“5 films to catch during TCM’s ‘Women Make Film’ series - San Francisco Chronicle” plus 1 more

5 films to catch during TCM’s ‘Women Make Film’ series - San Francisco Chronicle

Posted: 06 Sep 2020 12:00 AM PDT

Director Julie Dash's 1991 film "Daughters of the Dust" airs at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept 22 as part of TCM's "Women Make Film" programming. Photo: TCM, Kino International Corp.

Turner Classic Movies is airing installments of the 14-part documentary "Women Make Film," accompanied by a lineup of films related to the documentary, each Tuesday through Dec. 1. Here are five noteworthy films by directors discussed in the documentary, including three that will air as part of the TCM film series.

TCM's 'Women Make Film' celebrates directors from the Bay Area and beyond

"The Watermelon Woman" (1996)

Oakland filmmaker Cheryl Dunye plays a Philadelphia video store clerk and budding filmmaker researching the history of a 1930s actress who appeared in racist Hollywood films under the moniker "the Watermelon Woman." As Cheryl does some digging, she discovers the actress, Fay, was a trailblazer in many ways.

This low-budget film offers a distinctive mix of what looks to be taped-over 1990s VHS visuals in modern-day scenes and polished black-and-white clips from the actress' films. Amid good-natured moments involving Cheryl's dating life and video store shenanigans lies the ever-intriguing puzzle of Fay and a serious exploration of Black, queer identity.

Watch it: 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. on TCM.

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"The Virgin Suicides" (1999)

This adaptation of Jeffrey Eugenides' novel about five ill-starred 1970s teenage sisters marked Sofia Coppola's feature directing debut, and you can see the rookie quality in its pastiche (a very "Carrie" prom scene, a "Graduate"-esque shot of Josh Hartnett aimlessly floating in a swimming pool). But the film's backlit, dreamy luminosity and great use of music (Hartnett's high school looker gets two bitchin' Heart songs to accompany his short arc) preview the stylistic elements that will become Coppola signatures.

Coppola guided a teenage Kirsten Dunst, who later would star in Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" and "The Beguiled," in creating a full-fledged, believable high school girl — spirited and adventurous, repressed by her home life — from a character who was more of a sketch in the book.

Watch it: 9:30 p.m. Sept. 15 on TCM.

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"Daughters of the Dust" (1991)

Julie Dash's exploration of turn-of-the-20th century Gullah women living on the Sea Islands off the southeastern coast of the United States offers one beautifully composed, stunning shot after another. Dash captures a way of life that is at once remarkably resilient, in retaining African customs throughout enslavement and the early years of freedom, but also dying, since the film's narrative thrust is the exodus of the island's young people to the mainland and more opportunity.

Beyoncé's "Lemonade" visual album briefly returned this film to the spotlight by evoking its high-collared Victorian island aesthetic.

Watch it: 11:30 p.m. Sept. 22 on TCM.

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"Point Break" (1991)

It's place in the Patrick Swayze cult canon, alongside "Roadhouse" and "Dirty Dancing," tempts one to ascribe a level of camp to this film that does not exist. This is because director Kathryn Bigelow, who would go on to become the first woman to win a directing Oscar, for "The Hurt Locker," does not do camp.

Featuring some of American cinema's best action scenes, and purest bromances (Swayze's surfer-bank robber and Keanu Reeves' FBI agent admire each other despite being natural enemies), "Point Break" offers taut storytelling throughout. Bigelow could not keep Reeves from slipping into "Bill & Ted" inflections at moments, but who among us could have in 1991?

The TCM film series is showing "The Hurt Locker" at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 10, but "Point Break" shows that Bigelow, a San Carlos native, was a force long before her work was considered highbrow.

Watch it: Stream on HBO; rent or buy on major streaming services.

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"The Arch" (1968)

Cecile Tang Shu-shuen, known internationally as Cecile Tang, directed this classic Hong Kong romantic drama about a 17th century schoolteacher and widow prevented by custom and expectations of piety from pursuing a relationship with a handsome military captain.

Skilled framing, creative dissolves and pained looks tell the story beneath the polite dialogue. The film also has a Bay Area connection: the late Les Blank served as its editor.

The "Women Make Film" documentary highlights Tang's work but TCM is not showing any of her films. Still, this one is worth adding to your queue during the series' run.

Watch it: Stream on Kanopy; rent or buy on Amazon.

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Zendaya Was Losing It After Receiving Birthday Wishes From Beyoncé — 'It's Lost' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Posted: 08 Sep 2020 07:10 AM PDT

Beyoncé is a Virgo and Zendaya is a Virgo — it makes sense that these two would love and support each other. Even though Zendaya appeared alongside the artist for Lemonade, she still freaked out when Beyoncé shared a birthday message for her on her website.

Actor Zendaya attends the 2020 AAA Arts Award | Jim Spellman/WireImage

Beyoncé updated her website with a special message for Zendaya's birthday

Any message from Queen Bey is a big deal for the Bey Hive. To be up to date on all things Beyoncé, fans can head to beyonce.com, where the artist updates viewers on everything from music to philanthropy.

Recently, she shared a Birthday message with actor and singer Zendaya, who turned 24-years-old on Sept. 1, 2020. A picture at the top of Beyoncé's website showed a young Zendaya scowling at the camera, her face and hands covered in food.

Under the picture was the caption "Happy Birthday Zendaya." Of course, Zendaya shared on social media that after receiving this message, she lost it.

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Zendaya shared her reaction to Beyoncé's birthday message on Twitter

This actor may actually know Beyoncé, but she's still a huge fan of the artist. One fan posted a screenshot of Beyoncé's website with Zendaya's baby picture, writing, "I KNOW HER *SS IS LOSING IT."

Zendaya replied on a social media platform with "it's lost," along with a gif of somebody falling over. Her tweet earned over 150 thousand likes from fans.

The actor actually appeared alongside Beyoncé for the "All Night" music video, in conjunction with the groundbreaking visual album Lemonade. Zendaya also received an orange PR package from Queen Bey when she released her Ivy Park X Adidas collection.

A few days later, Zendaya returned the birthday wishes for Beyoncé's day, (also known as Bey Day by the Bey Hive.) She wrote on Twitter, "Y'all know what today is!?!?!"

Other celebrities shared pictures of Zendaya for her birthday

A few other actors weighed in for Zendaya's birthday, sharing their love for her. That includes Timotheé Chalamet, who appears alongside Zendaya for the upcoming movie Dune.

"Happy birthday to one of the most inspiring people I've met on my short journey. Someone with the strongest ethical character, and a moral compass that is in harmony with a totally fearless creative abandon. Happy birthday, @Zendaya, hope your day is beautiful, friend," Timotheé Chalamet wrote on Twitter.

Viola Davis, the actor behind movies The Help and Fences, and television show How to Get Away with Murder, posted a picture of the two of them. She captioned it, "Happy birthday Princess Zendaya."

Fans can see Zendaya in future projects, including movies Malcolm and Marie and Dune. She also acts as Rue in season 2 of Euphoria, premiering on HBO and HBO Max. More information on new episodes will, presumably, be announced in the coming weeks.