Movie endorsement from M3AAWG

We screened a preview of Pioneers in Skirts to a group of cyber security super heroes back in February. We knew they enjoyed the movie, but wow! Today they endorsed it!!

Thank you M3AAWG!!!

Here’s a snippet of what they had to say — 

OUR COMMITMENT IN M3AAWG TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION – A “PIONEERS IN SKIRTS” ENDORSEMENT

M3AAWG leadership invited the filmmakers of Pioneers in Skirts to join our meeting in San Francisco to deliver a keynote presentation sharing their experiences about why they made the film and what impact they hoped for. After the keynote, M3AAWG leadership sat down to have a one-on-one conversation with the filmmakers to talk about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the organization based on the film and how the Pioneers in Skirts documentary is an excellent catalyst for starting the fruitful dialog needed when an organization wants to build a more inclusive culture.

The filmmakers were kind enough to give M3AAWG members a preview screening of the movie after the day’s meeting sessions were complete and the feedback from members was amazing. Change starts with creating empathy for what others are experiencing and the movie has a story that does just that.

The screening leaves viewers with an understanding they did not have before and a feeling of hope and a drive to do something to change the culture – to act. It might be the very personal step of catching your own bias or the much bigger step of admitting there is a systemic problem that requires a resolution. Either way, people left the screening realizing the enormous size of the problem. Achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace requires an investment we ALL have to make.

With the extremely positive response and feedback from our member community for the Pioneers in Skirts film, M3AAWG became an official supporter of the documentary and highly recommends other organizations in the industry view the trailer on their website and reach out to the filmmakers to understand more about their incredible journey.

By Janet Jones, M3AAWG Board of Directors Vice Chair; Diversity and Inclusion Chair; and Data and Identity Protection Committee Co-Chair

You can read Janet’s entire statement here on the M3AAWG blog.

A peek at the M3AAWG keynote

Keynote Speaker Programs

In February we were invited to attend a conference where over 1200 cyber security professionals from around the globe attended.

We did a lot while we were there! We were the opening keynotes on the first day of the M3AAWG event, led an interactive dialog with members about equity in the workplace, and privately pre-screened the film. We also participated in an on-camera interview with the leadership team.

The people leading the association were welcoming, and the membership was incredibly supportive. When asked “how can we help?,” this is what Ashley said…

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You can watch the entire keynote on the M3AAWG-Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group Diversity Initiative channel: https://youtu.be/5FcqEJSSNHI.

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“Documentaries like Pioneers in Skirts put a viewer into someone else’s experience, in this case women experiencing gender bias. This level of storytelling (or perspective-taking) is much more relatable than the traditional training model, because the people she or he sees are real, not actors placed in awkward situations. The viewer can experience empathy, which is key to changing behavior.” — read more

Pioneers in Skirts movie poster design

PiS movie poster

Starting with a theme of inclusivity that says: You’ve Got To Get Used To Seeing Me, the design showcases imagery of diverse, ambitious women.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Los Angeles, CA — Filmmakers for the social conscious impact documentary “Pioneers in Skirts” have confirmed they are releasing their movie poster design next week at the Women Deliver Film Festival during the Women Deliver Global Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Producer Lea-Ann W. Berst said, “Today we’re excited to be releasing the poster in time for our June 4 fine-cut preview screening! You’ll see this poster at future movie screenings, on our website, and in our social channels.”

When asked about the poster’s design, director Ashley Maria said, “We started with a theme of inclusivity that says: You’ve Got To Get Used To Seeing Me, and asked graphic designer Bethany Ladd to craft a tone that gives advocacy a cool factor. We asked her for a movie poster that showcases imagery of diverse, ambitious women.”

Lea-Ann added, “Bethany delivered far beyond our expectations!”

“I wanted consistency and filling a space to be purposeful in this design,” Bethany, a graphic designer with 15 years of design experience, noted. “The Pioneers in Skirts movie poster had to utilize the Pioneer Green color, the film’s branded fonts, along with a collection of female faces who could represent any of us.”

But more importantly her design goal was to express a feeling of optimism.

“It’s deliberately clean, stylized, and light,” Bethany said. “I was mindful to weave in brighter shading from the Pioneer green spectrum into the background so you felt the hope the film brings.”

Ashley Maria said, “The poster also reflects the movie’s message: You Are Not Alone. And that is a message many up-and-coming pioneering women need to know!”

Pioneers in Skirts preview-screens at the Women Deliver Film Festival during the Women Deliver Global Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 4, 2019.

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To learn more about Pioneers in Skirts, go to the movie landing page.

To learn more about the Women Deliver Global Conference go to wd2019.org.

To interview the film’s producers, go to PRESS KIT. 

Pioneers in Skirts preview slated for June

Women Deliver Official Selection

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RALEIGH, NC – Producers for the impact documentary Pioneers in Skirts have confirmed their preview screening to take place at the Women Deliver Film Festival on June 4, 2019 during the Women Deliver Global Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Pioneers in Skirts is an entertaining examination of gender parity in the workplace from the perspective of a female filmmaker who produced the film out of frustration with her own problems in the industry. She and her crew traveled the U.S. to make this investigative documentary – weaving in relatable human stories with expert opinions. The film expands to include other industries and society in general.

Director Ashley Maria said, “Screening a fine-cut version at the world’s most prestigious women’s equal rights conference is so exciting for us. Our story fits directly into the conference mission, so we think of this as kismet. Our film is perfectly aligned.”

Held every 3 years, Women Deliver 2019 has a focus on power, and how it can drive – or hinder – progress and change for women and girls.

“Pioneers in Skirts reveals the career obstacles Ashley and many other women with pioneering ambitions still have to deal with today, what realistically can be done about them, and how we all can play a role in dramatically changing the outcome for women today — and the next generation,” explained producer Lea-Ann W. Berst.

She also noted that the Women Deliver conference is the world’s largest event on gender equality and gathers activists and press from around the globe.

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According to the Women Deliver Film Festival site, “Over 8,000 world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, artists and journalists will flock to Vancouver with dreams of accelerating progress for girls and women everywhere.”

The Women Deliver Film Festival hand-picked socially conscience films that will energize conference attendees, and provide them with a tool they can use for achieving their goals.

“Pioneers in Skirts can be a part of an overall plan for raising awareness, educating, and instigating people to want to take action. Impact story tellers know – when an audience responds positively after a screening, impact goals are achieved,” said Ashley Maria. “We crafted our story so that people and organizational leaders who watch our film will gain insights into the issue of diminishing ambition and workplace bias. They will also see first-hand how it affects women as they enter the workforce.”

She added, “Our film was made to help pioneer positive change. Lea-Ann and I look forward to having Pioneers in Skirts’ story be a part of this global conversation of advancing women and girls!”

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To learn more about Pioneers in Skirts and to view the press kit go to pioneersinskirts.com.

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To learn more about the Women Deliver Global Conference go to wd2019.org.

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