Searching For Her

Diane Keaton as Annie Hall in Annie Hall (1977)

I had a dream. No, not the profound Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Movement "dream," but one of cinematic sorts.  I had a dream about Woody Allen.  Wait! Before you drag your mouse, or finger across your iPhone to exit out of this window, please hear me out.  In my dream, Woody and I got into a heated debate about his leading ladies.  I chased him around my grandmother's apartment (because, of course that's where we entertain houseguests) screaming and yelling, "I can be just as quirky, crazy, funny, and cute as Diane, Penelope, Scarlett, and Emma!" To which he smarmily replied, "I don't know. There's something kind of sexy about Emma.  Can you be sexy?"   

Penelope Cruz as Maria Elena in
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

At that moment, "dream Rachel" as I like to call myself, challenged Woody Allen (whom I believe is not "dream Woody," but real life Woody) that she could write a quirky, funny, vulnerable female character who happens to be a woman of color. 

Apparently this bothered me so much that my subconscious simply had to retaliate against Woody Allen.  But it does call into question, where is the image of the girl with off the map style, who completely embarrasses herself, but people exclaim...well that's her! Where is the girl who cruises the stacks of vinyl records and farmer's markets on Saturday mornings?  Where is the girl who does all of this and happens to be Black, Latina, or Asian? 

Zooey Deschanel as Jess in
New Girl (Fox)

We look cute in chic menswear ala Diane Keaton in Annie Hall.  We have the capacity to make a Joseph Gordon-Levitt character's hipster heart flutter--and we'll have the choice to dump him for Michael B. Jordan, Michael Fassbender, or Mr. Cumberbatch.   I know I'm being ambitious but Fassbender is so necessary.  But I digress.


Emma Stone as Sophie in Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

I'm ready to see that girl jumping off the page, onto the screen, and into my heart! I want to be awed by her, whether she's the clichéd "adorable mess" or coolest girl you've ever known--or wish you knew.  I want audiences to see that this girl exists in all shapes, sizes, and yes, colors.  I readily admit that I am a black girl who rocks out to anyone from Jay-Z to Haim (don't sleep on those girls).  While I duked it out with Woody Allen this time, the same can be said for other directors.  One of my favorites, Wes Anderson comes to mind.  Yes, Wes, minority pre-teens immersed in puppy love can also runaway and boogie on the beach ala Moonrise Kingdom! Watch your back, my subconscious is coming for you next!

In the meantime, I will do what women do best...get things done.  So, while "dream Rachel" chases Woody, yelling and screaming, "reality Rachel" will challenge these trends and simply "FADE IN."