AN IntersectionsTV PRODUCTION
Just the Beginning
A feature length documentary film exploring the past, present and future of women’s political power through the lens of the 100-year history of the League of Women Voters (LWV) and allied groups. In 1920, winning the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th amendment to the Constitution was just the beginning for women as agents of political power. These are the hidden stories of what came next and what’s at stake today.
Just the Beginning
Why It Matters
At this critical time for our democracy and women's equality, Just the Beginning: A Century of Political Power and the League of Women Voters will inspire audiences to use their power, vote, get involved and make a difference on issues they care about. As a work that connects history to the present day with an accessible and entertaining approach, the film will be both a catalyst during the 2024 election year and an enduring work to spark voter turnout, civic engagement, and women's leadership for years to come.
Making it Happen
Meet the Team
Beth joined the League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara (LWVSB) in 2005. She has served as LWVSB secretary, social policy co-chair, co-president, and liaison to the Santa Barbara Pro-Choice Coalition, including as Chair, and briefly served on the LWV of California state board. Beth earned a BA in International Studies from Moody Bible Institute and a MA in Liberal Studies from DePaul University. Her Master’s thesis explored the influence of second wave feminist artists on contemporary women artists. Just the Beginning is her first film, a project born out of her passion for women’s rights and her admiration for long-time League members.
Beth Pitton-August
Executive Producer, Director
Melissa Bower spent 20 years working as a producer in documentary film and the event production world in San Francisco. Her credits include documentary work for PBS, as well as several independent documentaries including Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1989.
Melissa Bower
Producer
Emily Calhoun has been working in film/tv since 2007 and has been working in the archive department since 2016. She has dabbled in just about every aspect of documentary filmmaking and has a Masters in Economics and a Bachelors in International Relations. She speaks Spanish fluently and has most recently worked on two films about Latin American issues. Siempre, Luis, will air on HBO in October, and A Las Calles is in post-production. She is currently working on a series for Court TV that delves into their trial archives. (Emily will not be able to join us due to her project schedule but we are pleased to introduce her here.)
Emily Calhoun
Archival Researcher
Rhegan Graham is a native Chicagolander and graduate of Emerson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts Production. After graduation, Rhegan worked as an Account Coordinator (Ad Sales) at The Weather Channel where she supported 3 high-level sales executives and managed close to 100 deals per quarter. She currently works as the Production and Development Coordinator at Ish Entertainment, an Emmy-winning unscripted film and television production company in NYC. Most recently, she was the Production Coordinator on the docuseries Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter, which premiered on Max and was the #1 title the week of its release.
Rhegan Graham
Impact Producer
Edward C. Bartell II has been passionate about filmmaking for over 35 years. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Edward got bit by the filmmaking bug at the age of 12. After getting his associates degree in Mass Media while still in high school, Edward relocated to Hollywood to continue his filmmaking career. In 2015, the documentary film entitled, From Watts to Senegal, which Edward produced and directed, was accepted in the Pan African Film Festival. Today, Edward continues to develop marketing videos, documentaries, web series and non-profit videos for his company EB Films.
Edward Bartel II
Producer, Editor
FOCAL Award-winning Archival Researcher, Kelly Andersen (2019 FOCAL Award for Best Use of Footage in a Sports Documentary) has conducted extensive archival research for Red Bull, Vice News, NFL, ESPN+, and HBO among others. Her most recent film, A La Calle premiered at the 2020 DocNYC film festival.
Kelly studied filmmaking at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University and earned her BFA from the University of Florida.
Kelly Andersen
Archival Producer
Anna Haefele is an illustrator and visual designer with a passion for information design. She has worked extensively in the private and non-profit sectors, with a focus on mission-driven projects.
Anna Haefele
Graphic Designer
Just the Beginning was birthed during a S.T.O.R.Y. Accelerator workshop taught by none other than Dr. Thyonne Gordon. Since the films inception she’s been an avid supporter, advisor and champion sharing insights and connections to advance the project. Dr. Thyonne is a Human & Organizational Development Strategist, has held 2 gubernatorial appointments, Chairs the Board of Pacifica Graduate Institute and earned an Emmy nod for her work with Entertainment Studios. She received her B.A. in Communications from Howard University; an MBA from Pepperdine U.; and her Doctorate at Fielding Graduate U. Her mantra – Bloom Where You’re Planted!
Dr. Thyonne Gordon
Producer
Shana Kelly started her career as a literary agent at the William Morris Agency in New York and London, and now works as a book editor, publishing consultant and writer, and teaches at Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver. Shana is the screenwriter, archival research coordinator and associate producer for the Peace Corps documentary A Towering Task, which premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 2019.
Shana Kelly
Screenwriter
Erik Rieger earned a BFA in Fine Arts and BA in Theater, Acting and Directing at Colorado University, Boulder, Colorado. Erik is the co-owner of Lapis Design & Build and Lapis Gallery in Denver. Working in a multitude of art forms that include furniture building, producing a line of artist oil paints, along with creating holographic images as an artistic performance for concerts, nightlife and special events. Erik’s musical talents started at the age of nine when he decided to make his first guitar in his folk’s garage. He has continued on as a musician and singer throughout his life composing original works. While the guitar is his most passionate musical vice, he also plays flute and piano. Erik has been a devoted student of Flamenco for nearly 35 years, as he continues his lessons even today with Flamenco guitar legend Rene Heredia.
Erik Rieger
Composer
Awards
Founders Award 2020
Recognizing efforts to use skills as a communicator to empower women and improve our community.
Awarded to Beth Pitton by the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) - Santa Barbara
Women’s History Month Proclamation
Honoring Just The Beginning’s role in bringing local awareness to gender parity and women’s political power.
Awarded to Just The Beginning: A Century of Political Power and the League of Women Voters by the City of Santa Barbara.
Affiliates
“We shall some day be heeded... everybody will think it was always so, just exactly as many young people think that all the privileges, all the freedom, all the enjoyments which woman now possesses always were hers. They have no idea of how every single inch of ground that she stands upon today has been gained by the hard work of some little handful of women of the past.”
Make a difference
Contribute
Your contribution supports our Finishing Fund, including editing, securing archival masters and rights, creating graphics and animation, and other fine-tuning. Ours is a work that connects history to the present day with an accessible, entertaining approach. Just the Beginning will be both a catalyst during the 2024 election year and an enduring work to spark voter turnout, civic engagement, and women’s leadership for years to come.
Donation Tiers
Donate $100
Show your dedication to women’s political empowerment with a contribution reflecting the milestone year of 1920 when the 19th amendment providing women the right to vote was ratified
Donate $250
Support the film that explores the past, present, and future of women’s political power
Donate $1000
With a contribution of $250 or more you will be recognized in promotional material and the film credits and make a big difference to help meet our goal
DONATE $2,500
Become an Advocate with your contribution of $1,000 or more and be recognized in promotional material and the film credits, and receive special updates
Donate $5,000
Become an Envoy with your donation of $5,000 or more and be recognized in promotional materials and the film credits, receive special updates and special acknowledgment in literature
DONATE $10,000+
With a contribution of $10,000 or more, you will be recognized in promotional material and the film credits, receive special updates, and be included in the film closing titles
Contribute Now
Just the Beginning is fiscally sponsored by NewGrit (Tax ID: 82-3466055). NewGrit is a nonprofit corporation, exempt from the federal tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code with the mission of promoting arts and humanities by providing access, and resources for visual, media or performing arts.
Or send a check, made payable to NewGrit—be sure to add Just the Beginning to the memo line. Mail to:
NewGrit
920 E Haley St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
You will receive a tax-deductible acknowledgment letter for your donation.
Thank you!
