Women Laughing

A new film in the works

Who doesn’t like to laugh? (Don’t answer that, I don’t really want to know). Who isn’t fascinated by those who create humor? I am. Why do they do it? What does humor tell us? We need humor now more than ever to help us cope and help us see. I love comedians and cartoonists, improv performers and funny actors. Funny people! I’ve interviewed many of them. My parents were funny, my husband and two daughters are funny. I feel lucky— I live and breathe humor.

As some of you know, in 2022, I wrote a book called Very Funny Ladies, all about the women who draw— and drew —cartoons for The New Yorker.

For a few years now, I have been developing a documentary based on all these ideas— humor, women’s rights, diversity, change. I am excited to share that the project I’ve been working on with a wonderful team of filmmakers now has a website!!

womenlaughingfilm.com

This film is about how we need humor. It’s a look at groundbreaking women cartoonists at The New Yorker, past and present, it’s a love affair with the art form and a belief in the power of humor. Humor brings us relief, it can bring us together. If it can help bring change, all the better—our culture feels as if it’s sliding back to the 1950’s. The good news is that humor and cartoons are not; diversity in cartoons and humor is better than ever. But there’s still a lot of work to do.

This film will explore how women’s humor is changing the narrative by helping us see the world differently.

The film, tentitively titled Women Laughing, will be directed and produced by Kathleen Hughes and myself. We are working hard on pre-production footage and writing, all things that will help us secure funding to make the actual film.

Along with more description of the film, there is a page on the website for making tax-deductible donations to support the film. Any donation would be incredibly helpful and greatly appreciated. Our fiscal sponsor, The Film Collaborative, has set up different ways to partner with our documentary. And you can sign up to recieve updates on the film.

We are also on Instagram and Twitter, follow us!

Thank you for being here, see you tomorrow!