Full Crew!
Photography by Bill Buzbuzian.

I’m not sure if you have noticed yet, but the USA has a presidential election coming up in about a month and a half. It isn’t such a big deal.. it just comes down to our options being between a smart woman of color, which would be our first female president.. a small historical moment, vs a guy who treats women like sex objects, wants to strip away all their rights, and we already fired four years ago. Also, that is just talking about the issue of female rights, we haven’t even touched upon all the other issues. However, I do feel this election in many ways will define how the USA treats and values women. With Roe v Wade being over turned, due to 45, women’s rights are slipping away at an alarming rate across the country. If America decides to vote in our first woman that will be a very solid statement that we support our women. If the opposite happens, I fear that will confirm to those in power where a woman’s place should be….

Annie Spiegelman is a strong believer in women’s rights and understands that the divided world we live in these days is better reached through humor and joy. Ergo, when this film maker heard that Roe v Wade was overturned she put on her thinking cap and got to work on a relatable short about male contraception. Please read on to watch and learn more about her adorable and informative film below.

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Foreword by Kira Bucca, Editor in Chief of Jejune Magazine.

Where are you based?
I was raised and hardened in my favorite city, New York City! I escaped in my 30’s and now live in the Bay Area.

How did you get into film making?
I was a teenager and was walking in Greenwich Village when I saw a music video being filmed. It was the video of “YMCA” with the Village People. The streets were locked up and dancers will singing in the middle of the road and it was pure chaos yet a carnival and in the middle of it all, there was a woman with a bullhorn bossing everyone around. She was my role model! I didn’t know it at the time. But many years later I joined the Director’s Guild of America and became a First Assistant Director. Others have more creative dreams. I just wanted the bullhorn! And I got it. After college I was working on documentaries and got a call to watch cars (be a parking PA, production assistant) on a Sylvester Stallone movie. At lunch, I ran to a payphone to call my mom to tell her that I had a walkie-talkie, free coffee and free lunch. We were both ecstatic!

Can you tell us a little bit about your all female crew that banned together to create your fun new short about male contraception?
In 2022, there were TV writers and actor strikes occurring so it was a tough year for the movie industry from coast to coast. Many of us were home too much. And, we had just been home to much with Covid lockdowns the year before so we were all itching to create and also see our work colleagues.

In June of 2022, The Supreme Court had overturned Roe.v.Wade, the landmark legislation that made access to an abortion a federal right in the United States. After more than 50 years of legal protection, this dismantling granted individual states the right to severely limit or outright ban women’s reproductive rights. I was so full of Roe-rage that I had to do something so my trauma therapy was to started writing a short script about male contraception! I felt that men didn’t or couldn’t really understand what women were feeling.

I felt this first draft was too angry and I wanted to bring people in, not push them away. So I called my comedic writer pal, Gina Bardi, and asked her to take a look at it. A week later she sent me a brilliant and hilarious script. We spent another week working together tweaking it.

The next month I sent the script out to ten women department heads (camera, sound, lighting, wardrobe, props etc.) asking if they would volunteer their time for a Sunday shoot in my backyard. Before I could finish the words comedy and pro-choice, they each said, yes. “Where and when? I’m in.” We had to borrow camera and lighting equipment for the shoot and the local equipment houses donated all to us. In fact, Neil Kelly of Neil Kelly lighting, drove his grip truck up to my house at 7am on a Sunday and left it there for us for the day with all of his new gear inside. It was such a lovefest of the Bay Area film community and I’m forever grateful.

What inspired this direction for this fun and informative film?
A large part of the inspiration was the U.S. Supreme Court because they were constantly getting on my nerves! This is 2024, not the 1950’s, nor 1910, when abortion was banned nationwide. Apparently the majority of Supreme Court justices didn’t read the memo that women today everywhere want what every man wants: a good paying job, a safe home, a loving partner, strong friendships, good health, goals and accomplishments, reliable wifi, nice shoes, and the choice whether to have a child or not!

My producers, Lisa Tesone and Liz Sale, shared my thoughts, but wanted our project to appeal to all women. Not just Democrats; so, we tried to stay non-partisan. And they both wanted to laugh! So were open to some dark humor. Our talented production designer, Brahna Stone, came up with all of the prop gags including the underpants hanging on the laundry line. I still crack up at that. Kristina Willemse, my director of photography, came up with the idea of setting up the shed coverage in a Wes Anderson style and color palate. It really was such a collaborative project.

What has been the response from men?
The response and support from men is off the hook! They get it. As Ben Elie, one of the lead actors in our film says, “In this divided and competitive land, it may be that laughs, art and making (ridiculous) stuff together are the most effective ways to build compassion for each other.” Both young men and women are making difficult, long-term, life-changing decisions about starting a family. That’s a big decision. They need to make their own private choices, not their legislators.

How did the male actors you involved in this short feel about the project?
I didn’t know Dave Leon, the actor who plays Dr. Jolly. But I had heard great things about him. I had worked with Ben Ellie, who play Tyler. I sent them both the script and once again, an hour later, I got an email back saying, “Where, when? I’m in! Let’s go!”

Ben is in thirties so he’s been thinking about the kid thing and I’m afraid I may have scared him away forever . . . . We’ll see.

I am also the mom of a wonderful son who is in his 20’s. I wanted to warn him and his buddies to be responsible and not leave all the emotional heavy lifting to women. It takes two to tango. Parenting is not easy.

Not all of us are wired for sleep deprivation, nor have the financial resources, family support, or emotional maturity that helps relieve the sticker shock of new parenthood. Think twice. Or more!

CAST: Dave Leon (doc) and Ben Elie (young man).
Photography by Bill Buzbuzian.

Where did the backyard shed come from?
I was looking for a comparison to women back in the 1950’s and 1960’s who had to go to “back alley” abortions to stop an unwanted pregnancy. They were also called Back-Alley Butchers. There were botched surgical procedures. Women died. If they didn’t have money or health insurance women went through terrible lengths to give themselves abortions at home. That’s where the coat hanger comes from. I won’t go further on that. (Today, abortion is extremely safe — actually safer than giving birth.)

I wanted men to see what if felt like to have to go to get a backyard medical procedure done, but they were the lucky ones. They would be seen by Dr. Jolly, in the yoga shed, surrounded by Redwood Trees and candles and joy!

What have been your thoughts on the abortion bans spreading over our nation?
In November, Democrats have a chance to restore some sanity and safety to women’s reproductive healthcare access. We need to retain control of the Senate and Presidency while taking back the House.

Our opponents want to impose a national ban on abortion (even in safe states where abortion is still legal) while also restricting access to contraception and fertility options. They also want to resuscitate The Comstock Act of 1873 which bans the mailing of abortion drugs.

We’re not going to passively accept these injustices. History shows us there’s a way. We need to consolidate the courage of the Suffragettes, the steeled righteousness of the Civil Right’s movement, and the collective strength of our Sisterhood. We have to pierce through all the noise, misinformation and misogyny that’s infected our public debate.

These will not be easy victories — But I know we can do it.

How do you think we can get more people to understand that the right to an abortion is a lot more complicated than some people want to think?
I hope our short movie stirs a contraception conversation and also inspires men of all ages to engage in our collective fight for reproductive freedom. Sixty one percent of American men consider themselves Pro-Choice. They get it. We need to educate and convince the rest. This is not just a women’s issue.

Producers: Lisa Tesone, Annie Spiegelman, Liz Sale at the grip truck!
Photography by Bill Buzbuzian.

Clearly this film is created partly to help encourage people to vote. What are your thoughts on the current election?
I am so excited about electing our first female president! It’s about time. This country and the entire world needs balance. We need to hear women’s voices. They bring other leadership skills to the table that have been neglected for too long. I belong to many grassroot Pro-Democracy volunteer organizations like Indivisible, Vote Save America, Field Team 6, Moveon.org, Black Voters Matter, to name a few.

I’m optimistic about us winning this election because I see all the millions of American citizens writing postcards, letters, making phone calls, knocking on doors and donating money to critical swing states and Pro-Choice candidates. You won’t hear about them on the news. But they/we are our secret weapon. Regular folks, especially WOMEN, will be responsible for us winning on November 5th. (Join us this month. There’s still time to join our army of democracy savers!)

We love that you link to www.VOTE.org and www.headcount.org. What would you like voters to think about before casting their votes this November?

VOTE EARLY! Then you’ll get off the voter rolls and you won’t be contacted by the campaign again. You’ll also allow the campaign to focus on low turnout voters who might need a gentle push to go vote.
Vote full ballot. Top to bottom.

Go to www.voterizer.org or www.bluevoterguide.org to build your ballot. You’ll put in your zip code and then receive information on your district candidates, endorsements, ballot measures and propositions. It’s fun getting all the answers to the quiz ahead of time!

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive?
I stay positive by seeing the loud, outspoken power and determination of the younger generation of women and girls. They’ve got this! And, I will always have their back.

What is your motto in life?
Always feed the good wolf and plant sunflower seeds every summer!

Team:
CAST: Dave Leon (doc) and Ben Elie (young man)
Make-up and wardrobe supervisor: Laura Tesone
Director of Photography: Kristina Willemse
Producers: Lisa Tesone, Annie Spiegelman, Liz Sale at the grip truck!

Fighting Sexism with Humor - Annie Spiegelman