Free Film Screening of Miss Representation

Cabrillo College Will a host a free screening of the documentary film Miss Representation by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, on April 30 at 6 p.m. in the Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Dr. in Aptos. The film will be followed by a panel discussion and audience Q & A. First come, first serve seating.

Like drawing back a curtain to let bright light stream in, Miss Representation (90 min; TV-14 DL) uncovers a glaring reality we live with every day but fail to see. The film exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media¹s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve

In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that our young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman's value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality, and not in her capacity as a leader. While women have made great strides in leadership over the past few decades, the United States is still 90th in the world for women in national legislatures, women hold only 3 percent of clout positions in mainstream media, and 65 percent of women and girls have disordered eating behaviors.

Stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics, like Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem build momentum as Miss Representation accumulates startling facts and statistics that will leave the audience shaken and armed with a new perspective.

The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and aired on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Schools around the country are having screenings of the film to generate a thought-provoking dialogue with students and the general public to empower women and girls to challenge limiting labels in order to realize their potential, and to encourage men and boys to stand up to sexism. Cabrillo¹s Screening includes a panel of women who will discuss aspects of the film afterwards including Lisa Jensen (film critic), Mary Ann
Thyken (Exec. Director, Community TV), Euka Omosupe (Cabrillo Instructor) and several others.

More information: www.missrepresentation.org

About Director Jennifer Siebel Newsom: Newsom is a filmmaker, actress, speaker, and advocate for women, girls, and their families. Newsom is an Executive Producer of the 2012 Sundance Award-winning documentary The Invisible War and is currently in pre-production on her next film. Newsom is also the founder and CEO of Girls Club Entertainment, LLC, which develops and produces independent films that empower women. As an actress, Newsom appeared in films and television shows including In the Valley of Elah, Something¹s Gotta Give, NBC¹s Life, and Mad Men. Newsom currently serves as a board member of KQED; a member of the Girl Scouts Healthy MEdia: Commission for Positive Images of Women and Girls; an advisory board member of Emerge America; and an honorary board member of the International Museum
of Women. Newsom graduated with honors both from Stanford University and Stanford¹s Graduate School of Business. Newsom resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, and their two young children.