So far in this series we've met women who have written, produced, and directed for Star Trek, as well as those who have helped create its soundscape. Although I've been repeatedly disappointed by how poorly this franchise -- so progressive in its content -- has fared regarding female inclusion in its production, I've thoroughly enjoyed meeting those accomplished and dedicated women who have made a real impact on the Trek universe. Today we turn our attention to the show's "art and design," which, for our purposes, includes animation, set design & decoration, and anything that falls under the purview of the art department. Don't worry: costume, wardrobe, & makeup, and special effects have their own posts! P.S. Most of the info below was drawn from imdb.com, memory-alpha.fandom.com, and linked interviews. While I've done my best to be thorough, I admit my fallibility and welcome corrections. The vast majority of women credited with working on Trek have little to no information available about them, and photos are even more scarce. Also, shorts, video games, books, comics, and fan-made media are not included. We all know that what we hear on screen is equally as important as what we see. The right music heightens the drama of a scene, sets viewer expectations, and can even become a cultural icon in its own right. At the same time, crisp, precise sound effects ground what we're seeing in reality, allowing us to suspend disbelief and feel like we're truly inhabiting a different world. Of course women have been making and composing music for millennia, but for some strange and totally unpindownable reason their contributions haven't been as valued as men's... weird, right? ;-) Obviously, this carries over into show business as well -- and as we've seen throughout this series, even our beloved Star Trek isn't immune. Believe it or not, there has NEVER, in more than 50 years of Star Trek, been a female lead composer for a full-length Trek movie or show! Despite their lack of inclusion and recognition, several women have helped shape the sounds of Star Trek -- and you're about to meet some of them! P.S. What? You haven't seen the first three posts about women writers, producers, and directors for Star Trek? Rectify! P.P.S. Most of the info below was drawn from imdb.com, memory-alpha.fandom.com, and linked interviews. While I've done my best to be thorough, I admit my fallibility and welcome corrections. The vast majority of women credited with working on Trek have little to no information available about them, and photos are even more scarce. Also, shorts, video games, books, comics, and fan-made media are not included. Directors are among the top decision makers when it comes to what we see on screen, but this powerful position in the entertainment hierarchy has long been reserved for men. Unfortunately, Star Trek is no different. Out of 13 movies and more than 750 episodes, ZERO movies and only 41 episodes have been directed by women -- 18 by women of color. Ugh. While there may not be as many as we'd like, let's celebrate the relentless women who did manage to climb to the top of the artistic chain of command and bring their visions to the world of Star Trek. P.S. What? You haven't seen the first two posts about women writers and producers for Star Trek? Rectify! P.P.S. Most of the info below was drawn from imdb.com, memory-alpha.fandom.com, and linked interviews. While I've done my best to be thorough, I admit my fallibility and welcome corrections. The vast majority of women credited with working on Trek have little to no information available about them, and photos are even more scarce. Also, shorts, video games, books, comics, and fan-made media are not included. I'm a big Star Trek fan, but I recently realized there was a gaping hole in my knowledge: How have women contributed to Star Trek? I'm not talking about the characters. Plenty has been written about how awesome Uhura, Kira, Janeway, and the rest are. I'm talking about the ladies BEHIND the camera -- writers, directors, costume designers, and the like. Naturally, I began searching the webs. This is Star Trek, I thought, one of the most analyzed media franchises in history. Surely there are lists galore lauding the accomplishments of its female creators and crew! Or not. So, because I love these kinds of projects, I did what any normal and totally non-obsessive person would do: scoured every single Star Trek entry on IMDB searching for women in the production credits. (Awesome Women of Star Trek Library?) Happily I found that, although information about their specific contributions is often hard to come by, many women's names are attached to this beloved world. Therefore, in the interest of internet real estate and your attention span, I'm splitting this list into multiple posts. The first was dedicated to writers. Today we focus on producers (in rough chronological order). Enjoy! P.P.S. Most of the info below was drawn from imdb.com, memory-alpha.fandom.com, and linked interviews. While I've done my best to be thorough, I admit my fallibility and welcome corrections. The vast majority of women credited with working on Trek have little to no information available about them, and photos are even more scarce. Also, shorts, video games, books, comics, and fan-made media are not included. |
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