Itty Bitty Titty Committee

Infobox Film
name = Itty Bitty Titty Committee


caption = Original movie poster
director = Jamie Babbit
producer = Andrea Sperling
Lisa Thrasher
Stacy Codikow
writer = Tina Mabry
Abigail Shafran
starring = Melonie Diaz
Nicole Vicius
Melanie Mayron
Deak Evgenikos
Jenny Shimizu
Guinevere Turner
Carly Pope
Daniela Sea
Leslie Grossman
Jimmi Simpson
music =
cinematography = Christine A. Maier
editing = Jane Pia Abramowitz
distributor = Pocket Releasing
released = 28 September, 2007 [http://the-numbers.com/movies/2007/0IBTC.php The Numbers - Itty Bitty Titty Committee] ]
runtime = 87 minutes
country = USA
language = English
budget = $2,000,000 (estimated)
gross = $16,480 - $18, 445 (US release) [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ittybittytittycommittee.htm Box Office Mojo.com] ]
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.power-up.net/ibtc.htm
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0496328

"Itty Bitty Titty Committee" is a lesbian-related comedy film released on 28 September, 2007.

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 it 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. [http://www.afterellen.com/movies/2007/5/ittybitty Review of "Itty Bitty Titty Committee" by Danielle Riendeau] ]

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. [http://gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=9&id=16463 GayWired.com - Jamie Babbit Serves Up a Feminist Revolution in 'Itty Bitty Titty Committee'] ] Babbit got permission from the Guerrilla Girls to use their slogans in the film.

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. [http://www.afterellen.com/movies/2007/4/ittybitty?page=0%2C1 An "Itty Bitty" Feminist Romp] ]
*Nicole Vicius as Sadie, leader of the Clits In Action group, dating Courtney.
*Deak Evgenikos as Meat, an artistic member of the C(I)A.
*Carly Pope as Shulie (both named for and based on Shulamith Firestone [http://www.gomag.com/article/who_you_callin_itty_bitty/ GO Magazine - Who You Callin' Itty Bitty?] ] ), member of the Clits In Action.
*Lauren Mollica as Aggie, a transman. Babbit's original choice was JD Samson of Le Tigre.
*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.
*Daniela Sea as Calvin, a butch dyke former military servicewoman.
*Guinevere Turner as Marcy Maloney, a television reporter.
*Jenny Shimizu as Laurel
*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." [ [http://starrymag.com/content.asp?ID=2283&CATEGORY=INTERVIEWS Starry Constellation Magazine - Leslie Grossman - Patiently Waiting] ]
*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
*Author David Barr Kirtley as a protester

Reception

While the writing was considered better than "But I'm A Cheerleader", it was still criticised as weak and overly cliched. [http://www.laweekly.com/film+tv/film-reviews/film-reviews-angels-in-the-dust-hannah-takes-the-stairs-trade/17320/?page=2 Film Reviews: Angels in the Dust, Hannah Takes the Stairs, Trade] ] Also, the humour has been criticised as "juvenile", with the comment that the humour is probably intended to draw in a teenage girl audience.

Characterisation was also criticised as being two-dimensional, [http://boxoffice.com/reviews/2007/09/itty-bitty-titty-committee.php Review of Itty Bitty Titty Committee at Boxoffice.com] ] [http://www.shadowsonthewall.co.uk/07/i-a.htm#itty Shadows on the Wall review] ] but the portrayal of Anna's family as accepting of her homosexuality was considered refreshing.

Some critics felt that the treatment of radical feminism could have pushed into more daring political territory [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932750.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Review of Itty Bitty Titty Committee at Variety.com] ] 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. [http://www.tvguide.com/movies/itty-bitty-titty/review/289327 TVGuide.com review of Itty Bitty Titty Committee] ] 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".

References

External links

* [http://www.power-up.net/ibtc.htm Official site]
*imdb title|0496328
*rotten-tomatoes|id=itty_bitty_titty_committee|title=Itty Bitty Titty Committee
* [http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=9829 Review of "Itty Bitty Titty Committee" by Mark Bell]