The 'Twilight' actress has spoken out against Hollywood's self-congratulatory attitude towards female representation, highlighting the limited progress made in addressing the gender gap in filmmaking.
- May 9, 2024
AceShowbiz - Kristen Stewart has criticized Hollywood's practice of highlighting the work of a select few female directors while ignoring the broader issue of underrepresentation in the industry. In an interview with Porter magazine, Stewart expressed her frustration with the "thinking that we can check these little boxes, and then do away with the patriarchy."
Despite some progress, Stewart pointed out that women's gains in Hollywood have been minimal, citing a report from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative showing that only 12.1% of directors in 2023 were women. "For the companies and industry members who want to believe that the director problem is fixed, it is nowhere near solved," said Stacy L. Smith, the report's founder.
Stewart, who is currently working to finance her directorial debut, "The Chronology of Water", has faced challenges in getting her project off the ground. "My movie is about incest and periods and a woman violently repossessing her voice and body," she said. "It's hard to watch, but it's going to be a f**king thrill ride. And I think that's commercial, but I don't think I have any gauge on what that means."
While acknowledging the work of acclaimed female directors like Maggie Gyllenhaal and Margot Robbie, Stewart emphasized the need for broader representation. "You've chosen four," she said, referring to the number of high-profile female directors given opportunities. "I'm in awe of those women, I love those women, [but] it feels phony."
Stewart believes that the industry's self-congratulation prevents true progress from being made. "If we're congratulating each other for broadening perspective, when we haven't really done enough, then we stop broadening," she said.
Stewart's outspoken comments highlight the ongoing challenges faced by women in filmmaking and the need for continued efforts to address the gender gap.
