Two women have been nominated for academy
awardsIn fact, only two have ever been nominated -- Lina Wertmuller for "Seven
Beauties" in 1976 and Jane Campion for "The Piano" in
1993.No woman has ever won.
Guerilla Girls BillboardThe U.S. Senate is more progressive than Hollywood. Female Senators: 9%, Female directors: 4%." That's according to a study undertaken at San Diego State University, and it suggests the extent to which the dreams that radiate off theater screens and into our culture are still almost exclusively the dreams of men.
in film and TV, women directed 7 percent of the top-grossing 100 films released in 2000
n 2001. The percentage [of the top 100 films] has gone way down. It looks like 4 percent, which means it's below 1992 levels.”
2005 back up to 7%
Women Film Directors in film and TV, women directed 7 percent of the top-grossing 100 films released in 2000
n 2001. The percentage [of the top 100 films] has gone way down. It looks like 4 percent, which means it's below 1992 levels.”
2005 back up to 7%
Is there a difference? Is it natural?
What is the nature of their creative expression?
Is there a distinctly female sensibility?
New meanings? Do these films
address audiences in different ways?
Maya Deren: Meshes in the Afternoon 1943
Inauguration of the American Experimental Film
Poetic dreamlike quality of film
Innovative technique to evoke conflicting emotions-like fear and desire
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Dorothy Arzner and Ida Lupino: Early Hollywood Directors
The history of women directors during the golden age of Hollywood from the 30’s-60’s can be summed up by two somewhat short careers
Women’s place in cinema has historically been in front of the camera as love interests, objects of desire, sexual threats, or negligible characters
Lack of Equality leads to Ghettoization Women filmmakers aren’t judged by their
films necessarily They are immediately labeled as women
directors The achievement of men sets the standards
to which women aspire and against which women’s achievements are measured
The problem is perceived as women’s need to catch up to men--not as a socioeconomic disparity or as an institutionalized power differential
Leslie Harris--first movie, "Just Another Girl on the IRT," got
positive reviews and made a profit, 10 years later she's still trying to put together funding for her follow-up,
"Royalties, Rhythm and Blues," a behind-the-scenes look at a woman working in
the hip-hop industry.
She has been told that African American Women can’t
carry a film
Directors of the 90’s have taken over 10 years to make a new film• Alison Maclean Crush 1993-Jesus’ Son 2000
• Rebecca Miller's first film "Angela" won the Filmmakers'
Trophy and the cinematography award at the 1995
Sundance--it took her until last year to make her second
movie
Mary Harron notes that while she's happy with her career, "'American
Psycho' made a huge amount of money. It did very, very well in Europe and tremendously well on video, and I think if I was a guy I would have had a
lot more offers having made that film
Hollywood according to writer Robin Wood
There is no women’s movement Only individual women directors Not all women make “chick flicks”--or
feminist films
Susan SeidelmanOld formats new sensibilityInteresting feminine perspectiveDoesn’t glamorize women at the
expense of menShares an affinity with desperate,
aggressive women
Smithereens and Desperately Seeking Susan Examine Contemporary ThemesFameSelf-fulfillmentPersonal identitySocial relationships
“downtown sensibility”First to show the Lower East Side of
ManhattanShows the negatives and positives and
the seedy vs. Bohemian
Smithereens 198280,000About a hustler who wants to manage
a rock bandWren, a village hipster who wants fame
and lacks talentTale of punks immersed in media and
addicted to TVProducts of a demoralized era
First American Indie to be shown at Cannes Film FestivalWhy did it have success in critical
environmentsRadical Portrayal of Character
First American Indie to be shown at Cannes Film Festival
Why did it have critical success?
Radical Portrayal of Character
Character similar to the Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan, but limits identification
Didn’t make Desperately Seeking Susan until 1985
Only offered dopey teen flicks after Smithereens
Comedy about identity Mixup between a wealthy housewife and and a hustler
Made for 5 million
Success Presence of a Pop
Star-- Up and Coming Star Stars from other indies:
John Lurie and Richard Edson from Stranger than Paradise
Plot’s complication comes from an ancient device: “amnesia”
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Studio wanted to cast a perfect blonde for the role of Susan
Seidelman wanted someone more gritty who acts like a princess (or pop icon)
Seidelman was able to get larger budgets after this film, but wasn’t able to achieve the same critical success of her first two films
Seidelman has directed many episodes of Sex and the City
Along with other important female directors of the 80’s & 1990’s
Along with directors like Alison Anders and Alison Maclean
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