The road to Los Angeles

My Merry Los Angeles Birthday

This summer I embarked on a massive solo cross-country road trip that would take me a full 2 months and 9,000 miles across America and back again. So I began my journey in a city I know and love well – Los Angeles – the perfect launching point for a whirlwind excursion into the unknown. I’ve been to LA many times before, but I never feel like I get enough time to see everyone and…
Posted inUS
Read about Rebecca Ahn's unconventional and nomadic career path of frequent changes on Tough Cookie Travel

Happy New Year… And New You!

The time has come, my fellow Tough Cookies! On this day of reflection and rebirth from what has passed into what is to come, we here at Tough Cookie Says want to wish you something bigger and bad-ass-er than just a Happy New Year… We wish you a Happy New You! After all, that’s what this time of year is all about. When the clock strikes 12midnight tonight, we will all be launched into the next phase…
Posted inTravel Inspiration
Why We Need More Strong Female Film Roles

Why We Need More Strong Female Film Roles

In today's growing global political climate and all the recent reports surfacing around sexual harassment, particularly in the entertainment industry, it's more important than ever that we see strong women in strong positions in our media, movies, and shows. As Gal Gadot said recently in an episode of Variety‘s “Actors on Actors” series, “there cannot be women empowerment if women don’t have this visual in their subconsciousness, and if men don’t have it either. It’s important…
Posted inMovies, Real Cookies, TV Shows
Hillary Clinton

Women’s Rights are Human Rights are Hillary’s Rights

However you voted in the 2016 US Presidential Election, you gotta hand it to Hillary Rodham Clinton for being the first woman to make such a huge play for the office on behalf of a major political party.. and very nearly succeed. Even though she didn't win (which some of us maintain was due to a ridiculous technicality), she still broke some serious glass ceilings and old molds for women and girls the whole nation…
Posted inReal Cookies
A Real Live Beauty: Emma Watson and the Beast

A Real Live Beauty: Emma Watson and the Beast

Disney is planning a live-action musical version of their classic tale “Beauty and the Beast”. And it’s bound to be quite a beauty of a film, given who they’ve cast to lead the show as the brave and beautiful brunette bookworm. She’s already made quite a name for herself playing a similarly stubborn bookworm. Guess who it is yet? That’s right! Emma Watson! Bill Condon (“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn”) will be directing the film. But no…
Posted inMovies, Real Cookies
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Melissa Benoist from Glee!

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Melissa Benoist from Glee!

CBS is throwing their hat into the superhero ring, with their own hourlong drama TV show centered around none other than SuperGirl herself – one of the only iconic female superhero characters that had yet to be tapped for her own show… until now. Joining forces with Warner Bros, CBS finally has the writing and producing power to get their pilot off the ground. And now they have their leading lady too. “Glee” alum Melissa Benoist has…
Posted inReal Cookies, TV Shows
Michelle Maclaren to direct the new Wonder Woman film

A Wonder Woman To Direct Wonder Woman. No Wonder!

*UPDATE: After MacLaren's departure from the Wonder Woman film due to "creative differences," Warner Bros. could have chosen anyone to take over the helm. Anyone. And it wouldn't have surprised anyone if they'd chosen a man. But they DIDN'T! To our very pleasant surprise, Warner Bros. took another big leap forward and chose the equally Tough Cookie Patty Jenkins to take the reins. And boy are we glad she did! Wonderful news! Acclaimed bad-ass television…
Posted inMovies, Real Cookies
Tough Cookie Scarlett Johansson stars as the Black Widow in her own movie, finally!

You Go ScarJo! The Star of the New “Ghost In The Shell” Reboot

My favorite new female action star has some exciting news! She’s going to be headlining yet another iconic action story, this time from the land of Japanese anime. If you aren’t already familiar with anime, and are curious to check it out, you can’t go wrong with Ghost In The Shell. And our beloved Scarlett Johansson is set to star as covert ops Major Motoko Kusanagi (or Monique Kutcher or whatever they plan to rename her), squad leader of…
Posted inMovies, Real Cookies
Holy Female Leads, Batman! Jena Malone is Robin

Holy Female Leads, Batman! Jena Malone is Robin

I recently told you the incredible news about Wonder Woman's return to the big screen in the upcoming “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” film, to be played by Gal Gadot. Well now rumor has it that the same film will feature another female in a leading role - that of Robin, played by none other than the bad-ass Jena Malone! Now personally, I've always been a huge fan of Jena Malone - as far back as…
Posted inMovies, Real Cookies
A Marvel Movie for Captain Marvel

A Marvel Movie for Captain Marvel

Finally! Marvel is officially announcing their first for-sure, definitely-going-to-happen female-lead action feature film - one that will star the unstoppable Captain Marvel, formally known as Ms. Marvel, also known as Carol Danvers. Marvel has been pulling some exciting new characters out of their bag of comic books lately to transition to the big screen. And given their very successful track record with that so far, including the recent box office hit Guardians of the Galaxy, I'd say…
Posted inMovies
Give The World A Better Man

Give The World A Better Man

Happy Thanksgiving fellow Tough Cookies! As we give thanks this Holiday season for all the fortunate things in your life, let's take a moment to think about others who may not be so lucky - and extend our giving spirit to them. A Better Man is a new hopeful documentary film that is running an IndieGoGo campaign to help it achieves its mission - empower people to join the movement to END violence against women. I couldn't think…
Posted inReal Cookies
What If The Avengers Were All Women?

What If The Avengers Were All Women?

What if Marvel woke up and realized they've been miscasting their key superhero roles all this time? What if they suddenly came to their sense, and decided it was high time we had female versions of those characters on the big screen? What might that look like? Well that's just what these awesome, highly-photoshopped mockups depict - the female versions of Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, if they were instead played by Amber Heard, Alison Brie, and Sandra…
Posted inMovies