CBy Julianne McShane all it the Attack of the 50
Film Women!
A short cartoon about
serial killers, the Devil, and
traffic jams will screen as part
of 50 female-led movies at the
three-day Women’s Film Festival,
starting at St. Francis College
in Brooklyn Heights on April 4.
“Panic Attack!” is a comedic take
on the way that women’s fears
and frustrations often persist even
after being ignored, according to
its creator.
“I think women have a tendency
to stuff down things that are driving
them insane and making them
furious,” said Eileen O’Meara,
who lives in the distant land of Los
Angeles. “Men are more allowed
to be angry, but culturally we’re
supposed to shove stuff down
more, and maybe it does come out
in anxiety for women.”
O’Meara drew, animated, and
voiced the three-minute film,
which follows a woman on her
morning drive as her routine worries
(“You’re going to be late!”)
escalate to more dire predictions
(“Did you leave the coffee on? You
COURIER LIFE, M 42 ARCH 29–APRIL 4, 2019 24-7
better turn around or the house
will catch on fire!”). The artist
said that the animated short was
an effort to put her own constant
stressors to artistic use.
“I was so overwhelmed with
anxious thoughts myself, I was
trying to figure out a way to make
it a constructive part of my life,”
she said. “Part of me was trying to
turn the tables on the stuff that was
torturing me.”
The free, fourth annual festival
— which runs from April 4–6
— will offer women filmmakers
a chance to connect with each
other and their audience — a rare
opportunity, since female moviemakers
were excluded from such
spaces for so long, according to
the event’s director.
“All film festivals for the first
100 years or so were men’s film
festivals,” said Fort Greene resident
Augusta Palmer, who teaches
communication arts at the school.
“I think it’s still good to have some
women-only spaces in terms of the
production of the films.”
St. Francis students and faculty
chose the 50 films from more than
200 submissions, according to
Palmer. Festival highlights include
the comedy “Heather Has Four
Moms,” about a teenage girl whose
four lesbian mothers oppose her
losing her virginity with her boyfriend,
and “The Trail,” a horror
film about a biracial couple who
get lost on a hike together.
The fest will also include panels
focusing on the business side of
the industry, including discussions
on April 4 about crowd-funding
and distributing films.
Women’s Film Festival at St.
Francis College (180 Remsen St.
between Clinton and Court streets
in Brooklyn Heights, www.sfc.edu).
April 4–6. “Panic Attack” at 4 pm
on April 6. Free.
Voices in her head: Filmmaker Eileen
O’Meara channeled her fears into “Panic
Attack!,” one of 50 films showing at the
Women’s Film Festival at St. John’s
College in Brooklyn Heights, starting on
April 4. Tim Maloney
Trio of terror: Eileen O’Meara fears getting locked up with members of the Manson
Family in her short film “Panic Attack!,” screening on April 6 at the Women’s Film
Festival at St. Francis College. Eileen O’Meara
DIRECT HER
Festival highlights female filmmakers
By Maya Harrison It’s a hep new topic!
The latest episode of a
monthly medical television
show hopes to inform Brooklynites
about the viral liver infection hepatitis
C. The show Medcast Plus,
part one of which is online now ,
and which will air its next full
show on Brooklyn Free Speech
Channel on April 6, interviews a
different doctor in each 30-minute
episode. The show tackles common
medical misconceptions and
distills its information into accessible
advice for the public, according
to its host.
“It’s medical information
given in normal English,” said
Helen Vays. “It helps people not
feel intimidated to ask simple
questions when they go see the
doctors in person — it’s a simple
conversation.”
The guest in the upcoming
episode Dr. Alexander Brun, a
Downtown gastroenterologist who
specializes in the liver. On the
show, which taped on March 18,
he tackled some the medical myths
about hepatitis C.
Many people infected with
hepatitis C many not even realize
that they have it, said Brun,
because they may not exhibit any
symptoms, or they might not know
what they symptoms are. On the
show, produced by Brooklynite
Greg Romenski, Brun and Vays
discuss the typical signs of hepatitis
— including joint pain, fever,
and vomiting, among several
other possible symptoms — along
with how the disease spreads, and
treatment options. Brun will also
give tips on how to avoid hepatitis
C and how to help affected
individuals.
The show’s host says that she is
eager to spread information on the
dreaded disease.
“I’m looking forward to sharing
the mysteries behind hep C,” said
Vays. “I love hosting this show
because it helps me and the public
have tangible tips and medical
information.”
“Medcast Plus” airs on Brooklyn
Free Speech Channel 3 (Channel
79 on Spectrum, 9415 on Dish, 348
on Direct TV, www.bricartsmedia.
org/tv-shows-videos/brooklyn-freespeech
tv). April 6 at 8:30 am and
2 pm. Free.
By Bill Roundy She plans to keep it rolling!
The founder of a brightly
colored disco roller rink that
opened in Sunset Park’s Industry
City last December hopes to make
it a rink for all seasons. Over the
last four months, the Dreamland
Roller Rink has attracted sell-out
crowds for its dance nights and allage
parties, said its owner.
“It has been going incredibly
well,” said Lola Star. “It’s exceeded
all my expectations.”
The winter skating rink was
originally scheduled to vacate its
space on April 21, but Star says
that she is negotiating to extend her
time in Industry City. The skating
advocate, who has run roller disco
events in Prospect Park each summer
since 2014, said that the events
in Industry City have attracted a
whole new crowd.
“We’re getting a lot of people
from the local Sunset Park community,
and we’ve made some
wonderful new friends,” she said.
No matter what happens with
the roller rink, Star says that her
weekly roller disco parties will
return to the LeFrak Center in
Prospect Park this summer.
“Then we’ll have the party raging
all over Brooklyn,” she said.
Roller Disco at Dreamland
Roller Rink (233 37th St. at Second
Avenue in Sunset Park, www.
dreamlandrollerrink.com). Fridays
at 7:30 pm. $20 ($18 in advance).
Medical advice: Host Helen Hays and Dr. Alexander Brun discusss hepatitis C on the
latest episode of “Medcast Plus.” Greg Romenski
Dance revolutions: The Dreamland Roller Rink has brought a whole new crowd
for its roller disco events in Industry City. Lola Star
Liver broadcast
Wheel estate
Local medical show talks hepatitis C
/www.dreamlandrollerrink.com
/www.bricartsmedia
/www.dreamlandrollerrink.com
/www.sfc.edu
/www.sfc.edu)
/www.bricartsmedia
/dreamlandrollerrink.com