You hear the name Palm Springs Women in Film & Television, and what comes to mind? A group of women who go to watch films? Or a group of women who have been in films? This could not be further from the truth.
Palm Springs Women in Film & Television (PSWIFT) began 23 years ago at a time when movie makers and the Hollywood shakers were rediscovering affordable Palm Springs and arriving in droves to purchase homes for vacation getaways. And then some of them made it their permanent residence.
Forward thinking visionary and founder of PSWIFT Leanna Bonamici met with actress Elaine Church. Both saw the need to encourage others to learn about the making of films, including directing, producing and writing.
Today's PSWIFT is much more than just a few women. It's a collaboration of many women and men of all ages. The organization has a filmmakers lab and has made several short films. In addition, it hosts masterclasses, workshops, fundraisers and a monthly speakers series.
Connecticut in the Movies was written by Illeana Douglas.
January's guest speaker was actress, director, producer and writer Illeana Douglas. For more than an hour, this fascinating lady enthralled guests with behind-the-scenes stories of how women in the film world are treated. Douglas, whose grandfather was the famous Melvyn Douglas, spoke about people she has worked with, the ones she loved and the ones she didn't. She also gave her perspective on the #metoo movement and even found time to talk about her latest offering, a coffee table book titled Connecticut in the Movies: From Dream Houses to Dark Suburbia.
The book is crammed with photos and personal anecdotes and takes readers on an amazing journey through many decades, providing a fascinating look at many films we may have forgotten about over the years. Every guest left with a signed copy.
At the Q&A at the end, one audience member asked Douglas: "Of all your achievements, what gives you the most satisfaction?"
Illeana Douglas poses with PSWIFT members at Eight4Nine on Jan. 10, 2024.
Douglas said writing. "If I'm on set, all I can think about is getting back to my trailer and writing and writing."
To learn more about PSWIFT or to join, visit pswift.org.
Carole Stephen-Smith began writing in Scotland for a woman's weekly at the age of 15 and then covered American celebrities for the London Evening Echo. Arriving in the desert, she wrote for Desert Woman in the 1990s. Carole focuses on charities that help women as well as medical causes, especially breast cancer awareness, and all aspects of child abuse.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Illeana Douglas talks Hollywood and Connecticut at PSWIFT event
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