Tula Asselanis

Tula Asselanis is a Writer/Producer/Director whose most recent accomplishment is the humorous, award-winning one hour documentary on the Barbie Doll and her effect on people's lives;I, Doll-The Unauthorized Biography of America's Sweetheart. I, Doll traces the sordid history of Barbie and her extended plastic family (Skipper, Midge, Ken, etc.) while chronicling her metamorphosis from children's toy to female role model and modern icon. Also included are interviews with those Barbie has influenced the most: Career Gals, Bulimics, Plastic Surgeons, million dollar Barbie collectors, and a little girl who loves Barbie, warts and all.

I, Doll has won Second Place at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, and has screened all over the United States, Japan and at the Belarus Women's Film Festival! American screenings include the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley, Northwest Film Center in Portland, Dallas Video Festival, KTEH San Jose Public Television, the Central Florida Film Festival, the Golden Shower Festival in San Antonio, Cornell Cinema in Ithaca, N.Y., and the Roxie Cinema in San Francisco.

This is Tula's first foray into Documentary filmmaking from an award-winning career as an advertising Art Director that spans over 12 years. As well as conceiving, writing and art directing television commercials for agencies including Ketchum Advertising, she also writes, produces and directs video catalogs and industrial films. Some of her well-known work includes commercials for Baskin Robbins, Bank of America, and popular local billboards for EBMUD (East Bay Municipal Utilities District).

Tula actually began playing with Barbies at the age of three, in San Francisco, where she later graduated from San Francisco State University in Film, but denies that she still played with Barbies at that time. Tula also has a degree from the prestigious Art Center College of Design and began her career in Los Angeles at J. Walter Thompson. She now lives in Alameda with her husband Jon, baby Peter and their chocolate lab who is of course registered with the AKC as Barbie Dawg.

I, Doll
A film by Tula Asselanis, 1996, 57 min., Color
There are more Barbie Dolls* in the U.S. than human beings. Barbie was fashioned after a German prostitute doll named "Lilli." These are just two of...