Girls on (and behind) Film | Claire on women of the film industry

Hello, all!

Something exciting happened today, and I have a lot to say.

Rose Byrne is basically one of my favourite women/people in the world, and this morning I found out through DailyLife (my everything) that herself, fellow Australian actress, Gracie Otto, and three other Australian women (Director Shannon Murphy, Producer/Publicist Jessica Carrera and writer/actress Krew Boylan) have founded and started an all-female production company in Sydney called The Dollhouse Collective. Basically, I just about shut down when I read the news, and I have been freaking out about it all day.

The Dollhouse Collective, from their website

For those of you who don’t know, I am a journalism and cinema studies student, and a big feminist. I want to work towards increasing the representation of and celebrating all-women in all aspects of the film industry (Whether it be in journalism/critiquing, acting, directing, producing, working in the film crew, writers, editors etc etc). 

This is because there is a distinct disparity between female representation and that of males, which is for no reason other than the fact that females have been oppressed for far too long. In fact, when Hollywood was created back in the beginning of the film industry, women played an important role in directing, producing and other behind-the-scenes work. In particular,  Mary Pickford was one of the most famous women in the world during the 1920s, as an actress, director and film producer, and co-founded United Artists and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (aka The academy aka The Oscars). So why did the men take charge and push women out of these roles? The potential was there! (But you know, women weren't “supposed” to work back then and there has been inequality in the work place ever since).

And let me tell you, majority of the students in my cinema studies class are girls, including our tutor, but yet all the readings are written by men, and all the films we are studying are male dominated. Literally, all the films we are watching are sausage fests. There are so many girls out there who love to talk about and read about film, but it’s all from a male’s voice. And I’m tired of it, to be honest.

I adore Reese Witherspoon, and her all-female production company Pacific Standard (Gone Girl, Wild), and I also adore Rose Byrne, so hearing that she and others have created an all-female production company in Australia, a film industry that is often overlooked, (also the country in which I live) obviously makes me freak out. I am so ecstatic about this and joined the mailing list as soon as I could. 

The Dollhouse Collective in the May 2015 issue of Vogue Australia

The Dollhouse Collective’s mission statement reads, “Five filmmakers committed to exploring the creative boundaries of film, TV and theatre. We champion change, we value relationships, we advocate artistic collaborations. We are risk takers, friends and passionate storytellers.” 

The production company, according to DailyLife  and the group’s launch-interview in May’s issue of Vogue Australia (what a perfect way to announce the company, I am in awe/framing the article as we speak/read), is dedicated to producing and supporting film, television and theatre productions that feature strong female roles, as well as encouraging and assisting with each other’s projects. It is literally, as Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls would say, ladies celebrating and helping ladies. And that’s something that we all must do. How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying may boast about the greatness of the “Brotherhood of Man” but watch-out bros, the Sisterhood is here.

Reese Witherspoon and Pacific Standard co-founder, Austrlian, Bruna Papandrea (left) for Vanity Fair, 2014

There has been quite a dialogue about actresses speaking up about the lack of, and wanting strong female lead roles, and the film industry’s treatment of females in the media lately (including Meryl Streep and Cate Blanchette), which is where such production companies like Pacific Standard and The Dollhouse emerge from. However, while there is a lack of “strong” female leading roles for white women, there are even less leading roles and roles in general for ladies (or any gender) of different races and ethnicity, as evident in this years Oscars , which is also something that should be remembered. This is a good step forward, though. And I am so gosh-darn excited.

All in all, I am very passionate about the cause, and I just had to share it with you all. Ladies, y’all are amazing, beautiful and strong as hell, and I love you dearly.

Now to figure out how to get The Dollhouse to hire me after Uni...

Extra Resources:

Ava Duvernay, director of Selma
Why Representation Matters
Gina Rodriguez Golden Globe acceptance Speech
"This award is so much more than myself. It represents a culture that want's to see themselves as heroes."
Women Directors Twitter
#MakeItFair (points out the gender-gap in the film industry)

And there are so much more, but I can't find them at the moment.

Stay amazing!

 Claire. x

The Oscars pt. 2

Hello friends!

Part two of my Oscar’s post is here. So, without further ado, here are my last two ”reviews”

BIRDMAN

Birdman is the story of a former screen-superhero actor, attempting to fight his inner battles and gain relevance again by Directing and starring in a book-to-play adaption on Broadway.

And let me tell you, it is amazing.

As the opening night of the play What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, a single camera follows each character around the narrow corridors, dressing rooms, stage, and the city surrounds of Broadway’s St. James Theatre. This is orchestrated in such a way that the entire movie looks like one continuous ‘long shot’. Can we just appreciate that for a moment, please? Because there is nothing I love more than cinematography. Just, heart eyes everywhere!  Love, love, LOVE. The jazzy drums score sounds like one that would accompany a magic show, as if the whole film is a magic trick (which it so is. Movie magic, people!)

While I could go on scene by scene about the editing of the film, this is definitely also an Actors Film. The characters are so eclectic but then again, fit together so well, including Michael Keaton as ageing actor Riggan Thomas, Emma Stone as his recently rehabilitated daughter, Naomi Watts as a first time Broadway actress, Edward Norton as arrogant method actor Mike Shiner and Zach Galafanakis as Riggan’s best friend, lawyer and Producer of the show, his serious and professional character one I haven’t seen with Galifiankis before and my oh my is it welcomed.

In short, the film is amazing and everyone should see it (and don’t worry, you’re supposed to be leaving the cinema thinking “What in the world did I just watch?” just go with it.)

100% deserves the Best Picture nom (every nomination, actually), BUT, I don’t see it winning Best Picture. Why? Because it doesn’t seem like a film The Academy would choose (because The Academy have a Type. Just look at the winners of the past 5 years. But man, it would be amazing if it did.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

Everyone knows Stephen Hawking as a great scientific mind, one of the smartest people in the world, and also know that he has a motor neuron disease. However, who was Stephen Hawking before he became the man he is today, and how was his journey there? Little know about his first wife, Jane, and the fact that Stephen was told he only had 2 years to live.

This film is beautiful, and it left me with a whole lot of emotion. The score from Johann Johannsson is absolutely gorgeous. But above all, it is important to note the acting ability of Felicity Jones (Jane Wilde Hawking) and Eddie Redmayne (Stephen Hawking). Firstly, Felicity Jones is superb as Jane. I’m not sure how to describe it, but you’re just either a. going to have to take my word for it or b. go see the movie, because she was nominated for a Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA AND Oscar for Best Actress, so obviously, amazing. (It has been a couple of weeks since I’ve seen this and I didn’t take notes afterwards, so I’m sorry).

And of course, there is the delightful and charming Eddie Redmayne with the challenging role of Hawking himself. Leading up to seeing the movie, I had read many interviews with Redmayne about the role and what he did to prepare. And let me tell you, this man read every book, memories ever little fact about Hawking, and employed various movement coaches and other professionals to fully replicate the deterioration of his mobility. The effort and skill is evident in the movie and it is astounding! Particularly at the end of the film, where Hawking is at the stage we are all familiar with in his chair and automatic voice (which is Stephen Hawking’s ACTUAL, patented voice. The voice is copyrighted to Stephen Hawking, but after watching the film himself, Hawking granted the use of it to them. Amazing stuff, right?), Redmayne is able to convey such emotion in a face that can hardly move except for his eyes and cheek. HOW DOES HE DO IT? Or am I just biased? Apparently I’m not, since he has already won the Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA for the performance. It will definitely not be surprising if he wins the Oscar, too.

(Disclaimer: We do not own the images used in this post)

BUT CLAIRE, WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL WIN?

Good question! And let me level with you, I’m hardly an expert in these things, nor am I The Academy (I’m not an old white male, OH SNAP! Ok but seriously, the injustice of The Academy voting alone is a serious issue that needs to be called to attention), so this is just what I think from observation of past winners and my own opinion.

My favourites, and the ones I really want to win Best Picture are Birdman and The Theory of Everything (see above), just because both were spectacular. 

BUT, to be honest, I wouldn’t mind if any of the films I saw won. They are all amazing, hence the nomination in the first place. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Boyhood or American Sniper won. Why? Boyhood has been talked about by so many and it’s impressive 12 year long process is definitely admirable. It also won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama. And American Sniper just seems like, from the sound and looks of it (again, I haven’t seen it) such an Oscar movie. It is America, after all. That being said, there is the whole "fake baby" thing...

While I have enjoyed these movies nominated for Best Picture, and think they definitely deserve the nomination, if not win, I am a little disappointed by the lack of female representation. In all the films, a male is the lead character. In fact, if there wasn't the actual Best Female awards, the entire awards would be uncomfortably and unjustly a sausage fest. Although a female did direct Selma, (you go, Ava DuVernay, you do your thing)!

The Academy can nominate up to 10 films for Best Picture (and they have in the past). this year there were only 8, so female-led films such as Wild, Still Alice, or even Gone Girl could have easily filled those spots. The leads in these films are all nominated for acting awards (Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore and Rosamund Pike), so good luck to you, ladies! You all deserve it <3

But this is all neither here nor there ;)

THE ACADEMY AWARDS is on tomorrow, Monday the 23^rd and will be aired free-to-air on Chanel 9 at 12:30pm and will be repeated on GEM at 8:30pm.

Stay gold!

Claire x