answers needed pleaseeeeeee
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Miranda July
isabella_00 — 19 years ago(June 09, 2006 01:48 AM)
hello there
Im doing a media studies research project on women directors and why there are so few of them around.
Do you think audiences dismiss films directed by female drectors?
or
Do you think institutions are sexist and think their films wont be a success with audiences?
please could you give me feedback as would really help!
isabella x -
jeffrude-1 — 19 years ago(June 20, 2006 07:27 AM)
I think that similar to female singers and musicians, women have been pushed into using their art as a political statement rather than entertainment. Not all of them, but a few bad apples spoil the bunch. Raised by a feminist mother I figure that hearing the same tired arguement from the female "political" artists drumming the same messages into our tired minds repeatedly gets a little boring and annoying and so we may tune out?
I relate it to black comedians who relate everything in their life to the difference between black folks and white folks (good example of a satire of this is Chris Rock's character Controversy LeRoux). It's like hearing the same jokes over and over again until you are telling the teller the ending before they can finish the joke.
Female directors tend to be overtly political and always on the same issues, control, power, sex, etc and that gets old. Audiences don't always want a helping of sour opinion with their entertainment. The American audience is trending towards lighter films with simpler storylines at least this is what my producer tells me and he is a genius ha ha ha.
You may take this as sexist but it's just one perspective. I don't think that July's film was this way actually, and she saw success in her work the same could be said for Sopia Copolla who does moderately well with her work as well.
Another view could be that women never get tapped to do the big blockbusters like King Kong or X Men or Lord of the Rings. I suspect that this is a concious choice by the few directors out there who are successful enough to be sought after for larger projets. War epics and action spy films may not attract the female director as much as it attracts a boy who grew up playing with GI Joe.
Finally, there are significantly less female directors thus less good work is produced from that creative grouping.
One up and comer I hear of is the lady who directed a movie called Red Road I don't know much about her but check her out she is a new kid on the block.
Hope I helped this is the first time I ever posted. -
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gbutton-1 — 19 years ago(October 04, 2006 11:06 AM)
I think at this point most people in my generation are simply scared to get another lecture. I was raised to believe in gender equality, so the last thing I want to do is to get a lecture trying to convince me of something I already believe. Some may agree.
Also, I think that director or film writer is a tricky subject. The majority of people who go to see films have no clue who they are written or directed by. -
CTriskelion — 19 years ago(October 19, 2006 05:12 PM)
From your two questionsI lean more towards the fact that institutions are sexist and think their films wont be a success with audiences. Which is so unfortunate, as Miranda July's, "You and Me and Everyone We Know" was so freaking fantastic, as a story, and the dark humor, and bare emotions were so very poignant and touching to me. I am a former journalist, and aspiring screenwriter myself, who, coming from a liberal arts college in Massachusetts..had the pleasure of taking classes with a Dr. Brooks Robards..at Westfield State Collegean excellent professor.personand her film knowledge, especially in Women's Studies..is first rate.if you are able to find her any of her writings, would benefit you greatlymy very best to you and your endeavors..excellent subject.I want to see more Susan Seidelman, Nora Ephron, when she's goodand a potpourri of women of colorand distinctioncontinue to add to the wonderful world of film.their stories, have always resonated with me..Martha Coolidge..Agneiska Holland.ahI could go on and on.Mira Nair:)
my best to you,
Stephen M. Carmody -
CTriskelion — 19 years ago(October 19, 2006 05:14 PM)
my email btw is CTriskelion@aol.com..if you ever want to chat more.