“After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.”–Ann Richards

Women have been instrumental in the success of American cinema since its very beginning. One of the first people to ever pick up a motion picture camera was a woman, as was the first screenwriter to win two Academy Awards, the inventor of the boom microphone, and the first person to be credited with the title film editor. Throughout the entire history of Hollywood women have been revolutionizing, innovating, and shaping how we make movies. Yet their stories are rarely shared.

This is what film reporter Alicia Malone wants to change. Backwards and in Heels tells the history of women in film in a different way, with stories about incredible ladies who made their mark throughout each era of Hollywood, from the first women directors to iconic movie stars and present-day activists. Each story shares the inspiring accomplishments of women, while also highlighting the obstacles women have had to face.

Backwards and in Heels combines research and exclusive interviews with influential women and men working in Hollywood today, such as Geena Davis, J.J. Abrams, Ava DuVernay, Octavia Spencer, America Ferrera, Paul Feig, and many more, as well as film professors, historians, and experts. Join Alicia as she champions Hollywood women of the past and present, and looks to the future with the hopes of leveling out the playing field.

With humor and honesty, Girls on Film looks at the good, the bad, and the unfairly written women in film. A celebration of the power of cinema and the hidden messages within media and culture, this collection of personal essays explores the women who inspired and confused a young film enthusiast.
A movie freak with a feminist message. In the tradition of feminist authors, film reporter Alicia Malone brings a collection of personal essays looking at the representation and impact of women on film. In addition to personal anecdotes and analysis, Girls on Film weaves in interviews from a diverse group of well-known women working in cinema today.
For fans of Trick Mirror and film books. A blend of women’s history books and film reviews, each chapter of Girls on Film looks at a female character representative of a stereotype or trope. As she explores hidden histories, Alicia connects these tropes to her very own journey in film.
In this authentic approach to film theory, you’ll find essays on: the dumb blonde; the Cinderella transformation; and the femme fatale.
A follow-up to Backwards and in Heels and The Female Gaze, Girls on Film is the final book in Alicia’s women in cinema trilogy.