Itty Bitty Titty Committee
Itty Bitty Titty Committee | |
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![]() Original movie poster | |
Directed by | Jamie Babbit |
Written by | Tina Mabry Abigail Shafran |
Produced by | Andrea Sperling Lisa Thrasher Stacy Codikow |
Starring | Melonie Diaz Nicole Vicius Melanie Mayron Jenny Shimizu Guinevere Turner Carly Pope Daniela Sea Leslie Grossman Jimmi Simpson |
Cinematography | Christine A. Maier |
Edited by | Jane Pia Abramowitz |
Distributed by | Pocket Releasing |
Release dates | 28 September, 2007[1] |
Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | ![]() |
Language | English |
Budget | $2,000,000 (estimated) |
Box office | $16,480[1] - $18, 445 (US release)[2] |
Itty Bitty Titty Committee is a lesbian-related comedy film released on 28 September, 2007.[1]
The film had its premiere at the international film festival Berlinale on 9 February, 2007 where it was nominated for a Teddy Award for Best Feature. It had its American premiere at SXSW in March where is won the Jury Prize for Best Feature.
The film was produced by non-profit organization POWER UP.
Plot
Anna has been rejected by her college, her girlfriend broke up with her, and her big sister is getting married. She meets Sadie, who invites her to join the Clits In Action, or C(i)A, a radical feminist group. Anna soon gets in touch with her radical feminist side.[3]
Production
Design themes
The film was shot on Super 8 and Super 16 film to give it a grainy look. The look is modelled on the Kill Rock Stars record labels, and Born in Flames is also another influence on the design of the film.[4] Babbit got permission from the Guerrilla Girls to use their slogans in the film.[5]
The title may have origins in a T-shirt slogan reading "Itty Bitty Titty" that was popular with young Japanese women in the 1990s.
Cast
- Melonie Diaz as Anna, an 18 year old office girl for a plastic surgeon's office who becomes a member of the Clits In Action. Anna was originally called Hannah and was Jewish, but was changed to being Latina after Diaz was cast.[6]
- Nicole Vicius as Sadie, leader of the Clits In Action group, dating Courtney.
- Carly Pope as Shulie (both named for and based on Shulamith Firestone[5]), member of the Clits In Action.
- Melanie Mayron as Courtney, Sadie's older girlfriend who runs a group called Women For Change and who funds the Clits In Action. Mayron originally read for the part of Anna's mother, but was given a bigger role on the strength of her audition.[6]
- Guinevere Turner as Marcy Maloney, a television reporter.
- Daniela Sea as Calvin, a butch dyke former military servicewoman.
- Deak Evgenikos as Meat, an artistic member of the C(I)A.
- Jenny Shimizu as Laurel
- Lauren Mollica as Aggie, a transman. Babbit's original choice was JD Samson of Le Tigre.[4]
- Leslie Grossman as Maude: "[Anna] works in a plastic surgery office and I, of course, play the woman who runs the office who has enormously fake boobs. I'm sort of the example of everything evil that she doesn't want to be."[7]
- Jimmi Simpson as Chris
- Joel Michaely as Peter, involved in a feminist action group.
- Melanie Lynskey visits the plastic surgeon's office where Anna works.
- Clea DuVall sings at a concert.
- M. C. Brennan as a Member of Women For Change.
- Collette Divine as Holly
- Bruce Cronander as Edward
- Camila Grey as Band Member
Reception
While the writing was considered better than But I'm A Cheerleader, it was still criticised as weak and overly cliched.[8][9] Also, the humour has been criticised as "juvenile", with the comment that the humour is probably intended to draw in a teenage girl audience.[10][11]
Characterisation was also criticised as being two-dimensional,[9][12] but the portrayal of Anna's family as accepting of her homosexuality was considered refreshing.[3][9]
Some critics felt that the treatment of radical feminism could have pushed into more daring political territory[10][12]and TV Guide felt that the foray into radicalism was "embarrassingly obvious", and wouldn't be understood by people who didn't already like activism.[11] The LA Weekly also said that Anna's "dogmatic, undergrad feminist speeches" needed a "satiric spark", and that she "often comes off as a pill".[8]
References
- ^ a b c The Numbers - Itty Bitty Titty Committee
- ^ Box Office Mojo.com
- ^ a b Review of "Itty Bitty Titty Committee" by Danielle Riendeau
- ^ a b GayWired.com - Jamie Babbit Serves Up a Feminist Revolution in 'Itty Bitty Titty Committee'
- ^ a b GO Magazine - Who You Callin' Itty Bitty?
- ^ a b An "Itty Bitty" Feminist Romp
- ^ Starry Constellation Magazine - Leslie Grossman - Patiently Waiting
- ^ a b Film Reviews: Angels in the Dust, Hannah Takes the Stairs, Trade
- ^ a b c Review of Itty Bitty Titty Committee at Boxoffice.com
- ^ a b Review of Itty Bitty Titty Committee at Variety.com
- ^ a b TVGuide.com review of Itty Bitty Titty Committee
- ^ a b Shadows on the Wall review