Who said that women in Hollywood can’t act, direct and produce their own movies and TV shows?
It goes without saying that women know what it takes to achieve real success. They overcome all obstacles to achieve their dreams. They know what they have to offer, are aware of their shortcomings, and learn how to work around them.
Yet studies have shown us that women are underrepresented in the entertainement industry. Women comprised 20% of all directors, writers, producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the top 100 grossing films in 2019 up from 16% in 2018. These percentages are still profoundly low. But progress is being made, and women are leading the way. They are the ones who are giving us hope.
When we talk about women in Hollywood being triple the weapon, we can’t go without mentioning Guy-Blaché who remarkably produced, directed, wrote, and acted in her own movies thus clearing the path for more women to create their art.
The first woman to direct a movie.
Guy-Blaché began making films in 1896, and in the same year she directed La Fée aux Choux (The Cabbage Fairy), that might be the first fiction film ever made. She had a successful career at Gaumont, which included directing La Vie du Christ in 1906, a biblical story of 30 minutes involving 25 sets and hundreds of extras. She then moved to the United States, where she founded her own production company, Solax. And continued making films when she returned to France in the 1920s.
A modern icon.
Another well-known example is Issa Rae, who is an American actress, writer, and producer. She first gained attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl. Since 2011, Rae has continued to work on her YouTube channel, featuring various short movies, web series, and other content created by people of color. She later gained more attention and success for creating, co-writing and starring in the HBO television series Insecure.
What the future holds for these talented women.
Clearly, the matter with this lack of representation isn’t about women not winning awards for their work. It is simply about them not getting enough opportunities to create the kind of work they deserve to win awards for. They deserve access of equal resources in order for them to write, direct, and produce their own work.
Hopefully, the critics around the continual lack of representation during Awards seasons, as well as the wider international conversation surrounding women’s journeys in the movie, cinema and TV show industries, will ultimately encourage us to revive the patrimony of Alice Guy-Blaché and her successors, and make the entertainment industry one in where these inspiring and creative women are equally represented.
Reference: https://hellogiggles.com/reviews-coverage/stars-who-write-direct-act-produce/
