BY Melissa Silverstein
Women’s Trauma Reverberates at the Cinema This Fall
I’ve been thinking about the portrayal of women’s trauma onscreen this fall. It started back at the Toronto International Film Festival with “The Woman King,” directed by Gina...
Celebrating 15 Years of Women and Hollywood
This fall marks the 15th anniversary of Women and Hollywood. When I started Women and Hollywood in 2007, a woman had never won an Oscar for best director; a woman of color had never directed a $100...
Cannes Reminds Us (Again) of How Much It Is Holding the Film Industry Back
Last week I was wondering why I was feeling so calm and then I realized that I wasn’t preparing to go to Cannes. For several years before the pandemic, I joined the annual pilgrimage to...
#MeToo Comes for the Bullies
In one of my past lives, I was bullied a lot at work. It was just the way it was. It was the theater business (Jujamcyn Theaters) and I never, ever, knew what type of mood my boss would be in. I had...
Miranda July Talks “Kajillionaire,” Connection, and Creativity at the Latest Girls Club Event
Prior to her feature directorial debut, “Me and You and Everyone We Know,” Miranda July formed her own movie club/distribution project for women filmmakers, Joanie 4 Jackie. As the...
Catherine Hardwicke Discusses “Don’t Look Deeper,” “Twilight,” “Thirteen,” & More with the Girls Club
Catherine Hardwicke hardly needs an introduction — she’s been in our lives for a very long time making some great movies, starting with “Thirteen,” and breaking new ground...
Pick of the Day: “The Fight”
Every day of the three-and-a-half years that we have endured the Trump presidency has felt like a fight — a fight for our rights and for the world we want to live in. The lawyers of the ACLU...
Naomi McDougall Jones Talks Her Book “The Wrong Kind of Women” and Revolutionizing Hollywood
Earlier this year the Girls Club hosted actress, producer, and author Naomi McDougall Jones to discuss her book, “The Wrong Kind of Women: Inside Our Revolution to Dismantle the Gods of...
Pick of the Day: “John Lewis: Good Trouble”
John Lewis is a seminal figure in our history. What the activist and political leader has done to improve civil rights in our country is immeasurable. Watching Dawn Porter’s new doc, “Good...
Pick of the Day: “And She Could Be Next”
Sometimes “And She Could Be Next” is a joy to watch, and sometimes it’s infuriating. Seeing so many women of color running and winning political races is incredibly exciting. Grace...
Remembering Lynn Shelton
We were honored to host Lynn Shelton in an interview with The Girls Club to discuss her films and her recent work on “Little Fires Everywhere.” Sadly, Lynn passed away just two weeks...
Pick of the Day: “The High Note”
I realize Dakota Johnson has been on-screen for a while now, but having not seen any of the “Fifty Shades of Grey” franchise or her more recent films, I was unfamiliar with her work....
Pick of the Day: “On the Record”
In the two-plus years since the #metoo movement changed the culture, most of those who have been removed from power for misdeeds have been older white men — Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer,...
Pick of the Day: “Hannah Gadsby: Douglas”
Hannah Gadsby’s show “Douglas” — named for her dog — is her brilliant follow-up to “Nanette.” I was lucky enough to see “Douglas” in person last year...
Pick of the Day: “How to Build a Girl”
Beanie Feldstein is a special performer. She grabbed at us as Julie, Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson’s best friend, and then shined alongside Kaitlyn Dever in the terrific...
Pick of the Day: “South Mountain”
I’m always happy when female actresses, particularly ones over 40, who have spent years playing supporting characters finally get the chance to step into a starring role. That’s the case...
Pick of the Day: “The Half of It”
I remember going to see Alice Wu’s directorial debut, “Saving Face” — probably at the Angelika in NYC. It was the first movie I saw with queer Asian women. It was a great jolt....
The Director & Stars of “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” Consider the Film a Classical Hero’s Journey
For her third feature, Eliza Hittman took on the painful, infuriating realities of seeking a legal abortion in the United States. “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” tells the story of Autumn, a...
Remaking the Film Industry: Towards a Better, More Inclusive Future – Lessons from the Reckoning
There are many shitty jobs in this world, but assistant to a high-powered, Harvey Weinstein-esque Hollywood player has got to be one of the worst — because those jobs are not always about actual...
“Unorthodox” Director Maria Schrader Talks Portraying Satmar Judaism and Berlin’s Complex History
Maria Schrader’s latest project is “Unorthodox,” the critically acclaimed Netflix miniseries based on Deborah Feldman’s memoir of the same name. The German multi-hyphenate...
Sally Potter Discusses “The Roads Not Taken” at the Inaugural Girls Club Event
Sally Potter is one of the world’s most interesting filmmakers. She’s made films with shoestring budgets, and some bigger movies as well — no matter their size, they are always intriguing....
Pick of the Day: “The Good Fight”
Women and Hollywood has temporarily suspended our recommendations newsletter. We’ll be sharing some of the week’s highlights in TV, VOD, and streaming via blog posts. “The Good Fight”...
Remaking Hollywood: How To Build a Better, More Inclusive Future: Conversation with Lesli Linka Glatter
We are living in difficult and uncertain times. The world we all navigated several weeks ago has disappeared. Everyone in the industry is struggling with what will come next. Following the 2017...
Pick of the Day: “There’s Something in the Water”
Women and Hollywood has temporarily suspended our recommendations newsletter. We’ll be sharing some of the week’s highlights in TV, VOD, and streaming via blog posts. Ellen Page has been known...
Pick of the Day: “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker”
Women and Hollywood has temporarily suspended our recommendations newsletter. We’ll be sharing some of the week’s highlights in TV, VOD, and streaming via blog posts. The long-awaited...
Why “Big Little Lies” Fucking Over Andrea Arnold Feels Especially Frustrating
I couldn’t bring myself to watch “Big Little Lies” last night. I may check out the newest episode later this week, but honestly, I’m in no hurry. Indiewire dropped a bomb about...
“Gentleman Jack’s” Sally Wainwright and Suranne Jones on Bringing Anne Lister to Life
Sally Wainwright (“Happy Valley”) has reclaimed Anne Lister in a bold way in the HBO limited series “Gentleman Jack.” Suranne Jones (“Scott & Bailey,”...
“Women, War & Peace’s” Abigail Disney On Funding Women Filmmakers and Redefining War
Abby Disney is one of the those people who has been at the intersection of feminist work in New York for the last 25 years. She has been the board chair of the New York Women’s Foundation and...
“Captain Marvel’s” Brie Larson on Sharing Power and Changing Hollywood
I got lucky this week: I was able to spend some time with Brie Larson. She’s been keeping super busy on a global press tour for “Captain Marvel” but she managed to find time to talk...
“On the Basis of Sex” Director Mimi Leder on Finding Inspiration and Common Ground with RBG
“On the Basis of Sex” is a movie that takes place in the 1950s but, sadly, feels like it could be set yesterday or tomorrow. The early years of the now-notorious RBG are basically a superhero...
The Year in Women and Hollywood
Dear Friends, This has been quite a year. The reckoning that began in October 2017 has continued to push the industry in ways no one could have ever imagined. The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have...
“Bumblebee” Writer Christina Hodson on Creating Female Characters Who Don’t Need To Be Saved
“Bumblebee” is a new take on the “Transformers” franchise. Finally, one of these films is watchable — and in fact really enjoyable. Hailee Steinfeld takes the lead and...
“Mary Queen of Scots” Director Josie Rourke on Transitioning from Stage to Screen
Josie Rourke might just be directing her first movie, but “Mary Queen of Scots” is the first of what will be many. It’s a little crazy to say that Mary is the perfect role for Saoirse...
“Dumplin'” Director Anne Fletcher on Why She Wants Audiences to Feel “Unique and Special”
Danielle Macdonald, who we were introduced to in “Patticake$,” takes on the lead in “Dumplin’,” a story about a teen girl who enters her mother’s (Jennifer...
Meg Wolitzer and Jane Anderson on “The Wife’s” 14-Year Journey to the Screen
I read Meg Wolitzer’s “The Wife” about a decade ago, and it is one of those books that sticks with you. I was convinced it’d make a great movie — so much so that I...
After Cannes and Weinstein’s Arrest, What’s Next?
On Friday morning, people across the world watched as one of the kings of the Cannes Film Festival, Harvey Weinstein, turned himself into police and was arraigned on charges of rape and a criminal...
“The Split” Star Nicola Walker on the Show’s Depiction of Women, Relationships, & Divorce
Two-time BAFTA nominee Nicola Walker has acted in many series, including “Last Tango in Halifax,” “Collateral,” and “River.” She’s also appeared in features...
Cannes Film Festival Signs Pledge In Push for Gender Parity
The issue of the lack of female directors is dominating this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Part of this conversation is how movies get selected and who selects them. Is there a clear submission...
One of 82
On Saturday evening at the Cannes Film Festival I was one of 82 women who climbed the steps of the Palais de Festival — the most prestigious screening room in the world — as a participant...
Cannes and Gender — A Work in Progress
So here I am again in Cannes. It’s my fourth year. And this is the first year since the reckoning, and this festival was a place where Harvey preyed against multiple women. For someone who does the...
Cannes Competition Numbers Remain Predictably Low For Female Directors
“The world will never be the same again, the Cannes Film Festival will never be the same again,” said Cannes Artistic Director Thierry Fremaux of a post Harvey Weinstein world. The fest just...
Join Women and Hollywood for a Special Screening of Lynne Ramsay’s “You Were Never Really Here”
“You Were Never Really Here”: Amazon Studios Women and Hollywood is working with Amazon Studios to help spread the word about the powerful new movie written and directed by Lynne Ramsay, “You...
Netflix Must Lead on Inclusion Issues — Instead, They Are Lagging Behind
It’s been 10 days since Frances McDormand uttered those two words that set Hollywood afire — inclusion rider. And in those 10 days Brie Larson, Michael B. Jordan, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon,...
Frances McDormand Made My Night at the Oscars a Memorable One
I’ve tried to get Oscar credentials for the past several years. This year, my dream finally came true. Like most people, I’ve watched the Oscars every year I can remember — years ago for...
Sally Potter on Tackling Politics On-Screen in “The Party” and the Future of Feminism
Sally Potter is the writer-director behind films such as “Ginger & Rosa,” a coming of age tale set against the Cuban Missile Crisis, the romantic, iambic pentameter-performed “Yes,” and...
Golden Globes 2018: Women Rule and Men Hide
After all the post-mortems are finished, last night’s Golden Globes ceremony will be remembered as the night that the women in Hollywood stood up to the powers that be and said Time’s Up. The...
2017 — The Year That Could Change Everything or Nothing
On the one hand, I can’t wait for this fucking year to end. It’s been brutal and exhausting. It started with women marching together in protest, and it’s ending with women standing up and...
Liz Hannah Takes Hollywood By Storm with “The Post”
Liz Hannah had a damn good time celebrating her 32nd birthday last week. “The Post,” which she wrote along with Josh Singer, premiered in Washington DC. Until about a month ago pretty much no...
“Home Again” Writer-Director Hallie Meyers-Shyer Talks Rom-Coms and Her Mother’s Influence
“Home Again” finds Reese Witherspoon starting over. The Oscar winner plays Alice, a recently separated woman who returns to her hometown of LA with her two daughters. In the midst of a wild...
The End of the Beginning: A Reckoning Thousands of Years in the Making
I don’t know about you, but when I wake up in the morning, even after a decent night of sleep, I am exhausted. I have been exhausted, outraged, moved, anxious, and pretty much every other emotion...
Re-Thinking the Canon
My recent tweet storm about the need to re-think the (overwhelmingly white and male) canon led The Guardian to invite me to elaborate on my thoughts. They’ve used my piece as an introduction for a...