SECRET LIVES OF WOMEN

We wish to explore the inner thoughts of a woman’s erotic fantasy as she moves through her daily life. Our documentary is applied to the Women of South Africa, to investigate the cultural history and the influence it has had on our femininity of today. Meaning a 50 year old Moslem woman, a wife of a Zulu King, an Afrikaans tannie, a young Indian woman thinking of her future husband, wild Cape Townian English girl, a Coloured girl’s dreams, perhaps a lesbian, how they feel about their innermost thoughts about eroticism. Each woman to speak in her personal surroundings in her home language sub-titled.

We all think about sex during the day, even going about doing mundane errands. We introduce each woman in an interview situation, then cutaway to her moving about in her home with the voice-over captured in the interview as if they are inner thoughts of sexuality and fantasy. A personal monologue. The image is contradictory to the thought process.

The Questions

1. Do you remember your first erotic moment, your discovery that you are a woman? For men it’s different, yet for woman it usually is a discovery of feeling mostly emotional attraction to someone or a discovery of a body feeling, obviously very young. The strange thing is about this, as I’ve been asking people, that it has influenced their life-long sexuality. Example, a young girl feels discovers her sexuality in a swimming pool alone, she always enjoys sex with water. Another, she was touched on the leg on a train by an anonymous man, and always after that enjoyed anonymous sex. We will not go into that, but interesting none the less.

. 2. What are the most sensual thoughts that you have had and what was the situation? This is not about a sexual moment, but women’s fantasy could be related to their pro-creation, for instance one a proud moment of her man taking her child to school, also I’ve spoken to a student sharing a study-group and how she heard or saw nothing except her thought of how this boy would live with her forever. It becomes sensual

3. What is your fantasy today, what would make you fulfill your femininity as a woman? Every woman has her ultimate fantasy, most common being carried off by a strong mysterious man on a white horse. This is not about that. Create a scenario for tonight that would sensually please you, which in response could be, a long hot bath with candles, wearing silk, swimming naked, sitting at a fire with the man you love, he taking tender care of you, massage, feathers …

4. How do you feel about your role as a sensual woman in South Africa? This could particularly be interesting relating to polygamy in African culture. Would be wonderful to interview a Royal Wife and how she feels about her man having sex with another woman. It opens the discussion that relates to the freedom we are given in South Africa by our Constitution on for instance polygamy, to be openly gay and also fear of Aids and the male proclivity to be multi-partnered.

We do not wish to stereotype, yet find women that we generally do not think of as someone with fantasies, normal everyday Women. I’m sure we will view vastly different experiences yet having the same proud female result. The liberation of Women has been part of our South African Revolution, and would be interesting to see its Continuity and Victory.

Possible Scenario’s

For example, the Moslem woman speaks about her erotic thoughts, yet, is hanging washing with perhaps her body reflected on the sheets, naturally that depends on the light and the situation we find ourselves that day. We become aware of her body movements and the pride she feels as a Woman.

Another situation could be that our Woman is in a taxi travelling on a dusty road, feeling the sun on her face, alone, contemplating what we hear. We then see her walk down her street to go home, in so doing, identifying her thoughts within that environment.

Our Afrikaans tannie perhaps could show us her favourite evening dress, and watch her in the mirror as she puts on make-up and jewelry.
We will discover the environment by exploring each personality through the interview and in their homes.

The Structure

6 women are to be included in this 48-min ‘Secret Lives of Women’ documentary with an average time frame of 8 minutes each. We introduce the Woman in an interview situation with her answering a question we asked off-camera, and then during her response, cutaway to her action within her personal space. The voice-over becomes her inner thought as she moves around. We then cut to the next Woman, same question and then her action. We intend to shoot each Woman in the most natural light and situation possible, yet make a clear distinction of each environment. The current lighting of the space will be enhanced and not heavily lit, thus creating the ambience of a day to day circumstance.

There will be no nudity or exploitive content, but a serious artistic investigation into the thought process of women. Should there be nudity, it will tastefully suggested. Sound as an idea would be to have each Woman’s favourite music play in the background, but that could be a right’s issue. If that is the case, an original soundtrack can be arranged.

In sourcing the most interesting stories and Women for this film: One would be a call-in radio show with the question "What is your fantasy for tonight?" Another possibility is we have a brief with the questions in a self-addressed envelope and whenever we come across someone appropriate, request them to fill it in and mail it back with a photograph.

How does Secret Lives of Women influence the audience? It first of all will make the man sitting next to the woman sitting with him look at her, see her, and also create a debate on the distinction of sex and fantasy. It will reflect that a woman is not just childbearing being with chores. It will expose the feminine value and emotional states of a South African Woman’s daily life.

‘Secret Lives of Women’ is a distinctive and groundbreaking expression of our Women of South Africa. It intends to create a sense a Pride and positive attitude towards every Female, an exciting and tender vision of her inner fantasy.

Director :: Lilian Baksalevowicz
Cell: 083 316 1014
lilian@filmmaker.co.za

Lilian has been in the film industry for over 15 years, originally studying at Actor’s Studio in Paris from 1987 for 3 years. In 1991 she returned to South Africa, joined the SABC, and Produced & Directed for CCV-TV the corporate identity and on-air promos. In 1994 she was Satellite Coordinator for Reuters International News during the first Democratic Elections to be held in South Africa. From there she moved into the commercials and feature film world working as Continuity on several international productions. In 1995 she moved to Los Angeles and had the honor of working with Sofia Coppola on ‘Virgin Suicides’ (Francis Ford Coppola Production), Steven Soderbergh on ‘The Limey’ and numerous commercials with some of the top commercials directors in the world. She then moved to New York City and became an Agent to Oscar Nominated Cinematographer, Edward Lachman (‘Erin Brokovich’, ‘Far from Heaven’, ‘Ken Park’), Oscar Nominated Production Designer Jan Roelfs (‘Gattaca’, ‘Simone’, ‘The Wife, the Thief, the Cook and his Lover’), among other internationally acclaimed cinematographers, production designers and editors. During this period of 8 years in the United States, she gained a strong sensibility of cinematography, lighting and the film process. see full resume here

We will discover South African Women in their homes, speaking in their language to be all with the same hopes and dreams of Love, Affection and Sensuality.

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This concept is based on an acclaimed book ‘The Erotic Lives of Women’ published by Scalo and photographed by Linda Troeller.
We have the film rights agreement to this concept.

Copyright The Secret Lives of Women : 2004

We wish to explore the inner thoughts of a woman’s erotic fantasy as she moves through her daily life. Our documentary is applied to the Women of South Africa, to investigate the cultural history and the influence it has had on our femininity of today. Meaning a 50 year old Moslem woman, a wife of a Zulu King, an Afrikaans tannie, a young Indian woman thinking of her future husband, wild Cape Townian English girl, a Coloured girl’s dreams, perhaps a lesbian, how they feel about their innermost thoughts about eroticism. Each woman to speak in her personal surroundings in her home language sub-titled.

	We all think about sex during the day, even going about doing mundane errands. We introduce each woman in an interview situation, then cutaway to her moving about in her home with the voice-over captured in the interview as if they are inner thoughts of sexuality and fantasy. A personal monologue. The image is contradictory to the thought process.

The Questions

1. Do you remember your first erotic moment, your discovery that you are a woman? For men it’s different, yet for woman it usually is a discovery of feeling mostly emotional attraction to someone or a discovery of a body feeling, obviously very young. The strange thing is about this, as I’ve been asking people, that it has influenced their life-long sexuality. Example, a young girl feels discovers her sexuality in a swimming pool alone, she always enjoys sex with water. Another, she was touched on the leg on a train by an anonymous man, and always after that enjoyed anonymous sex. We will not go into that, but interesting none the less.

.	2. What are the most sensual thoughts that you have had and what was the situation? This is not about a sexual moment, but women’s fantasy could be related to their pro-creation, for instance one a proud moment of her man taking her child to school, also I’ve spoken to a student sharing a study-group and how she heard or saw nothing except her thought of how this boy would live with her forever. It becomes sensual

3. What is your fantasy today, what would make you fulfill your femininity as a woman? Every woman has her ultimate fantasy, most common being carried off by a strong mysterious man on a white horse. This is not about that. Create a scenario for tonight that would sensually please you, which in response could be, a long hot bath with candles, wearing silk, swimming naked, sitting at a fire with the man you love, he taking tender care of you, massage, feathers …

	4. How do you feel about your role as a sensual woman in South Africa? This could particularly be interesting relating to polygamy in African culture. Would be wonderful to interview a Royal Wife and how she feels about her man having sex with another woman. It opens the discussion that relates to the freedom we are given in South Africa by our Constitution on for instance polygamy, to be openly gay and also fear of Aids and the male proclivity to be multi-partnered.

We do not wish to stereotype, yet find women that we generally do not think of as someone with fantasies, normal everyday Women. I’m sure we will view vastly different experiences yet having the same proud female result. The liberation of Women has been part of our South African Revolution, and would be interesting to see its Continuity and Victory.

Possible Scenario’s

	For example, the Moslem woman speaks about her erotic thoughts, yet, is hanging washing with perhaps her body reflected on the sheets, naturally that depends on the light and the situation we find ourselves that day. We become aware of her body movements and the pride she feels as a Woman.

Another situation could be that our Woman is in a taxi travelling on a dusty road, feeling the sun on her face, alone, contemplating what we hear. We then see her walk down her street to go home, in so doing, identifying her thoughts within that environment.

	Our Afrikaans tannie perhaps could show us her favourite evening dress, and watch her in the mirror as she puts on make-up and jewelry. We will discover the environment by exploring each personality through the interview and in their homes.

The Structure

6 women are to be included in this 48-min ‘Secret Lives of Women’ documentary with an average time frame of 8 minutes each. We introduce the Woman in an interview situation with her answering a question we asked off-camera, and then during her response, cutaway to her action within her personal space. The voice-over becomes her inner thought as she moves around. We then cut to the next Woman, same question and then her action. We intend to shoot each Woman in the most natural light and situation possible, yet make a clear distinction of each environment. The current lighting of the space will be enhanced and not heavily lit, thus creating the ambience of a day to day circumstance.

	There will be no nudity or exploitive content, but a serious artistic investigation into the thought process of women. Should there be nudity, it will tastefully suggested. Sound as an idea would be to have each Woman’s favourite music play in the background, but that could be a right’s issue. If that is the case, an original soundtrack can be arranged.

In sourcing the most interesting stories and Women for this film: One would be a call-in radio show with the question "What is your fantasy for tonight?" Another possibility is we have a brief with the questions in a self-addressed envelope and whenever we come across someone appropriate, request them to fill it in and mail it back with a photograph.

	How does Secret Lives of Women influence the audience? It first of all will make the man sitting next to the woman sitting with him look at her, see her, and also create a debate on the distinction of sex and fantasy. It will reflect that a woman is not just childbearing being with chores. It will expose the feminine value and emotional states of a South African Woman’s daily life.