No Girls Allowed
It is clear that Hollywood is out of ideas for original films. Every year we see films being released that follow the same plot as four films from the previous year. Is this because filmmakers have told every story in the universe? Or could there be another reason for the many repetitive films and sequels being put out each year? Perhaps it because there is such a limited vision in the industry. Since the beginning of the film industry, it has always been a field dominated by men. The only jobs given to women have been wardrobe, makeup, acting, and casting roles. The gender gap in the industry is an issue that is just barely coming to the attention(s) of the media and the general public.
The most obvious proof that gender inequality exists in the film industry can be seen in the Oscars. This annual event is hosted by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Each year a panel of academy judges reviews and nominates films for the awards in several categories including editing, music, costumes, acting, and directing. Films are also nominated to receive the award for Best Picture. The first award ceremony was held in 1927. 2015 will mark the 87th year for the Oscars.
Over the years hundreds of male directors have been nominated to receive the award for Best Director. Since the beginning of the awards only four women have received nominations for Best Director. The first woman to be nominated was Lena Wertmuller for her film Seven Beauties in 1976. In 1993 Jane Campion was nominated for The Piano. Sofia Coppola received a nomination in 2003 for her film Lost in Translation. Finally, in 2009, Kathryn Bigelow was nominated for and won Best Director for The Hurt Locker.
Several films directed by women have been nominated for best picture including Zero Dark Thirty, Winter’s Bone, Little Miss Sunshine, The Kids Are Alright, Awakening, An Education, The Prince of Tides, and Children of a Lesser God. Out of the films nominated only two directed by women actually won Best Picture. The first was Slumdog Millionaire in 2008 which was directed by the duo Loveleen Tandan and Danny Boyle. The second film to win was The Hurt Locker. (Oscars.org)
The independent industry seems to provide more opportunities for women to work as directors, producers, and other film makers. In the article written by Sophia Savage, Cathy Schulman of the organization Women in Film claims “There is a greater representation of female filmmakers in independent film as compared to Hollywood.” (Savage) Half of the movie tickets bought in America are purchased by women, so why are there so few opportunities for women to work behind the camera in Hollywood? A lot of the gender inequality has to do with the people who are running the production companies. These individuals decide which film projects to pursue and which filmmakers receive funding. The majority of the ones making these decisions are from the generation that believed in more traditional gender roles. Edward Helmore interviewed Dr. Martha Lauzen, a professor at San Diego State University, for his article on gender inequality. Dr. Lauzen says “One of the reasons we haven't seen much change, is that it's not seen as a problem by people in positions of power – even by some women. Unless you perceive something as a problem you're not going to fix it." (Helmore)
In all the years Hollywood has been putting out films, not a single female film director has successfully released a blockbuster hit in the action/adventure genre. Only one woman has been awarded directorship on one of these projects, but left the project before it was completed. Some female film directors have been given opportunities to direct action oriented films, but have turned them down due to the pressure of the industry.
Films directed by women seem to be scrutinized more than films directed by men. There is also a lot of media discussion about women’s ability to balance work and family. Women working in the industry, including actresses, are constantly being asked this question, while their male counterparts are never required to even discuss the subject. (Alexander)
Currently Warner Brothers is considering producing a film based off the Comic Superhero Wonder Woman. It is rumored that executives for the company want a female director for the project. There is speculation that Kathryn Bigelow seems to be the first choice of the production company, but other female directors are being considered as well. (Hughes)
In an infographic study released by the New York Film Academy, gender inequality was broken down into specific categories. They analyzed 500 films between 2007 and 2012 to determine the way women are utilized in the industry both on screen and behind the camera. There are over twice as many speaking roles given to men than women who act in films. The ratio between men and women who work in the industry is currently five to one. Only 9% of film directors who released films in 2012 were women. This is an increase from the previous year which only had 5% of directors being women. Salary differences between actors and actresses show that female actresses are paid significantly less than men. The top ten highest paid actors in Hollywood in 2013 nearly all men. Angelina Jolie was the only woman on the list and she came in at number ten. As of 2013, only one film directed by a women has received wide release. This film was Carrie in 2013. (Zurko)
Another study conducted by The Sundance Institute and the organization Women in Film revealed similar results to the study released by the New York Film Academy. The results were shared with some of the top industry leaders who were attending the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013. Sundance officials hoped this study would highlight both the barriers faced by women in the industry and the progress that is being made to offer greater opportunities to female filmmakers. Some of the most challenging barriers faced by women in the industry are stereotyping on set, male-dominated networking, and limited financial offerings.
The study looked at U.S. produced films screened at the Sundance Film Festival between 2002 and 2012. It assessed the genders of directors, writers, editors, producers and cinematographers for each film that was reviewed. 29.8% of the filmmakers in these roles were women. It was also found that women were more likely to be producers than any other behind the scenes filmmaker. Documentary filmmakers were more likely to be women than narrative filmmakers. (Savage)
These two studies prove there is a need for greater equality in the industry. This is driving multiple organizations in America to design campaigns and programs to offer more opportunities to women who wish to pursue careers in the film industry. Most of these organizations offer support to the independent film industry rather than blockbuster movies. Though it is very difficult for women to gain backing from a large production company, these programs are a step in the right direction in eliminating the gender gap.
In 1973, Women in Film was founded. This organization was dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women working in the film industry. It also hoped to improve how women are portrayed in all forms of media. Currently the organization provides advocacy, education, and financial opportunities to female filmmakers across the globe. Women in Film has established multiple programs to offer support to the women working in today’s film industry. Several financial programs are available to assist filmmakers in completing their projects and promoting them. There are also opportunities for internships, workshops, and seminars to better educate film students pursuing careers. (WiF.org)
In 2012, Women in Film partnered with the Sundance Institute to launch the Women’s Initiative. This initiative seeks to increase the female presence behind the camera. There are four parts to the initiative: Mentorship, Financing, Networking, and Awareness. A mentorship program was established to offer female filmmakers the opportunity to work with other filmmakers in the industry and gain greater knowledge in the field. Filmmakers who complete educational programs through the Sundance Institute can also be offered fellowships to work on film projects. (Sundance.org)
The Alliance of Women Directors was established in 1997. Like Women in Film it supports the education, advocacy, and visibility of women in the film industry. It hosts events each year for filmmakers to network and promote their projects. The alliance is only open to women who have released a project and received public notice. It also provides a directory of women working in various roles within the industry so that filmmakers can offer more opportunities for equality. (AWD.org)
The American Film Institute established the Directing Workshop for Women in 1974. Since the program’s launch 275 women who have attended the workshop have gone on to direct professionally. The yearlong workshop is tuition free and intended to help filmmakers complete projects they can submit to film festivals. (AFI.com/dww)
It is clear that there is an ongoing struggle to achieve equality in the film industry. Though there are multiple groups trying to raise awareness and increase opportunities for women in the industry, there is still a lot of work to be done. Gender equality will only be achieved if more people in our society demand for change. Industry executives do not believe that the gender gap is a problem, and never will unless movie viewers demand for reform and change. As the market changes, there will be increased need for the filmmakers to change with it. A woman’s perspective on a film project may help to bring new ideas and some originality to the films being released for public consumption.
"Alliance of Women Directors - Vision Focus Action." Alliance of Women Directors - Vision Focus Action. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/#!page2/cjg9>.
"American Film Institute." American Film Institute. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.afi.com/dww/>.
Alexander, Lexi. "No More Excuses: Hollywood Needs to Hire More Female Directors." Indiewire. 5 Jan. 2014. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.indiewire.com/article/no-more-excuses-hollywood-needs-to-hire-more-female-directors>
Helmore, Edward. "The Naked Truth: Hollywood Still Treats Its Women as Second Class Citizens." The Guardian. 1 Dec. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. .
Hughes, Mark. "Warner Bros. Sets Sights on Female Directors for 'Wonder Woman'" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2014/10/24/warner-bros-sets-sights-on-female-directors-for-wonder-woman/>.
"Oscars." Oscars. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.oscars.org/oscars>.
Savage, Sophia. "Film Industry's Gender Inequality Targeted by Sundance Institute and Women in Film's Research." Thompson on Hollywood. 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/sundance-institute-and-women-in-film-study>.
"Women in Film." About WIF. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://wif.org/about-wif>
"Women's Initiative." Sundance Institute. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.sundance.org/initiatives/womens-initiative>.
Zurko, Nicholas. "Gender Inequality in Film - An Infographic." New York Film Academy Blog. 25 Nov. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014.
The most obvious proof that gender inequality exists in the film industry can be seen in the Oscars. This annual event is hosted by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Each year a panel of academy judges reviews and nominates films for the awards in several categories including editing, music, costumes, acting, and directing. Films are also nominated to receive the award for Best Picture. The first award ceremony was held in 1927. 2015 will mark the 87th year for the Oscars.
Over the years hundreds of male directors have been nominated to receive the award for Best Director. Since the beginning of the awards only four women have received nominations for Best Director. The first woman to be nominated was Lena Wertmuller for her film Seven Beauties in 1976. In 1993 Jane Campion was nominated for The Piano. Sofia Coppola received a nomination in 2003 for her film Lost in Translation. Finally, in 2009, Kathryn Bigelow was nominated for and won Best Director for The Hurt Locker.
Several films directed by women have been nominated for best picture including Zero Dark Thirty, Winter’s Bone, Little Miss Sunshine, The Kids Are Alright, Awakening, An Education, The Prince of Tides, and Children of a Lesser God. Out of the films nominated only two directed by women actually won Best Picture. The first was Slumdog Millionaire in 2008 which was directed by the duo Loveleen Tandan and Danny Boyle. The second film to win was The Hurt Locker. (Oscars.org)
The independent industry seems to provide more opportunities for women to work as directors, producers, and other film makers. In the article written by Sophia Savage, Cathy Schulman of the organization Women in Film claims “There is a greater representation of female filmmakers in independent film as compared to Hollywood.” (Savage) Half of the movie tickets bought in America are purchased by women, so why are there so few opportunities for women to work behind the camera in Hollywood? A lot of the gender inequality has to do with the people who are running the production companies. These individuals decide which film projects to pursue and which filmmakers receive funding. The majority of the ones making these decisions are from the generation that believed in more traditional gender roles. Edward Helmore interviewed Dr. Martha Lauzen, a professor at San Diego State University, for his article on gender inequality. Dr. Lauzen says “One of the reasons we haven't seen much change, is that it's not seen as a problem by people in positions of power – even by some women. Unless you perceive something as a problem you're not going to fix it." (Helmore)
In all the years Hollywood has been putting out films, not a single female film director has successfully released a blockbuster hit in the action/adventure genre. Only one woman has been awarded directorship on one of these projects, but left the project before it was completed. Some female film directors have been given opportunities to direct action oriented films, but have turned them down due to the pressure of the industry.
Films directed by women seem to be scrutinized more than films directed by men. There is also a lot of media discussion about women’s ability to balance work and family. Women working in the industry, including actresses, are constantly being asked this question, while their male counterparts are never required to even discuss the subject. (Alexander)
Currently Warner Brothers is considering producing a film based off the Comic Superhero Wonder Woman. It is rumored that executives for the company want a female director for the project. There is speculation that Kathryn Bigelow seems to be the first choice of the production company, but other female directors are being considered as well. (Hughes)
In an infographic study released by the New York Film Academy, gender inequality was broken down into specific categories. They analyzed 500 films between 2007 and 2012 to determine the way women are utilized in the industry both on screen and behind the camera. There are over twice as many speaking roles given to men than women who act in films. The ratio between men and women who work in the industry is currently five to one. Only 9% of film directors who released films in 2012 were women. This is an increase from the previous year which only had 5% of directors being women. Salary differences between actors and actresses show that female actresses are paid significantly less than men. The top ten highest paid actors in Hollywood in 2013 nearly all men. Angelina Jolie was the only woman on the list and she came in at number ten. As of 2013, only one film directed by a women has received wide release. This film was Carrie in 2013. (Zurko)
Another study conducted by The Sundance Institute and the organization Women in Film revealed similar results to the study released by the New York Film Academy. The results were shared with some of the top industry leaders who were attending the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013. Sundance officials hoped this study would highlight both the barriers faced by women in the industry and the progress that is being made to offer greater opportunities to female filmmakers. Some of the most challenging barriers faced by women in the industry are stereotyping on set, male-dominated networking, and limited financial offerings.
The study looked at U.S. produced films screened at the Sundance Film Festival between 2002 and 2012. It assessed the genders of directors, writers, editors, producers and cinematographers for each film that was reviewed. 29.8% of the filmmakers in these roles were women. It was also found that women were more likely to be producers than any other behind the scenes filmmaker. Documentary filmmakers were more likely to be women than narrative filmmakers. (Savage)
These two studies prove there is a need for greater equality in the industry. This is driving multiple organizations in America to design campaigns and programs to offer more opportunities to women who wish to pursue careers in the film industry. Most of these organizations offer support to the independent film industry rather than blockbuster movies. Though it is very difficult for women to gain backing from a large production company, these programs are a step in the right direction in eliminating the gender gap.
In 1973, Women in Film was founded. This organization was dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women working in the film industry. It also hoped to improve how women are portrayed in all forms of media. Currently the organization provides advocacy, education, and financial opportunities to female filmmakers across the globe. Women in Film has established multiple programs to offer support to the women working in today’s film industry. Several financial programs are available to assist filmmakers in completing their projects and promoting them. There are also opportunities for internships, workshops, and seminars to better educate film students pursuing careers. (WiF.org)
In 2012, Women in Film partnered with the Sundance Institute to launch the Women’s Initiative. This initiative seeks to increase the female presence behind the camera. There are four parts to the initiative: Mentorship, Financing, Networking, and Awareness. A mentorship program was established to offer female filmmakers the opportunity to work with other filmmakers in the industry and gain greater knowledge in the field. Filmmakers who complete educational programs through the Sundance Institute can also be offered fellowships to work on film projects. (Sundance.org)
The Alliance of Women Directors was established in 1997. Like Women in Film it supports the education, advocacy, and visibility of women in the film industry. It hosts events each year for filmmakers to network and promote their projects. The alliance is only open to women who have released a project and received public notice. It also provides a directory of women working in various roles within the industry so that filmmakers can offer more opportunities for equality. (AWD.org)
The American Film Institute established the Directing Workshop for Women in 1974. Since the program’s launch 275 women who have attended the workshop have gone on to direct professionally. The yearlong workshop is tuition free and intended to help filmmakers complete projects they can submit to film festivals. (AFI.com/dww)
It is clear that there is an ongoing struggle to achieve equality in the film industry. Though there are multiple groups trying to raise awareness and increase opportunities for women in the industry, there is still a lot of work to be done. Gender equality will only be achieved if more people in our society demand for change. Industry executives do not believe that the gender gap is a problem, and never will unless movie viewers demand for reform and change. As the market changes, there will be increased need for the filmmakers to change with it. A woman’s perspective on a film project may help to bring new ideas and some originality to the films being released for public consumption.
"Alliance of Women Directors - Vision Focus Action." Alliance of Women Directors - Vision Focus Action. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.allianceofwomendirectors.org/#!page2/cjg9>.
"American Film Institute." American Film Institute. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.afi.com/dww/>.
Alexander, Lexi. "No More Excuses: Hollywood Needs to Hire More Female Directors." Indiewire. 5 Jan. 2014. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.indiewire.com/article/no-more-excuses-hollywood-needs-to-hire-more-female-directors>
Helmore, Edward. "The Naked Truth: Hollywood Still Treats Its Women as Second Class Citizens." The Guardian. 1 Dec. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. .
Hughes, Mark. "Warner Bros. Sets Sights on Female Directors for 'Wonder Woman'" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2014/10/24/warner-bros-sets-sights-on-female-directors-for-wonder-woman/>.
"Oscars." Oscars. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.oscars.org/oscars>.
Savage, Sophia. "Film Industry's Gender Inequality Targeted by Sundance Institute and Women in Film's Research." Thompson on Hollywood. 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/sundance-institute-and-women-in-film-study>.
"Women in Film." About WIF. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://wif.org/about-wif>
"Women's Initiative." Sundance Institute. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.sundance.org/initiatives/womens-initiative>.
Zurko, Nicholas. "Gender Inequality in Film - An Infographic." New York Film Academy Blog. 25 Nov. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014.