IRON MAN, Batman, Big Angry Green Man — to judge from the new popcorn season it seems as if Hollywood has realized that the best way to deal with its female troubles is to not have any, women, that is.
Not that it hasn’t tried to make nice with the leading ladies, in films like “The Invasion” (with Nicole Kidman) and “The Brave One” (Jodie Foster). Yet, after those Warner Brothers titles fizzled, the online chatter was that the studio’s president for production, Jeff Robinov, had vowed it would no longer make movies with female leads. A studio representative denied he made the comments. And, frankly, it is hard to believe that anyone in a position of Hollywood power would be so stupid as to actually say what many in that town think: Women can’t direct. Women can’t open movies. Women are a niche.
Brand spankin’ new…! The MoviesByWomen audio podcast 14: Women in Hollywood, with special guest Dr. Martha Lauzen, PhD.
We’re in iTunes and now available for download. If you’re subscribed to the Movies By Women audio podcast channel in iTunes, just hit “Update Podcasts and you’ll get it automatically.
Podcast #14: This week’s show focuses on the much talked about startling statistics of women filmmakers working in Hollywood. Our guest Dr. Martha Lauzen PhD., walks us through the harsh reality of being one of the under-represented women working in the “movie biz”.
Did you know that only 6% of Hollywood’s top 250 grossing films of 2007 were directed by women?
The question is posed — is Hollywood sexist? Tune in and find out! You don’t want to miss this episode!
That’s right - you won’t want to miss this podcast episode.
Dr. Martha M. Lauzen serves as a faculty member at San Diego State University and conducts annual studies of women working on screen and behind the scenes in prime-time television and film. Dr. Lauzen holds a doctorate from the University of Maryland and M.A. and B.A. degrees from the University of Iowa.
Also from films42.com description of her work: Professor Martha Lauzen of San Diego State University has documented the progress of women in the film industry for beyond a decade, and her results are a sobering reminder that equity continues to be a major issue in one of America’s preeminent industries. According to the Executive Summary of the “Celluloid Ceiling” report she released in June…
You’ll want to hear this interview with your hosts Tara Veneruso, Lucy Rodriguez-Watson, and Stephanie Young.
Did you know that the MBW podcast is all about giving you the nuts and bolts of filmmaking. I like to think of it as filmmaking 101. Seriously - our guests tell you every aspect of this industry and they’re coming quicker than we can get them out. Also, we’ve got so many updates for you that my email box is bulging out! We’re going to have Author and Film Historian Cari Beauchmap next week on the podcast channel. You will learn so much! It’s a personal guarantee.
I’m going to be kicking out the updates too fast - such as - look out if you live in Los Angeles for the Asian American Film Festival coming later this month (starts April 29th). We’ll have a podcast special on the events. Also, check local listings for more screenings of Mary Lambert’s 14 Women - It is a killer documentary about the 14 women in the Senate.
I’m also planning a podcast episode devoted to your filmmaking/technical questions - no question is to big or small. Check out my resume and you’ll see I’m not kidding - I don’t mean it to be horribly vain - but simply to say that I thrive to teach non-technical people technology!
Also, we’d love to read YOUR letters, comments, topic, or movie review suggestions on the air…podcast that is. Send us your thoughts or suggestions and let’s heat it up. You might even win free schwag by doing so… we’ve got some great stuff coming in the door. And pass this link onto your friends.
