A Letter to Future Film Directors and Producers, and everyone else in between
Dear fellow people of cinema,
Yes I'm talking to you. I'm even talking to the casual viewer in the movie seat. You are fascinated by the movies. We all are. We all love a good movie. When they're good, they're really good. When they're fantastic, they're fan-freakin-tastic. When they're really well made, they're often great masterpieces of cinema, they're works of art and sometimes, makers of history. I am one of you. I love movies. I've let go of hopes for a career in Hollywood for a calling in something else, a path I'm still discovering, but I will always have an appreciation and enjoyment for film and it's history.
Women deserve better. We have for a long time now.
What I wanted to write about today is... well, a bit different than a simple impassioned love letter regarding the rich American and foreign cinema. I wanted to implore future Hollywood producers, editors, directors, and alike, everyone in between, even the viewers, to consider a few words from the ladies...
Consider the female perspective. Please. I mean the real female perspective. The one watching the movie. Considering how important this is I'll make it as short and brief as possible.
I've seen many films, some good, some great, some masterpieces, some not so great... but no matter what there is one thing on my mind that I feel it is imperative this should be addressed. For quite some time now, women, girls, daughters, sisters, and wives... the female sex in general need some change from the movies. They have needed it for a long time. A change in how we are represented, written, and performed.
For a long time, in the early years of Hollywood movies, the golden years, female stars were mostly there for sex appeal. This is something we are all well aware of. But something I think we forget to notice is, this did not necessarily change or evolve well throughout the 20th century of cinema. While more complex, and well written female characters were written into some of the best movies we can watch from that mid-century, I would like to suggest that those were in many ways the highlights and done by directors who were masters of their craft, and simply wise people.
For the longest time in cinema, women were often used for their sex appeal (they still are), or their roles have been reduced to supporting hero, a secret lover, or a jealous wife. I'm sure we're all aware of the bechdel test. If there is a scene in the film where 2 women are together and they are discussing men romantically, and that is the only thing they talk about, it fails the test. This is to point out the consistent flaws and misunderstandings of the female perspective in cinema.
But I believe that this misunderstanding goes so much deeper. Sometimes the greatest damage is not seen on the screen. Sometimes we don't even know that a line or an action or a faint overdose of drama adds to the problem.
Now more than ever, we recognize the need for female heroines in our cinematic stories. And I don't mean Wonder Woman or Black Widow, although they are great.
I'm talking about emotionally complex, well-meaning, do-gooder, morally-driven female characters. As we proceeded through the 2010s I was able to notice a recognizable shift in this pattern, a good shift. I'm scared that things will go back to the way they were, though and women will be pushed back to the back of the mind. There are some films that do it wonderfully right and some who do it wrong. But in blockbuster, and non-blockbuster alike, we need more female heros and role models. Women we can look up to on screen. And I don't mean for their looks. I really don't.
I'll provide an example of the 20th century of something that has been happening for a while and portrays the ladies in what I believe looks like small miscalculation of character but is actually significant to female viewers.
In The Godfather Part 2 (1974), one of my favorite films but also heavily male-driven (for obvious reasons), Michael's wife *spoiler alert* performs an abortion in spite of what he has done through that movie and the previous. I know that the movie doesn't approve of who Michael has become, but this action... this dialogue... that is a small yet significant underestimate of who women are. I understand there was more to her decision in the film yet it fails to bring to light the character's morality.
It paints the picture as women do things out of spite often. We see this in a many other films in the 20th century films. Not this particular action, just the assumption and dramatization of women performing heinous acts to spite men.
I know. Women have flaws too, we are, after all, human. No one is perfect. But this mistake of character has been repeated throughout film. After awhile, it not only gets old, it gets... disappointing. No... disheartening.
I know not all of the films we've had do this.
This is changing, and there are already many films and tv series doing this, addressing these issues but I fear it'll drift into the remnants of our memories as an affect of a politically correct movement. That is not what we need. We need change. From everyone surrounding or with power in the movies. Movies have the power to change people, to shape experiences, to record drama and life.
Consider the perspective of a girl watching... any action thriller, or giant blockbuster. Just name one in your head. I'm afraid that many men, and women, will lose themselves in the dramatization of 'looking cool and sleeping with as many women as possible' while ignoring that fact that women are... complex. Women deserve better. They do.
We have moral compasses, issues surrounding our representation. The ones we get on the screen matter. Every second we see matters. Every word we hear tells us what the movies think we are. We know this does not change who we actually are, but it is upsetting and disheartening nonetheless. I argue that it is inadequate, and uninteresting.
I'm not trying to sound preachy or putting on any 'air' (a phrase I've heard in so many films it's hard to watch and listen. That phrase is wrong.) I'm not even talking about the common rant subject 'movies corrupt our culture'. No. That's not what this is about.
This is about the past and where we are now. What we, as people, can note that was wrong and can improve upon in the future for girls. For our fellow humans. For those coming-of-age here in the free world. How we can build a stronger, better, greater culture to nurture works of art with respect for the women around us. Not why we should. The why shouldn't really be called into discussion. Women have deserved better. They have for a long time now.
I get concerned when I see a character like Shelly on Twin Peaks (1990), a victim of domestic abuse, and how the solution that is shown is another man being that one that solves all her problems. This... I understand the writer didn't mean any harm by this subplot or romance, but... in domestic abuse... Women need to see them getting themselves out of that situation. That is hard, but it is strength and we're stronger than what we've seen on television in its history. We are for people helping other people in that desperate, misguided, tricky situation, but we must remember: sometimes they need to be able to understand that they are stronger than they know. And sometimes what people need most in a situation like that is this: a friend. Not another lover.
When I saw this character I was really sad. Despite being on one of my newest favorite tv shows, Shelly was not a strong representation of women on screen; she cried all the time, and when she was being domestically abused, she stayed with him. I know this is so often the real case but I believe it doesn't have to be this way. What the writer was telling the audience, inadvertently, probably even without knowing it, women in situations like Shelly's need to wait for a man to come and rescue her from her problems. This does not happen most of the time in domestic violence cases. This is where I believe those in cinema have the power to do so much good with heroic or strong representation of women. On the opposite side, a positive, strong representation of a woman in this situation can be found in Slumdog Millionaire (2008) towards the end with Latika.
We can make strong, good choices. Especially for ourselves. This isn't about being an independent women: it's more about how we're human. We struggle for good and happiness living through the human experience and we have made tough choices for our well being and the well being of others. This is just as important as a man's view and experiences with the discussion of good vs. evil.
We need more on screen heroines making life-or-death tough decisions like Mulan (1998), Silence of the Lambs (1991), My Best Friend's Wedding (a good example because of the tough but right decision she made) (1997), Hidden Figures (2016), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Edge of Tomorrow (2014), Erin Brockovich (2000), and the Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009). This is regardless of an opinion regarding those previously mentioned being great or not. The new Star Wars movies deserve a particular honorable mention due to their placing a remarkable heroine in the mix.
Let's not get lost in glamor and beauty, in models and perfect noses, and forget the female perspective, young and old, watching with us in the movie theater. Growing up in and learning this world.
So when you're creating your next work of art, your next cinematic endeavor, or even going into a movie, I ask you to remember this.
Women, like men, have the capacity to do so much good and so much evil. Our character is just as much in question as a man's. Our heroic acts are just as much significant as a man's, if not more considering the sexism that has left a mark on the world in history. This is not a feminist's perspective this is a human being's perspective. A perspective I implore you all to hear, and remember.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, A hopeful girl raising a glass to all the powerful women and respectful men in our lives.
Yes I'm talking to you. I'm even talking to the casual viewer in the movie seat. You are fascinated by the movies. We all are. We all love a good movie. When they're good, they're really good. When they're fantastic, they're fan-freakin-tastic. When they're really well made, they're often great masterpieces of cinema, they're works of art and sometimes, makers of history. I am one of you. I love movies. I've let go of hopes for a career in Hollywood for a calling in something else, a path I'm still discovering, but I will always have an appreciation and enjoyment for film and it's history.
Women deserve better. We have for a long time now.
What I wanted to write about today is... well, a bit different than a simple impassioned love letter regarding the rich American and foreign cinema. I wanted to implore future Hollywood producers, editors, directors, and alike, everyone in between, even the viewers, to consider a few words from the ladies...
Consider the female perspective. Please. I mean the real female perspective. The one watching the movie. Considering how important this is I'll make it as short and brief as possible.
I've seen many films, some good, some great, some masterpieces, some not so great... but no matter what there is one thing on my mind that I feel it is imperative this should be addressed. For quite some time now, women, girls, daughters, sisters, and wives... the female sex in general need some change from the movies. They have needed it for a long time. A change in how we are represented, written, and performed.
For a long time, in the early years of Hollywood movies, the golden years, female stars were mostly there for sex appeal. This is something we are all well aware of. But something I think we forget to notice is, this did not necessarily change or evolve well throughout the 20th century of cinema. While more complex, and well written female characters were written into some of the best movies we can watch from that mid-century, I would like to suggest that those were in many ways the highlights and done by directors who were masters of their craft, and simply wise people.
For the longest time in cinema, women were often used for their sex appeal (they still are), or their roles have been reduced to supporting hero, a secret lover, or a jealous wife. I'm sure we're all aware of the bechdel test. If there is a scene in the film where 2 women are together and they are discussing men romantically, and that is the only thing they talk about, it fails the test. This is to point out the consistent flaws and misunderstandings of the female perspective in cinema.
But I believe that this misunderstanding goes so much deeper. Sometimes the greatest damage is not seen on the screen. Sometimes we don't even know that a line or an action or a faint overdose of drama adds to the problem.
Now more than ever, we recognize the need for female heroines in our cinematic stories. And I don't mean Wonder Woman or Black Widow, although they are great.
I'm talking about emotionally complex, well-meaning, do-gooder, morally-driven female characters. As we proceeded through the 2010s I was able to notice a recognizable shift in this pattern, a good shift. I'm scared that things will go back to the way they were, though and women will be pushed back to the back of the mind. There are some films that do it wonderfully right and some who do it wrong. But in blockbuster, and non-blockbuster alike, we need more female heros and role models. Women we can look up to on screen. And I don't mean for their looks. I really don't.
I'll provide an example of the 20th century of something that has been happening for a while and portrays the ladies in what I believe looks like small miscalculation of character but is actually significant to female viewers.
In The Godfather Part 2 (1974), one of my favorite films but also heavily male-driven (for obvious reasons), Michael's wife *spoiler alert* performs an abortion in spite of what he has done through that movie and the previous. I know that the movie doesn't approve of who Michael has become, but this action... this dialogue... that is a small yet significant underestimate of who women are. I understand there was more to her decision in the film yet it fails to bring to light the character's morality.
It paints the picture as women do things out of spite often. We see this in a many other films in the 20th century films. Not this particular action, just the assumption and dramatization of women performing heinous acts to spite men.
I know. Women have flaws too, we are, after all, human. No one is perfect. But this mistake of character has been repeated throughout film. After awhile, it not only gets old, it gets... disappointing. No... disheartening.
This is changing, and there are already many films and tv series doing this, addressing these issues but I fear it'll drift into the remnants of our memories as an affect of a politically correct movement. That is not what we need. We need change. From everyone surrounding or with power in the movies. Movies have the power to change people, to shape experiences, to record drama and life.
Consider the perspective of a girl watching... any action thriller, or giant blockbuster. Just name one in your head. I'm afraid that many men, and women, will lose themselves in the dramatization of 'looking cool and sleeping with as many women as possible' while ignoring that fact that women are... complex. Women deserve better. They do.
We have moral compasses, issues surrounding our representation. The ones we get on the screen matter. Every second we see matters. Every word we hear tells us what the movies think we are. We know this does not change who we actually are, but it is upsetting and disheartening nonetheless. I argue that it is inadequate, and uninteresting.
I'm not trying to sound preachy or putting on any 'air' (a phrase I've heard in so many films it's hard to watch and listen. That phrase is wrong.) I'm not even talking about the common rant subject 'movies corrupt our culture'. No. That's not what this is about.
This is about the past and where we are now. What we, as people, can note that was wrong and can improve upon in the future for girls. For our fellow humans. For those coming-of-age here in the free world. How we can build a stronger, better, greater culture to nurture works of art with respect for the women around us. Not why we should. The why shouldn't really be called into discussion. Women have deserved better. They have for a long time now.
I get concerned when I see a character like Shelly on Twin Peaks (1990), a victim of domestic abuse, and how the solution that is shown is another man being that one that solves all her problems. This... I understand the writer didn't mean any harm by this subplot or romance, but... in domestic abuse... Women need to see them getting themselves out of that situation. That is hard, but it is strength and we're stronger than what we've seen on television in its history. We are for people helping other people in that desperate, misguided, tricky situation, but we must remember: sometimes they need to be able to understand that they are stronger than they know. And sometimes what people need most in a situation like that is this: a friend. Not another lover.
When I saw this character I was really sad. Despite being on one of my newest favorite tv shows, Shelly was not a strong representation of women on screen; she cried all the time, and when she was being domestically abused, she stayed with him. I know this is so often the real case but I believe it doesn't have to be this way. What the writer was telling the audience, inadvertently, probably even without knowing it, women in situations like Shelly's need to wait for a man to come and rescue her from her problems. This does not happen most of the time in domestic violence cases. This is where I believe those in cinema have the power to do so much good with heroic or strong representation of women. On the opposite side, a positive, strong representation of a woman in this situation can be found in Slumdog Millionaire (2008) towards the end with Latika.
We can make strong, good choices. Especially for ourselves. This isn't about being an independent women: it's more about how we're human. We struggle for good and happiness living through the human experience and we have made tough choices for our well being and the well being of others. This is just as important as a man's view and experiences with the discussion of good vs. evil.
We need more on screen heroines making life-or-death tough decisions like Mulan (1998), Silence of the Lambs (1991), My Best Friend's Wedding (a good example because of the tough but right decision she made) (1997), Hidden Figures (2016), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Edge of Tomorrow (2014), Erin Brockovich (2000), and the Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009). This is regardless of an opinion regarding those previously mentioned being great or not. The new Star Wars movies deserve a particular honorable mention due to their placing a remarkable heroine in the mix.
Let's not get lost in glamor and beauty, in models and perfect noses, and forget the female perspective, young and old, watching with us in the movie theater. Growing up in and learning this world.
So when you're creating your next work of art, your next cinematic endeavor, or even going into a movie, I ask you to remember this.
Women, like men, have the capacity to do so much good and so much evil. Our character is just as much in question as a man's. Our heroic acts are just as much significant as a man's, if not more considering the sexism that has left a mark on the world in history. This is not a feminist's perspective this is a human being's perspective. A perspective I implore you all to hear, and remember.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, A hopeful girl raising a glass to all the powerful women and respectful men in our lives.
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