{"id":14119,"date":"2020-01-24T15:34:19","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T21:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/?p=14119"},"modified":"2020-01-24T15:34:20","modified_gmt":"2020-01-24T21:34:20","slug":"recognize-women-in-film","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/2020\/01\/24\/recognize-women-in-film\/","title":{"rendered":"Recognize women in film"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I<\/strong> really enjoyed most of the films released in 2019, and this year marked an amazing achievement in diverse storytelling. However, there was something missing in 2019 that has started a huge conversation around film \u2014 the recognition of female directors and the praise they should all be receiving.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Major studios used to be terrified to produce female-driven films, but we have seen a shift, and major studios are now embracing these. \u201cStar Wars,\u201d \u201cCaptain Marvel\u201d and \u201cFrozen\u201d are just a few examples of the shift, and they have earned millions of dollars. A problem lies in the blandness of blockbuster films. If we look at the films that have won \u201cbest picture\u201d since 2003, we see that movise with two or three leading women have not won. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only one woman in the 91-year Oscar history has ever won \u201cbest director.\u201dKathryn Bigelow won in 2009 for her movie, \u201cThe Hurt Locker,\u201d beating out both her ex-husband, James Cameron, and Quentin Tarantino. There seems to be a prestige problem when it comes to women in film. Why is that, and can we fix it? (I add that no African American director has ever won \u201cbest director\u201d at the Oscars.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men have taken center stage since the decline of the studio system in the 1960s and have shaped the definition of prestige in their image \u2014 both in visual vocabulary and subject matter. By looking at the academy, you may get a better understanding of this problem. Of its 9,000 members, 68% are male and 84% are white, which explains a lot when you see most of the \u201cbest picture\u201d nominees this year. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I truly enjoyed most of this year\u2019s films \u2014 many I will probably watch again. Most of the films, however, are falling into the stereotype of male prestige. \u201cLittle Women\u201d is a perfect film to juxtapose against male protagonists. Yet it did not garner as many nominations as many were hoping, including a spot in the \u201cbest director\u201d category. Some studios are taking a stand against the male standard, but they just don\u2019t have the money, the awards strategy or the look of a best picture. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Money is a big part of the awards strategy, and besides blockbusters, films that star women often do not have the financial freedom to make the creative decisions the academy likes to see. Films directed by women have the same problem. There is a level of faith that not many female directors have had the privilege of earning, and most of the time female directors are in the news for the nominations that they did not get.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women also directed more films this year than any before, but the number of accounted for female directed films is only 13.7%. Studios must actively seek and invest in giving women resources to make the creative decisions they want to make. Then a reshaping of the prestige will begin. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2018 Frances McDormand gave a powerful speech after winning \u201cbest actress.\u201d She asked all the female nominees in all categories to stand, and she said, \u201cLook around, ladies and gentlemen, because we all have stories to tell and projects we need financed. Don\u2019t talk to us about it at the parties tonight. Invite us into your office in a couple days, or you can come to ours \u2014 whatever suits you best \u2014 and we\u2019ll tell you all about them.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women have so many stories to tell, and they should be lifted up. Here are several films made in 2019 that are amazing and directed by women: \u201cThe Farewell,\u201d \u201cHarriet,\u201d \u201cHustlers,\u201d \u201cA Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,\u201d \u201cBooksmart,\u201d \u201cLate Night\u201d and \u201cLittle Women.\u201d <\/strong>
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