The actress and director Voices Anger Over Hollywood's Regression for Female Professionals
The renowned actress and filmmaker has stated she is “so angry” that advancements for women in Hollywood have gone backwards after a short-lived surge of improvement post the MeToo movement.
Stewart, who directed the upcoming film her latest project, delivered an emotional speech at a women’s luncheon in LA hosted by the Academy behind the awards.
“The backsliding from a short period of progress is statistically devastating,” she told the audience. “Such a pitiful number of films from the previous year have been directed by female filmmakers.”
An annual report that tracks the numbers of women directors revealed that eleven of the top 100 films of last year were directed by women, a decrease from sixteen in 2020.
‘Boys’ Club Business Model’
During her speech, Stewart said: “After the MeToo movement, it seemed possible that narratives made by and for women were at last receiving recognition. That we might be allowed or even encouraged to express ourselves and our common stories, every aspect of our lives without filter.
“However, I can confirm to the intense struggle that it requires at each stage when the content is too dark, too controversial, when the honesty with which it presents insights about situations routinely experienced by women, often elicits aversion and dismissal.”
She continued: “We can talk about pay disparities and taxes on tampons and quantify the imbalance in many measurable forms. But the act of muting voices, it’s like we’re not even supposed to be angry. But I could devour this stand with a utensil and sharp tool. I’m so angry.”
The guests hearing Stewart’s address included several prominent actresses.
Stewart was met with multiple ovations during the duration of her brief talk.
“I appreciate you,” she stated. “I am not grateful a boys’ club business model that pretends to want to associate with us while draining our assets and diminishing our genuine viewpoints. We must avoid being used as tokens. It’s time to create our own value.”
New films from several female directors are in the running for the forthcoming Oscars race, but the top directing award is anticipated again to be male in majority.
