And That's A Wrap!

So, I’ve presented the facts and numbers of the very few women working behind the scenes in Hollywood, but in this post I will address the ultimate question, “Why does it matter?”

“What’s the point of this girl’s constant complaining?”

Well my friends, let me tell you.

Some may think that having an equal amount of women and men making creative decision about content isn’t important but I argue that it is extremely important. 

As a writer or content creator you reflect the reality you know and write what you know therefore you are likely to create characters similar to yourself.

This means that with a majority of male writers no wonder there’s way more males on-screen. They’re attracted to characters that are like them.

When women are behind camera there are far more female speaking characters. 

In movies directed by women, 47.7% of the characters were female; in movies directed by men, fewer than a third of the characters were female. When one or more of the screenwriters was female, 40% of characters were female; when all the screenwriters were male, 29.8% of the characters were female.

That’s a significant increase. 

Not portraying women on screen sends the message that females are less important than males.

Not only does having females work behind the camera increase the number of females on screen but it also alters the type of content that we see women in.

For example, women were far more likely than men to wear sexy clothing in movies, such as swimwear and unbuttoned shirts (25.8% versus 4.7%), to expose skin (23% versus 7.4%) and to be described by another character as attractive (10.9% versus 2.5%).

This type of provocative clothing devalues women and perpetuates the idea that a woman’s worth is equal to her beauty and physical appearance. Her intelligence is devalued and she is a mere object of the male gaze.

Women behind the cameras helps diminish this view of women and utilizes other important facets to convey her importance.

The types of jobs a female has is also affected by women behind the scenes. Women in film and television are often seen in traditional female occupations or as home-makers but when women are in charge these occupations change to roles that are less stereotypical. 

So ladies and gentleman, I give you the reason it is important to have diverse voices behind the camera.

These gender depictions influence young children who will appropriate these images and shape their worldview. 

In order not to perpetuate these gender stereotypes and promote gender equality we must create images that send positive depictions of men and women in the media.

I have Breasts…DEAL WITH IT

Hollywood is a town where networking and connections count more than talent. 

Good grades in college…USELESS!

Award winning short film…USELESS!

Being the niece of a studio executive…USEFUL!

It’s all about who you know and what favors people owe you. 

When choosing who you want to work with, you’re basically deciding who you want to play golf with, go to the Laker game with, and drink scotch with. (all in the name of business of course).

So no wonder men decide to work with other men.

But…I …I like the Lakers, I can play golf (miniature golf that is), and heck I’ll drink a scotch if it means directing a multi-million dollar film. 

For this reason I think women should form their own club.

And contrary to belief this club doesn’t involve us having pillow fights in our underwear. 

We’ll celebrate out Independence…

Cue: Destiny’s Child Independent Women

“All the women who are independent

Throw your hands up at me

All the honey's who makin' money

Throw your hands up at me”

There’s this false notion that there’s only one vacant spot at the men’s club for a woman.

But that isn’t the case.

Women feel the need to compete against one another and as a result we end up sabotaging one another.

Women need to rally together rather than tear each other down. We should advocate for one another and shouldn’t look at each other as competition, but rather as allies.

We would all be a lot better off if we did.

 To many people in the entertainment industry women are like exotic wild creatures on the verge of extinction and we represent diversity in the industry. (Go figure right)

Because we represent the “diversity” in the industry some women feel that there’s only one spot for the “token woman.” Instead of competing for the “token” place, we should advocate for one another and fight for more spots to be opened up for women.

The classic example of a woman deliberately belittling another woman is Sigourney Weaver’s claim about why James Cameron didn’t win the Academy Award for Best Director

"Jim didn't have breasts, and I think that was the reason"

http://www.okmagazine.com/news/sigourney-weaver-says-kathryn-bigelows-breasts-won-her-best-director

Really Sigourney, Really? Was that necessary?

Rather than celebrate this historic win by Kathryn Bigelow Sigourney Weaver rains on our parade.

I mean what a sore loser.

She tarnishes Bigelow’s win. She may have thought that Cameron deserved the win, but there was no need to bring gender into her argument.

If Tarantino won, would she have made any complaints against him?
“Jim didn’t have as big a …” (you can fill in the blank)

So if woman can’t even be proud of and embrace the achievement of other women how can we expect others in the industry too?

Honestly, I think Bigelow should have said…

 “I won because I have breasts and the 81 other winners before me won because they have penises.” 

Kathryn would never say this because she never even addressed the fact that she’s a “female” director, but that’s another issue.

So…club meeting starting next week, and I elect Tina Fey as our president.