To get the 18-25 audience, Drew could have focused more on the “finding your tribe” aspect of the film.

In all of her interviews, she focused on the relationship between mother and daughter, from her adult, over 30 perspective.

Her junkets, her major TV network interviews, the articles,etc. all contributed to the audience she got.

If you want to make a blockbuster with women in sports in it, choose soccer, gymnastics, dance and cheerleading, and make sure the cute boys in the film are in every trailer shown.

Did drew want to make a blockbuster though? We know she is capable of producing blockbusters. Maybe she just wanted to make a great film with a story she is passionate about. In that case, the film was a success and reached a fairly wide audience.

Look at all those dumb action flicks that had huge openers, then the word of mouth was so terrible that nobody sees them again and they die quick theater deaths. I’d much rather have a movie start slow and steadily build than one which blows its load in 2 days.

My theater was about two-thirds full, but this was a Saturday matinee in Boston where it was pouring rain most of the day. I didn’t get a great look at the composition of the crowd. At 25 I guess I am right on the cusp, but I loved this movie and my two friends that I went with enjoyed it as well.

I don’t know what the answer is, all I know is, it is 2009, why are women still dealing with the backlash, constant labeling (the new one being ‘puma’, an even younger predator than the negative ‘cougar’ bash. While only ‘few’ older men are called Playboys, (which is a ‘high-five’ label), and how often do you hear that term in media as opposed to ‘Cougar’, especially as a negative? Discrimination is rampant as a female filmmaker and the dismissiveness towards women by the film industry in general (in)directly serves to develop perceptions of the moviegoers and on a larger scope society in general. The ‘Kumbaya’ “let’s just all get along and ignore what’s really going on”, time is over. Some assertive tactic needs to be organized to level the ‘playing’(ha) field.

I saw one commercial for it during the end of Supernatural last week, which is the show to go to. It has a lot of female fans, even if it’s partially based on the physical attractiveness of the 3 male leads (it does have a good story though). But on the other hand, those are the same people who are likely to go see Zombieland first as well. And last week’s episode of Supernatural was partially zombie-themed.

And while I think the arts and diverse representation are incredibly important, frankly the ACLU has much more urgent matters filling up their plate.

And let’s call it what it is: It is pervasive and insidious bias and discrimination. We need to find a way to change this. Maybe women of all color and ages should start a class action suit with the backing of the ACLU as a racially, gendered and age challenged group. And although we women are NOT a minority, we are treated like we are in all aspects of careers and life. Perceptions. We need to tackle this huge problem.

Thanks for all you do Melissa, I love reading your blog,
Jodi Harrison

1909 or 2009?…. It all depends on who you ask!

Thank you, Eileen, you’re EXACTLY right.

I also thinks that lots of women get their primary entertainment from the internet & games now; I go to the movies often several times a week (no TV) but am just as happy noodling about on YouTube, watching Charlie Rose interviews etc etc as well as telling my own stories and reading my friends’ stories via txt/blog/email/Facebook/Twitter when I have time.

As for Whip It, I’m sure I’ll be delighted by it when I see it later on this week.

From the trailer I saw, it seems like it’s more of a coming of age thing, and honestly, I’m usually not in the mood for sentimental stuff. Yeah, I think the marketing blew.

I do think that to look at “Whip It,” “Jennifer’s Body,” and “Bright Star,” and believe you can then say anything about “women’s movies” (whatever the heck that BS even means) is totally and completely ridiculous.