Thought this quote was interesting from Ben Stiller in an interview for his new film Night at the Museum Two that appeared in Time Out Dubai (yes, I guess there is a Time Out Dubai)
Question: Most of the comedy in this film and most others comes from men. Why do think that is? Is there some kind of prejudice that women comedians face, perhaps?
Ben Stiller: I do think there is and I think it comes from men. I’m surrounded by funny women in my life: my mother (Anne Meara), my sister and my wife. My wife Christine is hilarious. I don’t think it’s true that men are funnier than women. There have been funny women for years like Gilda Radner and Catherine O’Hara. There is no one as funny as Tina Fey just now, male or female.
I think that in general, though, there’s a certain ‘men’s club’ sort of attitude about comedy in terms of how men see women. But it goes deeper than that. I think men want to see women in a certain light, it’s subconscious and they’re not even aware of it. It has to do with men’s outlook on women. Hopefully that will change.
Major points for Ben. Now he needs to use his clout to get some more women leads in comedies.
Ben Stiller Interview (Time Out Dubai)
That is so awesome… wish more guys in Hollywood are female positive like him.
For real! I’d love to see him demanding more screen time and lines for his female co-stars. And speaking of Christine Taylor, what has she been up to?! I think she’s hilarious as well, and would love to see more of her ASAP! I can’t believe her last big role was in the sorely disappointing License to Wed.
Thanks, Ben. Men admit to their prejudice, but it really isn’t in their interest to do anything about it. Women, on the other hand, could have enormous influence if they made a conscious decision to choose female driven comedies and other films and just – dare I say? – boycott the Boys’s Club.
Melissa’s blog has raised my consciousness regarding this – now when I troll through Netflix, I look for female writers, directors and lead actors. Movies, film festivals, plays – same thing. It’s great – and my husband really enjoys them, too!
Yes, and…. women’s comedies HAVE to be about more than girlish screaming and girl fights. No Meg Ryan being a prissy. No Debra Messing squealing. Not all plots have to lead to the altar or the delivery room with prerequisite squeals. I want a woman led comedy that did NOT lead to the altar or the delivery room. Please let me know of one made since the 1980’s.