- Type
- Feature Film
- Location
- Tijuana, Mexico
- Genre
- Biography
Beat Chick
The true story of an undiscovered Beat Generation poet who hung out with Kerouac and Ginsberg in San Francisco in 1955. Reading on 1/24 6PM 312 W. 36th St, 4 fl
Other Projects (3)
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Beat Chick
Based on a true story of a female Beat Generation poet who hung out with Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg in San Francisco in 1955.
-
Beat Chick
Based on a true story of a female Beat Generation poet who hung out with Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg in San Francisco in 1955.
-
Beat Chick
Based on a true story of a female Beat generation poet who hung out with Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg in San Francisco in 1955.
Beat Chick is a period drama loosely based on the life experiences of Joanne Joseph, who, in 1950’s San Francisco, was an aspiring poet and one of the few female members of the notorious “Beat Generation.”
Idealistic, but very ambitious young poet Janet St. Vincent Levine manipulates her way into what she believes is a dream job – becoming personal assistant to Lawrence Ferlinghetti, publishing pioneer of City Lights Publishers and owner of San Francisco’s now famous City Lights Bookstore. Although not yet considered a peer, Janet is soon hobnobbing, getting stoned (and in and out of bed) with the likes of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and other up and coming writers in Ferlinghetti’s social set -- later known as the Beat Generation. Upon attending the historic first reading of Allen Ginsberg’s landmark poem Howl, she meets her personal poetry idol, Kenneth Rexroth, an older man who her City Lights friends openly disparage. Nonetheless, Janet is delighted when Rexroth takes interest in her work -- and in her. When their “collaboration” becomes an affair, she falls in love with him, only to realize too late that Rexroth has begun claiming some of her work as his own.
Things go from bad to worse as when Janet suddenly finds herself a player in an infamous groundbreaking legal case for free speech. Her boss, Ferlinghetti, is brought to trial on charges of obscenity and selling pornography after publishing Howl. During the trial, Janet realizes she is pregnant, and the most likely father – married man Rexroth – has completely abandoned her. Janet decides eventually that her only recourse is to travel across the U.S. border for an illegal abortion. Once there she is confronted with the prospect of a frightening and dangerous operation in an unsanitary house of horrors. Penniless, alone and with the clock ticking, Janet contemplates whether to go through with the abortion or to find the courage to go on a new path. Should she take the “easy way out” that might ultimately kill her? Or should she defy the strict social mores of the 1950s and be a single, unmarried mother? Which decision will get her home to San Francisco fastest and back on the road to gaining recognition as a poet?
Beat Chick is not only a compelling personal journey of the main character who struggles to carve out her identity as a poet in a very chauvinistic, male-dominated world, but it is as well a chronicle of important events of the 1950's which still have enormous social relevance today. In addition, Beat Chick contains many excerpts from poetry of the era, as well as testimony taken directly from the actual Ferlinghetti obscenity trial transcripts.
Idealistic, but very ambitious young poet Janet St. Vincent Levine manipulates her way into what she believes is a dream job – becoming personal assistant to Lawrence Ferlinghetti, publishing pioneer of City Lights Publishers and owner of San Francisco’s now famous City Lights Bookstore. Although not yet considered a peer, Janet is soon hobnobbing, getting stoned (and in and out of bed) with the likes of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and other up and coming writers in Ferlinghetti’s social set -- later known as the Beat Generation. Upon attending the historic first reading of Allen Ginsberg’s landmark poem Howl, she meets her personal poetry idol, Kenneth Rexroth, an older man who her City Lights friends openly disparage. Nonetheless, Janet is delighted when Rexroth takes interest in her work -- and in her. When their “collaboration” becomes an affair, she falls in love with him, only to realize too late that Rexroth has begun claiming some of her work as his own.
Things go from bad to worse as when Janet suddenly finds herself a player in an infamous groundbreaking legal case for free speech. Her boss, Ferlinghetti, is brought to trial on charges of obscenity and selling pornography after publishing Howl. During the trial, Janet realizes she is pregnant, and the most likely father – married man Rexroth – has completely abandoned her. Janet decides eventually that her only recourse is to travel across the U.S. border for an illegal abortion. Once there she is confronted with the prospect of a frightening and dangerous operation in an unsanitary house of horrors. Penniless, alone and with the clock ticking, Janet contemplates whether to go through with the abortion or to find the courage to go on a new path. Should she take the “easy way out” that might ultimately kill her? Or should she defy the strict social mores of the 1950s and be a single, unmarried mother? Which decision will get her home to San Francisco fastest and back on the road to gaining recognition as a poet?
Beat Chick is not only a compelling personal journey of the main character who struggles to carve out her identity as a poet in a very chauvinistic, male-dominated world, but it is as well a chronicle of important events of the 1950's which still have enormous social relevance today. In addition, Beat Chick contains many excerpts from poetry of the era, as well as testimony taken directly from the actual Ferlinghetti obscenity trial transcripts.
Comments (9)
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September 2, 2011Prudence Wright Holmes Beat Chick, the stage version will be produced by the Workshop Theatre in March 2012
July 23, 2011Gerald Emerick This looks very cool. What's happening with it? I would like to help.
April 1, 2010www.myspace.com/geraldemerick
- Gerald
Michael Shandrick Sor starters this is a fabulously romantic era at a moment in time. I would only suggest you follow the biography as a roadmap and do not get trapped in trying to write what really happened. Biographical figures often become stilted when trying to fit in with the facts and events. These films are neither fish nor foul. . I like Heart Beat for getting around this. Let her have flesh and blood. She could have been an unrecognized obserser all this time Good luck.
March 18, 2010Eddie Eagle When your picture is ready for a final trailer I'm a voice actor. http://tvradiovoice.com/audiofiles/EagleTVPromo.mp3
February 23, 2010Best to you,
Eddie
www.tvradiovoice.com
Mike Lary Please keep me in mind when you're looking for a cinematographer. I'm very much interested in working on this project. The story is strong and the themes are relevant. I think it would be an exciting and challenging project to be a part of.
February 13, 2010Jennifer Thomas Very interesting subject matter. I hope you get funded! Good luck.
November 12, 2009Lady Sandy Smith-Distel This sounds like a great film and I would love to be involved in it. I can provide you with my email sj.distel50@gmail.com My headshots are on Massify so if you would like to view them they are there for you.
November 4, 2009Thank you.
Juan Salvati Dear Prudence,
September 21, 2009In all fairness, I believe that you may very well have such a precious pearl in your hands with 'Beat Chick'. I'm kidding you not. Further, despite the fact that I have instinctively treasured the Beat Generation for their guts and timeless vision, to wisely depict this defining time in American Contemporary Cultural History from Joanne's eyes is not only something truly unique ( "a personal journey of the main character who struggles to carve out her identity as a poet in a very chauvinistic, male-dominated world" ) but most importantly it will allow you to accurately address some social topics ("a chronicle of important events of the 50's which still have enormous social relevance today) which are of paramount importance in terms of getting a far better understanding in the world we live today. Good job, Prudence!
I recall with undivided fondness that as a (very) young poet back in my beloved Buenos Aires I was nurtured in those vibrant mid-70's by Ferlinghetti, Kerouac and obviously Ginsberg and his unforgettable Howl.
I don't have any doubt that your project will rock! Mark my words...! :))
Warmly,
Long Life & Theatre!
JUAN SALVATI
Actor, Multicultural Artist