Funny Ladies: Serious Business | Geena Davis Institute Salon 2018

Comedy is crucial in times of uncertainty—and despite traditionally being known as a male-dominated industry, women have taken a powerful role to shift the tone. With skyrocketing ratings in late-night comedy television and a massive wave of female stand-up performances on streaming services, women are tackling incredibly important, sensitive topics while inspiring hope and action. Relive the highlights from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media’s exclusive salon event, "Funny Ladies: Serious Business," hosted on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 72andSunny in Playa Vista, California. This special evening brought together some of the entertainment industry's most influential female comedians, writers, actors, and corporate changemakers for an empowering night of stand-up comedy, storytelling, and impactful discussion. Our panelists dive into how women are breaking barriers in comedy, the business behind the laughs, and how humor can be leveraged as a form of creative activism to challenge social norms around race, gender, and sexuality. ⏱️ VIDEO TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome & Salon Event Overview 04:15 – Opening Remarks | Madeline Di Nonno (CEO, Geena Davis Institute) 12:30 – Stand-Up Performances & Storytelling Highlights 35:45 – Panel Discussion: Funny Ladies: Serious Business 1:15:20 – Audience Q&A with the Panelists 🎙️ FEATURED PANELISTS Geena Davis – Founder and Chair, Academy Award®-winning Actor Madeline Di Nonno – CEO, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media (Moderator) Maria Galleriu – Group Strategy Director, 72andSunny Carol Leifer – Comedian, Emmy-nominated Writer, and Producer (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld) Maggie Maye – Comedian, Writer, and Actor (Conan, The New Yorker) Diona Reasonover – Writer and Actor (NCIS, I Love You, America) Aida Rodriguez – Comedian, Producer, and Actor (Last Comic Standing, HBO/Showtime) Iliza Shlesinger – Comedian, Writer, and Actor (Elder Millennial, Girl Logic) Natalie Zea – Actor and Director (The Detour, Justified) 📲 CONNECT WITH THE INSTITUTE Our Salon events are exclusive to our community. If you want to attend future events and gain full access to our members-only video archives, photo galleries, and research data, become a part of the change today. Join See Jane Today: [Insert Membership Link] Members Login: [Insert Login Link] For Sponsorship Inquiries: Please contact Elizabeth Kilpatrick via email. Website: [Insert Website Link] #WomenInComedy #GenderInMedia #GeenaDavisInstitute #FunnyLadies #CreativeActivism #WomenInEntertainment