Women make up half of the movie audience, so logic has it that many female directors should be discovered and trained to “represent” their sisters’ stories on the silver screen. In reality, however, filmmaking remains very much a man’s world, and some women have a hard time imposing their will on a recalcitrant movie crew not used to getting orders from a “lady.”
That’s why, without being sexist about it, more support should be given to female filmmakers, to make up for the difficulties and “cultural” biases involved.
Local scene
On the local film scene, top talents like Laurice Guillen, Olivia Lamasan and Joyce Bernal have proven that they can match and sometimes even beat the guys—and gays—at the filmmaking game.
But, they’re still in the distinct minority so many more female screen artists are needed to fill in the blanks and make up for the slack.
How to do it? In Hollywood, a special development program for new female writer-directors has been put up to discover and train scores of young talents. Some stars have been thus encouraged to work behind as well as in front of the cameras, coming up with stories that speak of and for women’s unique experiences and view of life.
Among the most successful of these stars turned directors is Penny Marshall, who became popular as one of the leads in the hit sitcom, “Laverne and Shirley.” These days, her claim to fame is being the first female director to make a film that grossed more than $100 million (“Big,” starring Tom Hanks).
Years later, her third film, “Awakenings,” was nominated for best picture at the Oscars—unfortunately, she didn’t get a Best Director nomination. Still, not bad at all, right?
Later, Marshall teamed up with Hanks again to come up with another major success, “A League of Their Own,” in which she dealt with the seldom dramatized subject matter of women in sports.
Jodie, Diane
Jodie Foster is an even more popular star (two Best Actress Oscars, for “The Silence of the Lambs” and “The Accused”), and the movies she’s directed include “Big Man Tate,” “Home for the Holidays” and “The Beaver.”
Diane Keaton went through the US Film Academy’s talent development process for female directors, and has directed a docu-drama, “Heaven,” and a well-received TV series, “Wildflower.” She was even nominated for an Emmy for her work on an “Afternoon Special” production, “The Girl With the Crazy Brother.”
Unknown to many, the Angelina Jolie made her own directorial debut in 2011, by way of the wartime drama, “In the Land of Blood and Money.” She’s also credited with having megged a documentary, “A Place in Time.”
Drew Barrymore made her directorial debut in 2009 with “Whip It.” The feature film starred Ellen Page and Marcia Gay Harden and focused on beauty pageants and a female roller derby team.
Even Scarlett Johansson has tried her hand at directing, by way of the short film, “These Vagabond Shoes.” And Madonna has directed two films, “W. E.” and “Filth and Freedom.”
Other female stars turned filmmakers or TV directors: Betty Thomas, Anjelica Houston, Courtney Cox, and Jennifer Aniston. Let’s have many more of them, both locally and internationally, real soon!