POWER UP (the "Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up") is an American
non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
and film
production company with the stated mission "to promote the visibility and integration of
gay women in entertainment, the arts, and all forms of media". It was founded in 2000 by K. Pearson Brown, Stacy Codikow and Amy Shomer.
Its members include women and men, gay and
straight.
POWER UP provides funding and assistance to filmmakers, as well as producing its own films. After several
short film
A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...
s, its first
feature film
A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...
was the
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
''
Itty Bitty Titty Committee
''Itty Bitty Titty Committee'' is a feminist lesbian comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit. It was released on September 28, 2007. It follows the political awakening of Anna, a young, mild-mannered lesbian
A lesbian is a Homosexuality, h ...
'' directed by
Jamie Babbit.
In 2004, POWER UP was awarded the Leadership Award by the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
In 2001 K. Pearson Brown, one of the founding members, brought a sexual harassment suit against another founding member, Stacey Codikow. Codikow counter-sued alleging that Brown had made sexual overtures towards her and accusing Brown of defamation. Codikow also demanded Brown's resignation on the grounds that she was bisexual, and Brown later resigned. Both suits were dropped in late 2002.
Films
* 2001: ''
Stuck
Stuck may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Stuck'' (2001 film), a short film directed by Jamie Babbit
* ''Stuck'' (2002 film), a Canadian TV drama directed by Lindsay Bourne
* ''Stuck'' (2007 film), a thriller directed by Stuart Gordon and starr ...
'' –
Jamie Babbit
* 2001: ''Chicken Night'' – Lisa Ginsburg
* 2001: ''Breaking Up Really Sucks'' – Jennifer McGlone
* 2003: ''Give or Take an Inch'' –
Lee Friedlander
* 2003: ''Fly Cherry'' –
Jessica Sharzer
Jessica Sharzer (born October 26, 1972) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and editor.
She is known for her work on the Showtime drama series ''The L Word'' and the FX horror series ''American Horror Story''. She wrote the screenp ...
* 2003: ''
D.E.B.S.'' –
Angela Robinson
* 2003: ''Intent'' – Mary Ann Marino
* 2004: ''Little Black Boot'' –
Colette Burson
* 2004: ''The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder'' – Buboo Kakati
* 2004: ''
Billy's Dad Is a Fudge-Packer
''Billy's Dad is a Fudge-Packer!'' is a 2004 American black-and-white short comedy film written and directed by Jamie Donahue in her first non-acting effort. It is a parody of the 1950s social guidance films, and depicts the life of a boy learning ...
'' – Jamie Donahue
* 2005: ''Promtroversy'' –
Leanna Creel
Leanna Creel (born August 27, 1970) is an American actress, film producer, film director, screenwriter and photographer.
Biography
Creel is an identical Multiple birth, triplet who, along with her sisters, Joy Creel and Monica Lacy, started ac ...
* 2005: ''Starcrossed'' – James Burkhammer
* 2007: ''
Itty Bitty Titty Committee
''Itty Bitty Titty Committee'' is a feminist lesbian comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit. It was released on September 28, 2007. It follows the political awakening of Anna, a young, mild-mannered lesbian
A lesbian is a Homosexuality, h ...
'' –
Jamie Babbit
* 2008: ''The Nitty Gritty Behind the Itty Bitty Titty Committee'' – Lisa Thrasher
* 2014: ''
Girltrash: All Night Long'' – Alexandra Kondracke
See also
*
List of LGBT-related organizations
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) related organizations and conferences range from social and support groups to organizations that are political in nature. Some groups are independent, while others are officially recognized advocacy gro ...
References
External links
Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Power Up
Film production companies of the United States
Lesbian organizations in the United States
LGBT arts organizations
LGBT organizations in the United States
Non-profit organizations based in Los Angeles
Organizations established in 2000
Women's film organizations
501(c)(3) organizations