An Update on the DGA's Celebration of Women Directors Event
It was full! They started off by showing a montage of pictures of women directing, including Tammy Hoffs, Judy Chaikin, Matia Karrel, Martha Cotton, Jerri Sher and a few other of AWD members, in addition to the panel women.
Betty Thomas=2 0in her opening remarks, brought up the Patrick Goldstein article by quoting one of the more insightful remarks by Martha Lauzen, one of the most reliable statisticians for female employment in Hollywood. "Hollywood is far more embarrassed about being labeled racist than sexist. There are a host of causes, it's not like there's a smoke filled room where men get together and prevent women from getting jobs. It's more insidious than that. But Hollywood is in denial, and as long as they're in denial, then they don't feel they need to do anything about it." After acknowledging the article, she went on to say that tonight was a celebration of women directors. In other words, we better not get whiney! Then they showed a 15 min film compilation of various clips from films and episodes that women directed, including some from Arzner and Ida Lupino. It was very moving and empowering to see so many films that we remember and loved, but had forgotten that they were directed by women.
The only other panelist who talked about the Goldstein article, much less the issue of women directors' employment, was Mimi Leder who said that she had called Amy Pascal and asked her if she really said what was quoted in the article. To which Amy responded by saying she was misquoted. Mimi then proceeded to say "Good, I'm glad to hear it. And I just wanted you to know I'm available to direct your summer blockbuster."
Penelope Spheeris kept things pretty light hearted as moderator and asked the panel questions like, "how did you get your start," "how to you navigate on the set," "what was a pivotal moment in your directing career," and, "what are you doing next/now?" All the women, I am pleased to say were busy working on their next projects. Kasi Lemmons said "I still write as my day job and every now and then they let me direct."
In discussing how they got their break, the overall feeling was that each one was in the right place at some point and was given a chance... Mimi mentioned that even though they got that break which propelled their careers forward, they all had major periods of down time when no work was offered. After she directed PAY IT FORWARD, she was put in "Women Director Jail." Amy Heckerling, a true original and very funny, seconded that, saying that she had had a few tinges of "going to jail" as well.
The one thing that everybody agreed on, was that we need to pursue our passion and not let anyone dictate otherwise. Lesli Linka Glatter decided to pursue her own stories, even though she doesn't consider herself a writer. She said that she's not getting any younger and needs to get her stories told. Arlene Sanford said the only thing that she both wrote and directed was her short - she seemed wistful, as though she wasn't sure she would ever get another20chance like that. However, she's happy that she has a full directing schedule in place for television in the fall. Angela Robinson told a funny story about "fandom" - during a car accident she witnessed right in front of her - the woman in the accident recognized her as director of her favorite TV show, and tried to make the accident a schmooze session! Catherine Hardwicke seemed like a bundle of nervous energy, perhaps because her film TWILIGHT will be coming out soon.
Jan Reesman made great AWD tags for all the Board members who came, and there were a lot of other AWD members there. The audience left pleased with the evening, but perhaps slightly disappointed that there was no mention of any solution to their plight of no work. The event, overall, WAS a celebration and a hope that women will keep directing and pushing the glass ceiling ever higher.
