Having met 40 Angela Sheltons, what can you conclude about “where women in America are today?
My peek into a microcosm of women with the same name did give me a view into women in general because as Anais Nin says, “the story of one woman is the story of one million women.” My survey said that women have been screwed over, raped, beaten, stolen from, starved, frozen in fear, kept silent and weak but we are stronger than any force imaginable and we have not only survived, we are prevailing and you haven’t seen anything yet.
As I have traveled for years speaking everywhere from college campuses to high schools I see women prevailing, no matter what their name is. A time for women is emerging. We are no longer buying into the lies that were forced upon us in order to push patriarchy forward. I see women having a new respect for themselves, their environment and the men in their lives. This is not about women against men and I don’t think men need to fear an age of women either. I think men should rejoice in the fact that we are entering an age of women; they will be loved and fed better.
In what way did the stories and lives of other Angela Sheltons encourage and empower you personally in your search?
The Angelas encouraged me throughout every step of my search from the first one I called who loved this idea and told me to keep going to the last Angela I met who told me that I was the most important Angela in the film. The fact that 70% of the Angelas I spoke to had been abused is horrifying and certainly inspired me to break the silence and get this film finished. The fact that most of the Angelas left the abusive husbands, put themselves through school, got help, healed, got sober and I finished my film is what is most empowering. For me it’s not only a survey of women, it’s a love story for yourself and others. I thought at first that hearing about so much abuse would leave me with disdain for my fellow humans but it did the opposite. Making this film made me love people because everyone has a story. I don’t take credit for the magic of this movie. I think I was simply the vehicle through which it came. My job was getting out of its way and letting it come to life. I find it incredibly inspiring to watch how it affects people in such positive ways, especially survivors.
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