Power Up Surges into Feature Films with Itty Bitty Titty Committee

After producing multi-award winning short films, POWER UP’s first feature film Itty Bitty Titty Committee directed by Jamie Babbit has an anticipated completion date of March to be ready for the 2007 festival circuit.

Itty Bitty stars Melonie Diaz (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints – nominated for best supporting actress SPIRIT AWARDS, Raising Victor Vargas) Nicole Vicius (Half Nelson, Last Days), Carly Pope (Popular, Dirt), Daniela Sea (the L word, Shortbus), Melanie Mayron (thirtysomething), Jimmi Simpson (D.E.B.S.), Leslie Grossman (Running with Scissors, What I Like About You, Popular) Jenny Shimizu (Foxfire, Calvin Klein model) andGuinevere Turner (Go Fish).

Itty Bitty is the story of Anna (Diaz) who finds her purpose in life after she hooks up with an underground radical feminist group. The romantic comedy was written by Tina Mabry and Abigail Shafran, produced by Andrea Sperling (Pumpkin, Harsh Times, D.E.B.S.), Lisa Thrasher (Starcrossed) and executive produced by POWER UP founder Stacy Codikow (Under the Hula Moon, D.E.B.S.).

All above the line talent on Itty Bitty were women, from the writers, producers, director, and main cast to the cinematographer, editor, composer, production designer, costume designer, casting director, assistant directors and a majority of the crew.

Film critic B. Ruby Rich says of Itty Bitty: “Itty Bitty Titty Committee earns its title the hard way! This is an upfront call to action that takes no prisoners and pulls no punches. For anyone in despair over the state of the world or the movies, this posse of revolting dykes deliver a megadose of hope. Kicking free of genre and industry expectations, Jamie Babbit proves that she can rock with the best of them.” 

B. Ruby Rich has written for the Village Voice, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Sight and Sound. She’s also contributed to Elle, Mirabella, The Advocate and OUT, and edits film/video reviews for GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies.

Voted by Variety as one of 10 Filmmakers to Watch, Jamie Babbit’s feature film directorial début But I’m a Cheerleader a stylized comedy premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and played at Sundance, Rotterdam, and Créteil, where it earned the Best Young Director and the Audience Award, stars Natasha Lyonne, Clea Duvall, Cathy Moriarity and RuPaul. Cheerleader became Lion’s Gate Films’ biggest commercial success of 2000. Babbit’s second feature film The Quiet, starring Elisha Cuthbert, Camilla Bell, Martin Donovan and Edie Falco premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was released in 2006. Babbit also has enjoyed success as a television producer/director, serving as both for the WB television series Popular, as well as directing episodes of such critically acclaimed shows as Ugly Betty, Nip/Tuck, Alias, L-Word, Gilmore Girls and Malcolm in the Middle.

Short films made through the POWER UP filmgrant program under the guidance of Lisa Thrasher have been official selections of the Sundance Film Festival 4 years in a row. They are Billy’s Dad Is A Fudge-Packer written and directed by Jamie Donahue and staring Robert Gant (Queer as Folk), Little Black Boot directed by Colette Burson (Coming Soon), written by Cherien Dabis (the L word) and starring Jane Lynch (Best in Show), D.E.B.S. written and directed by Angela Robinson (Herbie: Fully Loaded) and starring Tammy Lynn Michaels (Popular) and Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and Stuck also directed by Babbit. 

POWER UP is the only non-profit organization to develop, finance, produce and distribute films through its unique filmgrant program. The organization has awarded short filmmaking grants totaling over $1,500,000, a mixture of sponsorships and in-kind services from studios and production houses. Over 75 international and national awards have been garnered thus far for the movies made through this unique program. POWER UP’s shorts have played hundreds of festivals including Berlin International Film Festival, USA Comedy Festival, Telluride Film Festival, International Short Film Festival Oberhausen Germany, Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and London Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. 

Buoyed by the success of these films, past grantees have now directed six feature films, written and directed for television and sold pilots and pitches as well. Directors Jessica Sharzer (Speak, The Dusty Springfield Bio Pic) and Angela Robinson (D.E.B.S., Herbie: Fully Loaded)had their first feature films premiere at Sundance 2004. 

POWER UP members are women and men, gay and straight, who share a singular purpose – to promote diversity by supporting the mission.