Women Directors

People wonder why there aren't more female directors. That dynamic is changing now since women are acting more like (perceived) men. Case in point, the article about women having to pull their own weight in the household now. Which, by the way, side note...everyone needs a purpose. Not just having kids is a purpose. You think so, but most people still feel pretty empty after that, or when they're gone. You can live through your children this way, but...damn, is it more heartache.

Anyway, you should listen to the episode on "The Projection Booth" podcast on the making of "Making Of Mr. Right." They have interviews from the director Susan Seidlman, the writers Laurie Frank and Floyd Byars.

If you've ever seen the movie, you know that it has a very odd 80's sensibility. In loud colors and weird concept. Forget the movie, the casted John Malkovich as a sexy robot. Think about that for a second. This was okay'd by the studio simply because...Seidlman had broke the bank with "Desperately Seeking Susan" Everyone wanted the guy role. As written, it was meant for a Olympic god. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the name then. Guess what...he wanted to be in it. Also...Bruce Willis. He was hot off "Moonlighting" and "Die Hard and "Blind Date." He desperately wanted the part.

Here's where the movie (although critically a good movie, box office bomb). Having now the arrogance of a success, she simply put in oddball people...because she could. And anyone who questioned her was blasted with the fact that she was an creative mind that had created a success. Never mind that the reason for the success of "Desperately Seeking Susan" was because Madonna just had a massive hit record. The female roles were given to Glenn Hadley and Ann Magnuson. Both hardly sex pots.

And that's why women were/are terrible directors. Emotions get in the way of common sense. Seidlman never considered the money aspect of the movie. Only that SHE would be the star of the movie. Director as star is not an uncommon thing then. Scorsese or DiPalma for instance. BUT...

...she would not be overshadowed by a marquee name like Arnold or Bruce or...big name actresses. Because it would mean she wasn't in the limelight. Not a big deal. We all have egos. But, this one was at the expense of a lot of money riding on it.

These days, I think Kathryn Bigelow and Patty Jenkins have a more broader view of being a female director. It means not having to be the stars. Since already being a female director puts you on in the spotlight. The jealousy aspect did cut into Bigelow early on. Casting Lori Petty as a love interest to Keanu Reeves? Right. It's probably a response to ugly guys getting starlets. But that's not the world we live in.

If you can dump the jealousy part, then you will be effective. It's hard though. Even as a guy. I recall casting a girl I liked in two of my movies. When I discovered she had a thing for one of my actors, I split ties with her afterwards. NOT before getting what I wanted on screen. But...it could've been better.

Though I'm not immune, I'm also not working with other people's money. Imagine where she'd be now.