Welcome to the newsletter about:
Breaking Through The Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby.
Well, I haven't been quite on track with a monthly newsletter so thank you for bearing with me on the sporadic nature of the delivery. I think attempting a newsletter every 2 months might be more realistic since I tend to put a lot of time and effort into each one. Unfortunately, many of the emails are not getting through firewalls or are bouncing back for unknown reasons. Therefore, I am working towards creating a blog to try and counter this. I will give updates as I am able.
Meanwhile, March is Women's History Month and as evidenced below, there are a lot of exciting opportunities to share the story of the 20 amazing pilots in 1929. Please stop by if you are in the area of any of the events listed or feel free to suggest new events.
There is no question that this film is supported by a grass roots efforts so thanks to everyone who continues to use your voices (or typing skills) to spread the word.
Be sure to recognize the many accomplished women who may have influenced you life in some positive way this March. The more positive role models whose stories are shared, the better we all are for it.
Sincerely,
Heather Taylor
Archetypal Images, LLC |
| Upcoming Events for BTTC |
There are a lot of events happening in March to celebrate Women's History Month. Please check out the calendar below and come visit if you are in the area.
Women in Aviation Conference: Reno, Nevada 2011 Annual International WAI Conference - Education Sessions
www.wai.org
Feb. 24th - Potentially having a screening with the WASPS. Quite an honor!
Feb. 25th - Signing DVDs at Author's Corner
Feb. 26th: Giving a presentation on The women of the 1929 Air Derby & The Collaborative Spirit
March 3rd Screening of BTTC AeroClub of PA in West Chester, PA www.aeroclubpa.org
March 5th - DVD Signings
Avenue Antique - Baltimore, MD http://www.facebook.com/AvenueAntiques
(their website is under construction so only have FB address right now)
March 7th - I will be on a panel as part of the Docs in Progress
series regarding my experiences with the film. The event will be at Takoma Park. Go to www.docsinprogress.org for more info.
March 8th - Screening of BTTC in Takoma Park, MD
Sponsored by Docs in Progress, Women in Film and Video & Takoma Park http://www.docsinprogress.org/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=106&jevtype=jevent&year=2011&month=03&day=08&Itemid=80
March 30th
Screening of Film at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island, NY (promo material forthcoming but one can keep checking back at Cradle of Aviation website): www.cradleofaviation.org
There are 2 more events that are being planned for March. Details still being worked out. If anyone is on facebook, I post these updates frequently.
In addition, BTTC is a proud sponsor for Women of Aviation week:
March 7-13th http://womenofaviationweek.org/
|
| Presentations Available |
There are so many amazing take-away's and lessons that I have personally learned from BTTC that I have started giving presentations mixing clips of the film with various themes. Talks include but are not limited to:
- How the 1929 Women's Air Derby exemplifies the Spirit of Community
- The Women of the 1929 Derby & The Collaborative Spirit
- The women of the 1929 Derby as role Models for following one's passion.
- Talks about the race itself and the women who flew it.
- Comparing current women's air races with the 1929 air race.
If you are interested in the above talks (or others that can be customized) for an aeroclub, professional women's meeting, historical societies or more, please contact me for rates and availability at: Heather@breakingthroughtheclouds.com
|
| Pioneer in Aviation: Margaret Perry |
Margaret Perry learned how to fly at Curtiss Field on Long Island, NY. She even bought her own plane to learn to fly in. By the time of the 1929 Women's Air Derby, Perry had qualified for her commercial transport pilot's license. In 1930, Perry left NY and settled in California where she became the established owner of the Culver City Airport. One of her goals in so doing was to set up a flying school for women. In some wonderful footage I have of Perry, she is surrounded by at least 30 female pilots, introduced by Art Goebel and says the following:
"In establishing this airport, I had in mind primarily to have a place for women flyers. Whenever any of you girls are flying by, I hope that you will always drop in and make yourselves at home in my very attractive club house that I have fixed up just for you" (note: there are two takes of this statement and in the 2nd take, she said she had the club house built just for the women pilots).
After Amelia Earhart's death, Perry became the 2nd President of the 99s organization (Amelia was the 1st) and she continued on with her mission to support women pilots. There is very little written about Perry which is a tragedy as she was a real ground (or air) breaker. One BTTC supporter sent me a neat article and ad about Perry's airport. If anyone else finds information about Margaret Perry (or any of the other women for that matter), please forward to me. I am eager to do more of a follow up regarding what some of these ladies contributed to aviation and would like to be as accurate as possible about these Pioneers in Aviation of which Margaret Perry in a shining example. |
| The Importance of Women's History |
Why is it important to celebrate the history of women and their accomplishments? Personally, I feel celebrating women's history is more than celebrating the fact that an individual is a woman. It is about celebrating the spirit and accomplishments of an individual (or group of individuals) who pushed through barriers to share their passion and talents. When such an occurrence happens, men and women both benefit, no matter who is the messenger.
Besides hearing stories that can inspire future generations, learning about individuals following a passion encapsulates a SPIRIT of someone. It provides role models so others do not feel alone in their journey along a parallel path. I'll never forget when acrobatic pilot C.C. Gerner told me she wished BTTC had been around when she first entered aviation. She had no idea that other women had gone through struggles she was facing 80 years later. If she had known, she said, she wouldn't have felt so alone in her journey. Several women who currently race today have shared similar sentiments with me.
The whole world suffers when we forget past stories of spirit. Men as well as women. Often those who see "women's history" think it's some mushy, touchy feely stuff or that it's all about male bashing. This couldn't be further from the truth! The stories from the 1929 women's air derby are a prime example of what I am referencing.
While it is true that there were some very vocal men who were against women flying in the air race, it is also true that the women's spirit and collaborative approach to the race was contagious. This contagion extended to owners of airplane manufacturing plants, gas companies and various other businesses. The men behind these businesses contributed to the success of the race but they also benefited.
For example, Bobbi Trout talked RO Bone, the owner/manufacturer of the Golden Eagle Airplanes into sponsoring her in the race and even putting in a faster motor in the plane so the world could see that airplane's capabilities. Seven of Walter Beech's Travel Air planes were in the derby. Additionally, he sponsored contestant Louise Thaden. When one of the Travel Air's was the winning plane, it boosted the status of the Travel Air Company. Cliff Henderson managed the PR of the derby, landing the women's pictures on the front of newspapers cross the country. This brought a lot of attention to the National Air Races as well as the women's air race and in fact, helped make that year's National Air Races one of the biggest ones ever to be held. Wiley Post flew the race officials around during the derby and Will Rogers published a daily column tracing their progress. This certainly gave them more publicity as they stayed in the public eye.
So the women benefited from the men's support but the men also benefited, whether it was from the publicity, sales of the planes, advertisement or other avenues. But more than that, I think there was a real feeling of accomplishment and pride by everyone involved in the race as people of both genders worked together and focussed on the benefit to all.
This is the essence of celebrating women's history. To see and celebrate those special individuals who shine. To remember their stories and hopefully see how it is relevant to one's life today. There still exists a discrepancy in the amount of women's stories we hear versus men's which doesn't help anyone.
I encourage you all to speak up and share a story of some woman who may have influenced you in the past. She may be from your own family, a neighbor or a famous person in history. Whomever she is, I hope you will take time to honor her accomplishments, share and celebrate her story. You just never know who it makes an impression on and thus, spur on even more positive happenings in the world.
 |
| 1929 National Air Races: The women of the Derby with Cliff Henderson |
|
|
What is Breaking Through The Clouds?
Breaking Through The Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby is a documentary about 20 female pilots, including Amelia Earhart, who raced across the country for 9 days in August 1929 to prove that women could fly. They chased their dream and encountered cultural stereotypes, navigation challenges, threats of sabotage, mechanical difficulties and endless chicken dinners. The women persevered and became pioneering legends in aviation. Their story is inspiring to anyone who has the courage to follow their own dream.
Heather Taylor had a calling to tell this inspiring story in the hopes of helping others to find the courage to search for their own path. While Heather hasn't had to deal with the endless chicken dinners like the women in the derby did, she does face the challenges of an an independent artist. By spreading the word and supporting the film, you are helping Heather and other struggling artists reach for the sky in their own way and work towards breaking through the clouds.
Thank you.
Heather Taylor, Executive Producer
Archetypal Images, LLC
www.breakingthroughtheclouds.com
 |
|
|
|
 |
The DVD is available through the website: breakingthroughtheclouds.com
An inspiring story of 20 women who raced across America in 1929.
Follow along as headline aviatrixes Amelia Earhart, Pancho Barnes, Phoebe Omlie, Bobbi Trout and Louise Thaden race across the country during nine amazing days in the summer of 1929.
This wonderful film highlights spunky, gutsy, brave women whose go for it attitudes made aviation history... it should be required watching for anyone involved in aviation. Patty Wagstaff, National Hall of Fame Inductee
Breaking Through The Clouds provides nearly two hours of captivating viewing with original footage from the women who flew in the 1929 air derby and from the race itself.
Beautiful aerial recreations place the viewer in the pilot's seat. Interviews with legendary pilots Elinor Smith Sullivan, Patty Wagstaff, Julie Clark, family members of the original pilots and aviation historians bring the story alive.
In addition, there is over 20 minutes of bonus material included in the DVD such as stories about the women during the race that didn't make it into the documentary, what the women wore and information about the planes & navigation in 1929.
Available at website:
Breakingthroughtheclouds.com
BTTC Cost $30 plus S&H
*Note: Occasionally I receive requests from people who do not like to order on-line or use pay pal. If this is the case, please feel free to email me and Heather@
breakingthroughtheclouds.com
and we can work out other arrangements. Thank you. |
Become a fan on the Facebook page.
Quick Links |
|
| Ways to Help |
"If enough of us keep trying, we'll get some place."
Amelia Earhart
As already mentioned, it has become imminently clear to me that this film will succeed from the support of individual viewers. Therefore, I continue to ask for your help.
If you write a newsletter, magazine, blog or know others who do, recommend an article or review on BTTC |
If you are on facebook, list the BTTC link for others to see encouraging them to become a fan of the BTTC Page
Tell friends, family and others that you meet about the film and direct them to the BTTC website
If you know people who can sell the DVD at museums (aviation, women's groups, historical societies, etc), send them my way or request that your favorite catalog, FBO or other retailer carry BTTC.
If you would like to see BTTC on a specific network, please put a call or email in requesting it.
If you know professional organizations who would like me to come speak about the Derby, contact me.
Send me a testimonial of how the film impacted you.
I am sure there are many other ways. Please feel free to think outside the box! That's what the women of 1929 did and a legacy I have tried to carry on and welcome in others.
Thank you all! |
If you know someone who would like to receive these newsletter,s please feel free to forward to them and have them join the mailing list. |
| Back to School |
|
This week, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute released their ratings for grade K-12s "State of the State History Standards". The report breaks the states down individually, but the national average was a dismal "D".
My experience thus far in trying to get BTTC out to the masses has reflected the unfortunate reality that very few networks or companies are willing to distribute stories from history. I emphasize the word "reality" on purpose here because that seems to be what the distributors feel the masses want, so called "reality" tv and dramas that exploit narcissism and destructive behavior. There is no doubt in my mind that this "standard" has an impact on our youth.
This report on history thankfully contrasts with my personal experience speaking to individuals. For example, I was pleasantly surprised when I was asked by Tammy Butler, to come speak to her class at Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, WV. The students, both male & female, were studying the history of women in sports. I was impressed with what they were being asked to study and the analysis of their findings.
When I asked the students if their studies showed a discrepancy in the media's attention portraying women in sports, they immediately spoke up and said not only was there a discrepancy, but it was a very blatant one. The students volunteered that they personally don't really care if the athlete is male or female; everyone should be given a chance to play and receive coverage.
After watching BTTC, one young woman in the class asked me if the women in the race really got along that well. She was completely taken aback with how the women in the race were so supportive of one another. She said that she had never really seen that attitude before. To me, that is one of the true purposes of teaching the next generation through history, by showing what is possible and what has been done before. The young woman never considered an approach that included working TOGETHER or COLLABORATIVELY in a competition before seeing how it could be done and that it was, in fact, successfully done before.
The students in general said that people today are probably more competitive and they weren't sure if the same collaborative approach could still happen. I challenged them to make it so by following the examples of the women in 1929. Due to the women's example, they now know this is a possibility and could see the benefits of such an approach.
I give a lot of credit to Tammy for educating her students on this subject and giving them assignments that broaden their horizons to see what has been done and what is possible.
If more professors and colleges -- and in fact, distributors, would take such an approach, I am sure that our national "grade" in history could vastly improve. This is more than a wish, but something we must all consciouslly make an effort to instill. In my opinion, it is vital to the success of individuals, the country and indeed the world.
|
Behind the Scenes
with Louisa Hegedus |
|
Since 1997, there have been people supporting my vision of producing a film on the 1929 women's air derby. Along the way, certain people always stepped up to the plate helping however they could. Nowhere is that more evident than with my friend, Louisa Hegedus.
I first met Louisa when we both were working at Discovery. When I told her about my project, she immediately volunteered to be involved in any way she could.
Louisa has been there from before production started and has continued to help me long after the premiere. From being
a sounding board early on, to traveling to California to help with my interview with Elinor Smith and several other shoots afterwards. Louisa even helped with research, and sat through many versions of the rough and fine cuts throughout post production. Louisa has continued her support by helping me at various screenings and even attending the IDA awards with me.
It is so great to have a friend help with the mundane tasks as well as to celebrate in any success. True to Louisa's style, she would not allow me to post
a picture of her in this newsletter. She prefers to remain in the background but her help has, without question, been right there in front for many years. My thanks to her knows no end as I think back
on all the ways she's believed
in the project and helped bring
it to fruition. |
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment