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Show The U.S. Film & Video Festival has brought a great deal of interest and money to Park City in the last three years. It has been through some rough times financially and organizationally, but this year seemed to reflect a triumph over the growing pains of the festival's early life. Director Susan Barrell spoke to me of the personel challenges she faces as the head of the organization. "The success of the U.S. Film & Video Festival is due largely to the "independent" movement in this country. The independent film deals with real people, not commercialism. There are a growing number of women doing independent films now who can't get started in Hollywood. My own position in this organization is unique. As far as I know, there are no other women in the role of director of a festival such as this one. I approached this position from an arts management background, whereas most film festival directors come from the film community. There basically aren't that many women in film. Being female has created some problems for me in my position." One of the most difficult problem areas for Barrell occurs when she deals with fund-raising efforts on a local level. "If I go into a situation by myself, my job is much harder. If I bring a male along, I am taken more seriously. There's an air of legitimacy established by having a man present. That sense of legitimacy is routinely used by women who have powerful husbands backing them when they become involved in community fundraising. It seems very important to have the influence of a man behind you and, to many women, to prove yourself through the power of the male." "I don't know if things are changing or not," said Barrell in response to my question about the women's movement. "I sometimes feel a lot of resistance from the Board Advisory Council - a sense of patronism, of 'let us take care of the tough things for you, you're toa easy.' Somewhere down in my guts, I don't think things are changing." But there is always the other side of the coin. Laughing, Barrell confides: "Being female has sometimes worked in my favor. There's a great deal of mistrust in business dealings when people feel they might be maneuvered or manipulated. There's a certain 'benigness' associated with being a woman, people are often not afraid to deal with me." Despite her doubts, Barrell herself is an indicator of the movement slowly taking place in our society. She is a woman making changes. |