As a young woman aspiring to be a successful filmmaker, I was shocked when I first watched the trailer for the documentary “Miss Representation,” directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and saw one of the statistics about women in film. “Women comprise only 16% of all writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, and editors.” This statistic, which can also be found on the New York Women in Film and Television website, makes me wonder: what is the role of women in film and what does this mean for a young woman wanting to in these careers? So, I did a little research and decided to highlight three inspirational, American female filmmakers that prove just how powerful a woman can be behind the camera despite the rest of society’s criticism.
1.Catherine Hardwicke
Catherine Hardwicke is a well-known independent filmmaker, starting her career for the low budget hit “Thirteen.” However, she is most recognized as the director of the first “Twilight” movie. Despite the debate that many people have over the quality of the film, it still stands as an influential project for woman. The story was turned down multiple times before finally being accepted by the small, up-and-coming studio, Summit Entertainment, and they brought Hardwicke on board. Many would never have hired her. They believed that girls would never watch a film directed by a woman. As everyone around the world knows, those people were wrong and “Twilight” as become one of the most popular international film franchises. Then, when it came time for the next film, the producers refused to give Hardwicke a larger budget and gave that bigger budget to a male director. While the rest of the films have been directed by men, Hardwicke and her agent, as she recounted in her interview for the film “Miss Representation,” have been told to their faces that the films they were going after could only be filmed by men.
2. Kathryn Bigelow
Before her film “The Hurt Locker,” Bigelow had directed several less-notable films and was also the ex-wife of Director James Cameron, the mind behind major box office hits “Titanic” and “Avatar.” Ironically enough, she won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture, over her ex-husband, for “The Hurt Locker.” This makes her the fourth woman nominated for the Best Director category and the first to ever win in the 82 years the award has been in existence. She’s also the first woman to win for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures at the Directors Guild of America Awards. This film, “The Hurt Locker,” was one that depicted a bomb squad in Iraq during the war and one that no one would normally imagine a woman directing. However, Kathryn Bigelow did, and proved everyone wrong.
3. Patty Jenkins
Jenkins has been known for directing the film “Monster” as well as the AMC series “The Killing.” However, her name shook up the internet when it was announced that she would be the director for the upcoming film “Thor 2,” making her the first female director to ever work on a Marvel Studios project and one of the few women to be at the helm of a big-budget film. Like Bigelow and Hardwick, many ask questions about how Jenkins will do with a major action picture, since she is a woman.
Not only do these women inspire me as an aspiring young director, but they inspire me as a young woman trying to succeed in a business that has mainly been male dominated. It’s a position that most women my age are finding themselves in as they prepare to chase after their dreams. It’s these women, along with many others, that prove to us that we can be successful in life and overcome prejudices with enough time and effort. Hardwicke, Bigelow and Jenkins showed the world that women can direct a film just as well as a man can and, sometimes, even better.
We still have a long way to go in this industry and in many others as well, but together we can prove that we are a force in the world. How can you help? See a film that’s been directed or written by a woman and show your support. Do this, preferably, on opening weekend, especially on Friday because that’s what the media really looks at. Spread the word to friends and family and be a part of the change. Let’s show the world that women will succeed in anything they set their mind to, whether it’s in film or anything else.