C&L BFI Event - competition

COMPETITION - BFI (British Film Institute)'s 30th Anniversary Cagney & Lacey Event! 

November 2011

The 30th Anniversary BFI Southbank Event on 29th November in London will be followed by a short Q&A session with Sharon, Tyne, and Barney.

We are aware that tickets for the Event have been in high demand, and also that for various other reasons not everyone who'd like to, is able to attend.  

We thought you'd like YOUR chance to ask Sharon, Tyne, and/or Barney a question if you can't be there in person!

THE PRIZE:  The winning question will be read out by Chair Dame Jenni Murray at the Event, for answering by Sharon, Tyne, and/or Barney!  

The question and answer/s, with the winner's name, will be posted on this site afterwards.

- Good luck!

The competition, and voting on the winning entry, are now closed. 

And the winner is ...

VELICIA DANIELS!

Velica's question was: 

Your show inspired millions of women to "step outside the box" in terms of making strong career choices and fighting stereotypes of how women should conform to society's norms. You both have taken on roles of inspirational and strong women. Who are the women (other than your own mothers and family members :) ) who inspired you to become the strong women you are today?

The answers were:

- Tyne:  

Edna St Vincent Millay (American lyrical poet, playwright, feminist, and Pulitzer Prize for Poetry winner).  Tyne explained Ms Millay was daring in her life - and was punished for that. She writes available and extraordinary poems.

Tyne quoted verbatim "First Fig" from A Few Figs from Thistles (1920):

My candle burns at both ends

It will not last the night;

But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -- 

It gives a lovely light!

- Sharon:

Her grandmother was a "huge, huge force".  She said that although her grandmother frightened her terrribly and was very critical of her, she encouraged her.  She was very very strong and Sharon loved her - and her grandmother noticed Sharon. 

Also, Monique James - Hollywood talent agent, Sharon's Personal Manager, and the very first woman Vice-President of MCA/Universal, to whom Sharon said she really owed her career.  She explained that she's always considered herself a 'reluctant actress' - she wants to work, she loves to work, but she always approaches it with a little reluctance, and Monique pushed her, and made Sharon believe in herself.  She started so late - it was a dream she finally admitted, and Monique saw it and swept her up and took her along - really pushed her.

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The shortlisted questions were:

QUESTION 1:  (Maria Weaving-Gomez, UK)

What draws you, Sharon and Tyne, to playing a particular character; the alternate universe she lives in, her depth of emotion or her inner contradictions?

QUESTION  2: (Karen E Boyd, Michigan, USA)

"Christine Cagney's" portrayal of an alcoholic woman was spot-on brilliant.  How was the characterization researched as it did not reflect the "usual" stereotypes of women alcoholics being barroom floozies or falling down drunk (before hitting "bottom") ??

QUESTION  3:  (WINNER:  Velicia Daniels, Kansas City, Missouri, USA)

Your show inspired millions of women to "step outside the box" in terms of making strong career choices and fighting stereotypes of how women should conform to society's norms. You both have taken on roles of inspirational and strong women. Who are the women (other than your own mothers and family members :) ) who inspired you to become the strong women you are today?

QUESTION  4:  (Greg Shanley, Edinburgh, Scotland)

Do you think there have anymore posiitive females role models on TV or films since Cagney and Lacey?

QUESTION  5:   (Karen Culshaw, Lancashire, UK)

You tackled so many issues throughout the many series you made, If Cagney and Lacey was still being made today, are there any topics relevant in todays world that you think would be ideal to cover in the storylines and do them justice?

QUESTION 6: (Kristen Moore, Los Angeles, USA)

I imagine there may have been times when you objected to a scene because the portrayal of your character for that specific scene did not represent women in the way in which you advocated (i.e. wearing high heels while chasing a perp).  But was there ever a time in which the portrayal of your character for a particular scene or storyline did represent women in the way in which you advocated, but it didn't fit your character, and you objected to the scene on those grounds?

QUESTION 7:  (Sandra Hines, USA)

Have either one of you,during OR since the show ended, ever found yourself in a real life situation where you almost stepped in as a law officer but caught yourself just in time?

QUESTION  8:  (Karen E Boyd, Michigan, USA)

Prior to "Cagney & Lacey", women's television roles were either the Susie Homemaker/June Cleaver type or the fluff sort of woman police officer.  How was C&L created (e.g. as an "anti" to those previous stereotypes) ??

QUESTION 9:  (Karen Mitchell, Scotland)

How does Sharon think Cagney and Lacey would cope with the challenges of women in 2011. Which actors and actresses would be best to support them in their roles in the NYPD? Would Cagney still be Sergeant?

QUESTION 10:  (John Canning, London, UK)

The Season 5 episode of The Clinic, about the bombing of an abortion clinic provides a thoroughly balanced yet emotive story of women making a choice to have an abortion because of poverty and economic circumstances. We are left with Cagney and Lacey being pro-choice, Cagney reluctantly and Lacey passionately. Do you think there are any TV shows out there now that would be as brave to show both characters being true to their convictions on this issue?

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

• • Questions should be pertinent to the Event's topic of "Representations of Women"

  • Submit your question in three sentences or less, to contactus@cagneyandlacey.com

  • Include your first and last names, and country

  • Include your contact telephone number, including your area code

COMPETITION RULES

• • Entries close at midnight (Pacific time) on Friday, November 18th, 2011

  • The best questions will be shortlisted, and Cagney & Lacey official website, facebook, and twitter fans, friends and followers will be invited to vote for the best question from the shortlist 

  • In case of a tie, insufficient votes, or for any other reason the publishers may deem appropriate, the editor's decision will be final

  • No correspondence can be entered into about submissions, or the winning entry