In all the (deserved) hoopla about the documentary Miss Representation I somehow missed the fact that the writer, director, and producer of the film was Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of the Lt. Governor of California, Gavin Newsom.
A little birdie sent me her Ted Talk about what inspired her to make the film. She’s not a stellar speaker, but she hits her stride after a few minutes and her message is loud and clear. Her unique position in Hollywood (she’s an actress whose agent told her to take her MBA off her resume) and politics makes for some pretty disturbing anecdotes. My favorite (by which I mean most nausea-inducing) is Newsom’s anecdote about receiving congratulatory letters and gifts from the President and the VP for her son, but not her daughter.
Other highlight: “shows like Jersey Shores.”
Related Post: A Ted Talk about washing machines.
Related Post: Sarah Palin’s sexual history is apparently fair game?
