Women talking openly about their sexuality via one actress. All stories are based on real anonymous interviews. Created entirely by Israeli women, each episode was put together with a different female team.
One Woman (ISR) creator, producer and actor Nili Tserruya spoke to Melbourne Webfest and shared how real-world experiences inspired her web series. One Woman provides multiple perspectives relating to female sexuality, removing the veil of shame and creating conversations that can change outdated societal views.
How did you come to decide on your subject matter?
A few triggers led me to the creation of this project. First, I wanted to create something from scratch and on my own. I have been searching for a meaningful subject, something that would feel worthy enough for me to step out of my comfort zone as an actress. Plus, I’ve reached the golden 40’s and I guess it’s not merely a cliché that women start unleashing their sexuality during those years. I believe it has to do with the fact that most of us are done conquering and bringing children into the world, and so our sexuality seizes a new role in our life. And the hormones… let us not forget our vivid female hormones…
I was mostly amazed to find I, myself, do not talk openly and sincerely with my female friends about sex, pleasure, desires and fantasies. And it’s weird, because we talk openly about everything. Everything – except this. Our sexuality is still wrapped with shame and embarrassment and I believe those emotions do not disappear when it comes to action.
There are many reasons for these emotions. Lots of conflicting messages we receive from society regarding our sexuality. Women, for example, are required to be sexy creatures, we are raised to be beautiful and attractive, but when we get to perform in bed, we don’t necessarily feel it’s appropriate for us to have joyful sex. It is still considered slutty, provocative, inappropriate for us to like having sex or ask certain things that are pleasurable to us. We usually end up focusing on the man’s pleasure.
I believe there is still much room for progress on this matter. I truly hope, after the #metoo wave, we will move forward from being victims to being able to look at this matter straight in the eye, and it must begin by being able to talk about it.
How important is the message/theme in your series?
The series turns the spotlight onto female sexuality and in doing so, allows an altogether fresh point-of-view on women; on education; on breaking convention. I wanted it to be a song of praise for the female gender in all its shades, therefore all the creators involved in the project are women.
Each episode is made up of a different female cast and crew (director, photographer, editor, lighting, etc.). I have been blessed with wonderful, professional women who have agreed to join this project and help me create the most authentic possible project/mockumentary-style web series. Each episode is based on an interview I have had with a woman who asked to stay anonymous. I remained completely loyal to her words and speech style.
I believe all women share the same urges and yearnings that differ only in the forms of expression and pleasure they may take on. Through their narratives, a broad spectrum of sexual wants and preferences is laid out. Every woman reveals her own individual sexual journey, and despite their stark differences, I hope any and all women could recognize themselves and relate to these six personas.
One Woman Trailer
Why did you choose the web series format?
I wanted it to be accessible to everyone, women and men alike, and to provide the option of watching it privately wherever and whenever one wished to do so, so that shame and embarrassment will not become an obstacle. To do so, and to fit this format, I aspired to produce a project that would be short, sharp and impactful.
Can you describe the process of portraying a different character for each story you tell?
I was quite daunted by this choice and afraid it would come out grotesque or unconvincing. The greatest challenge was to find those minor differences that would attest to an entirely different personality. I was never concerned with mimicking the real women, my interviewees, either in terms of their physical characteristics or their inflection. I knew this would steer me in the direction of overconcentrating on the form rather than the substance, the essence. I was searching for each of their inner drives, her need, how she would want us to perceive her, what motivates her – and from that came the rhythm, the style, the body language and so forth. The fact that each episode was directed by a different woman was also helpful because they each injected their own unique energy and style and that alone lead the character in a new direction.
What was your greatest challenge creating the series?
Producing it… The whole series was made with no outside backer and with no intention of profit. It took me three years to get it done from scratch. Up until ‘One Woman’, my experience in the business was only as an actress. Plus, most of my work was in the theatre, so I knew very few people in the film industry to consult with. I was met with many challenges, fears, and rejection along the way.
By the time Linor Lavie, my co-producer and this project’s guardian angel joined me, I had truly invested my blood, sweat and tears in this project. And since I couldn’t ask too many favours from the women who were available and already on board, I came up with the idea that each episode will be created by a different team. That didn’t make things any easier either. However, being a virgin in this business led me to make some unconventional choices, of which I’m extremely proud today; deciding I would portray all the women in the series, creating and funding a web drama series without the support of an outside backer to produce and/or distribute it, and to engage in the margins of this highly sensitive, complex issue.
How did you find the people whose stories you share?
I keep being asked this question and, starting out, I myself wondered how I’d be able to find such interesting stories. What happened was I simply shared my dream of making this series with my beautician. She jumped at the idea and said she was speaking freely and openly with her clients and that some of them who do the same might be happy to talk to me if they remain anonymous. And so it was. Two weeks later I found myself travelling all over Israel to meet women I had never met before, to sit one-on-one in the quiet corner of a café, chow down a salad or a burger with them, and simply talk about what is usually kept unspoken.
After interviewing a number of women, things have crystallized for me and I realized these conversations are also meaningful for them, it gives them the opportunity to open a box that we’re taught to keep under lock and key. After a few interviews, I had mustered up the courage to approach women and transgender men and offer them the chance to talk with me and perhaps someday watch their story from the sidelines.
I recorded all the interviews on my cell phone, with their consent obviously, and later transcribed them. Once I assembled the female team that would collaborate with me on the episode, the director and I adapted the interview into a monologue and then decided on her profession, her home surroundings, specific characters that would suddenly appear, etc.
What were their reactions when they watched the web series?
Most of the women and man interviewed were thrilled and happy. Some confessed that they were no longer in that place in life. Sadly, the woman on which the episode ‘One Woman who Likes S&M’ is based, got some very harsh comments from ‘trigger-happy’ viewers. So if I aspired to create unity and empathy, we still have a long way to go in terms of accepting the other, and even ourselves. I’m approached by many other women who want me to interview them and tell their story. It’s very exciting. If a production company would be interested in producing it, I’d be more than happy to do another season. Maybe this one will focus only on men, or couples, depending on the budget.
FOLLOW ONE WOMAN