Screening Time: Saturday, May 3, 6:00 PM, Charles Theatre 2
Sunday, May 4, 7:00 PM, Smith Theatre at Howard Community College
(in association with The Columbia Film Society)

Director: Elizabeth Holder and Xan Parker

Cast: Louise Jones, Carol Warner Wilke, Kimberley Euston, Umber Ahmad

Country: U.S.
Year: 2003
Running Time: 88 minutes
Format: Beta SP

The classic Old Boys Club of Wall Street had a few early female members, but the assumption was that, particularly if you are female, the only way onto and up the ladder was to give up everything else in your life. Elizabeth Holder and Xan Parker set out to find what today’s corporate environment looked like, and they found something startling: Wall Street tries to be a meritocracy, and it is possible for women, and men to, to be leaders and also have the components of normal life. By following several women who have earned their way in, the filmmakers give you a glimpse of the inner workings of Wall Street and the kind of competitive spirit it takes to succeed, whatever your gender, in the world’s greatest financial center. After experiencing these stories you are left with one key question: what were hose Old Boys thinking?

--Jed Dietz

Presented By: Elizabeth Holder and Xan Parker

Elizabeth Holder's first job in film was a Production Assistant on John Waters' Hairspray. She has worked in New York directing theatre off-off Broadway, and as a First Assistant Director on films such as Spring Forward, Cherry, and Love & Action in Chicago. Holder's short film, Weekend Getaway was an official selection of film festivals worldwide. She co-directed and co-produced (with Jill Hennessy) the independent feature The Acting Class with a cast including Jill Hennessy, Regina King, Chris Noth, and Austin Pendleton. Risk/Reward is Elizabeth Holder's feature documentary debut. Holder is currently directing episodes of Blue’s Clues (Nick Jr.).

Xan Parker learned pretty much everything she knows about documentary filmmaking from cinema verité masters Susan Froemke and Albert Maysles. She was associate producer of 2001 Academy Award nominated Lalee’s Kin: The Legacy of Cotton. She brought Maysles Films Inc. classics Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter, and Salesman to the DVD market and helped create the Directors' Edition DVDs. She also worked on award-winning Maysles documentaries including Concert of Wills: Making the Getty Center and Umbrellas. Parker began as an assistant producer at Maryland Public Television.