suppliers, REEL WOMEN SEEN will be available to stream in the spring of 2017.

  • Amanda Tapping
    Director
    Anne, The Romeo Section, Travelers, Van Helsing, X Company
  • Elvira Kurt
    Writer
    Baroness Von Sketch Show, The Comedy Network
  • Heather Allin
    Producer
    Get Women Working
  • ACTRA National Women's Committee
    Producer
  • Carmen Moore
    Key Cast
    "Kennaway"
    Blackstone
  • Kristin Lehman
    Key Cast
    "Fisher"
    Motive
  • Gabrielle Rose
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Old"
    A Dog's Purpose
  • Veena Sood
    Key Cast
    "South Aisan Nures #2"
    50/50
  • Jodelle Ferland
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Young"
    The Twilight Saga
  • Jennifer Podemski
    Key Cast
    "Mom"
    Empire of Dirt
  • Rukiya Bernard
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Minority"
    Van Helsing
  • Samantha Wan
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
    Second Jen
  • Amanda Joy
    Key Cast
    "Amanda"
    Second Jen
  • Rosemary Dunsmore
    Key Cast
    "Grandma"
    Orphan Black
  • Saara Chaudry
    Key Cast
    "Young Daughter"
    The Breadwinner
  • Krystal Hope Nausbaum
    Key Cast
    "Teen Daughter"
    Between
  • Tommi Amber Pirie
    Key Cast
    "Cinematographer"
    Michael, Tuesday's and Thursdays
  • Karen Robinson
    Key Cast
    "Screenwriter"
    King
  • Heather Allin
    Key Cast
    "Producer"
    Small Town Murder Songs
  • Jajube Mandiela
    Key Cast
    "Actress"
    Degrassie: The Next Generation
  • Cary Lawrence
    Key Cast
    "Director"
  • Ellen David
    Key Cast
    "1st AD"
  • Valerie Sing Turner
    Key Cast
    "Body/Patient"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    comedy
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 10, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    150,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • China Women's Film Festival
    Beijing
    China
    September 20, 2017
    Asian premiere
    Official Selection
  • St. John's International Women's Film Festival
    st john's
    Canada
    October 22, 2017
    Noufoudland premier
    Official Selection
  • Open World Toronto Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    November 19, 2017
    Official Selection
  • Edmonton International Film fFstival
    edmonton
    Canada
    September 30, 2017
    Alberta Premier
  • Female Eye Film Festival, 2017
    Toronto
    Canada
    June 18, 2017
    Ontario Premier
    Pre Closing Gala Screening
  • Yorkton Film Festival
    Yorkton
    Canada
    Canadian premier
    Official Selection
  • Regina International Film Festival
    Regina
    Canada
  • Calgary International Film Festival
    Calgary
    Canada
    September 30, 2017
  • Vancouver International Film Festival
    Vancouver
    Canada
    October 7, 2017
    British Columbia premier
  • Nova Scotia Screen Awards
    Halifax
    Canada
    May 5, 2017
  • Transitions International Film Festival, Melbourne Australia
    Melbourne
    Australia
    March 5, 2018
    Australian Premire
    Official Selection
  • Vancouver International Women In Film Festival
    Vancouver
    Canada
    March 8, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Women In Film & the Arts Festival
    New York
    United States
    March 10, 2018
    USA Premire
    Official Selection
  • Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase
    Cannes
    France
    May 14, 2018
    French Premier
    The Jury Choice Award/ Official Selection
  • Elles Tournent Film Festival
    Brussels
    Belgium
    European Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Women on Top Keynote Luncheon Series in association with Whistler Film Festival
    Vancouver
    Canada
    June 15, 2018
  • Female Eye Film Festival, 2018
    Toronto
    Canada
    June 26, 2018
    Pre Opening Night Gala screening
  • Canadian Diversity Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    June 29, 2018
    Official Selection/ Best Director Award
  • Female Eye Film Festival, 2018
    Toronto
    Canada
    July 1, 2018
    Pre Closing Night Gala screening
  • Chandler International Film Festival
    Arizona
    United States
    July 1, 2018
    Screening frequently throught the month of July
  • Toronto Independent Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    September 13, 2018
    Official Selection
  • Cineffable
    Paris
    France
    October 31, 2018
    Paris Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Amanda Tapping

Born In England, raised in Canada. BFA Acting University of Windsor. Amanda Tapping spent 12 seasons on Stargate SG-1 and its spin-offs, Stargate: Atlantis and SGU Stargate Universe, as "Samantha Carter". She then took on the lead role of "Dr. Helen Magnus" on the television series Sanctuary, a project she had been nurturing from its inception on the internet.

Tapping has come to secure a strong and direct influence on her projects from behind the lens. She was an Executive Producer of "Sanctuary" and also sat in the director's chair for several episodes. She previously directed the Stargate SG-1 episode, Resurrection, in 2004, which garnered her a Leo Award nomination for Best Director. She has also directed three episodes each of Primeval: New World, Arctic Air and Continuum. She has also directed Strange Empire, Olympus, Dark Matter and X Company. Tapping has also earned four Leo Awards for Best Actress, has been nominated for two Gemini Awards and four Saturn Awards and won the 2005 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Amanda's love of comedy lead her to co-found the all female Canadian comedy troupe, Random Acts. Her work in the short film Breakdown earned her the Canadian Comedy Award in 2007. She also did films like Space Milkshake, Random Acts of Romance, Taken Back: Finding Haley and Kid Cannabis. She was Naomi on 7 episodes of the 8th season of Supernatural. She also played a recurring character on the sitcom Package Deal.

Tapping has had the pleasure of supporting various charities and organizations such as The Coast Foundation, a support agency for people with mental disabilities, The Canadian Cancer Society, UNICEF and V-Day by performing in "The Vagina Monologues" to help end violence against women and girls worldwide. She also sits on the leadership council for The Waterkeeper Alliance. Amanda launched the charitable foundation "Sanctuary for Kids" in 2009 to support both local and global children's charities helping children in crisis. To date they have raised over $650,000. Their work takes them to Nepal, Haiti and the downtown east side of Vancouver. She was honored with Women in Film's "Woman of Vision" award. She also received the YWCA Women of Distinction "Connecting the Community" Award. She was awarded The Jules Verne Award in Paris for her humanitarian work. She was offered an Honorary Life Membership from the University College of Dublin Law Society and received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from The University of Windsor.
Written By: Julia Hague

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Director Statement

Reel Women Seen takes a light-hearted yet poignant look at the lack of female representation in multi based media. It aims not to poke fun at the stereotypes and underrepresentation facing women but rather to shine a light on it. In turn, the hope is to make people think about what they see on their screens (and behind the scenes) and how to change it for the better. Our aim is to also encourage young women to aim higher and to pursue careers in what is an often male dominated industry. If women are seen in key positions then girls have something to aspire to. If the public sees women in key positions and being better represented on their screens then the old stereotypes fade away. We will go from being an anomaly to being the norm. In essence we want to shift the paradigm. And we want to have fun doing it!