This Changes Everything
{5/5} “Whenever the press announces ‘this changes everything’ I’m a little skeptical. That was supposed to happen after Thelma & Louise came out… It didn’t change anything.” — Geena Davis
This Changes Everything, released in 2018
Hollywood movies have a huge impact, not just on North America but on the world. Most movies reflect the viewpoint of men — because they’re written by men and directed by men. Producers and critics are also mostly men. Women directors, even ones whose films have won Oscars, have trouble making their next movie while their male counterparts do not.
This is a documentary about the role of women in the entertainment industry — as characters, actors, and directors.
It features interview clips from many prominent women in the field — like actors and creators Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Reese Witherspoon, and Shonda Rhimes.
There are many numbers presented — that aren’t exactly surprising because you know there’s this problem, yet are still shocking. For example — in 2018 92% of the top 250 movies released in the US were directed by men.
It’s revealed that women were prominent as writers and directors in the silent era, and then things changed when sound came along and big studios consolidated power.
Discrimination in Hollywood was investigated in 1969 and found to be terrible, but Congress refused to do anything about it.
When Geena Davis had kids she found that there weren’t enough female characters in kid’s shows, and she started an institute to do research on this — so that she could persuade the studios to do something about it.
Even if you already know it’s a problem, this documentary presents information that is stunning.
The FX television station went from 89% white males to 49% in a year, just because the CEO become aware of the problem and decided to do something about it.
Directed by Tom Donahue (Thank You for Your Service).