"Women Don't Go to Movies" -- Huh?
A little-known fact: some studios recently decided to no longer make female-lead movies.
Lately, I've been in meetings regarding a new script idea I have. A studio executive asked me to change the female lead to a male, because... "women don't go to movies."
Really?
When I pointed out the box office successes of Sex and The City, Mamma Mia, and Obsessed, he called them "flukes." He said "don't quote me on this." So, I'm telling everybody.
I'm in a new movie, My Life In Ruins, out in theaters now. It's a small indie, that was picked up for distribution by a studio (thank you Fox Searchlight.) We're in one-third, maybe less, about one-quarter of the amount of screens of the big movies...yet we made it into the Top Ten.
I'm not too cool to admit this -- on the weekend, I snuck into the back of the theaters to hear people laughing. It's a very good-mood-inspiring sound, better than the sound of potatoes being dipped into a fryer. (Almost.)
The theaters were full of people laughing. Women were there. Sure, men were there, we are a date movie too, but the fact is women were there, some in big girls night groups.
Our movie isn't "playing everywhere," yet these audience members found it. We had an advertising budget of about 6 bucks, Canadian. We don't have billboards, or giant newspaper ads, or skywriting. So I've been Twittering (NiaVardalos), loading homemade videos onto YouTube : "My Life In Ruins, Really!" and blabbing to anyone who makes eye contact with me.
It's called show business for a reason. The theater owners want to make money, and understandably so. My Life In Ruins is the highest testing movie in Fox Searchlight history so we've been given a chance. And, the theater owners said they'll keep the movie in their theaters if people go.
So, women: can we speak up with our wallets?
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The statement needs some qualifying . . .
Women don't go to movies . . . where the only plotline involves things blowing up and/or people having their brains sprayed all over the screen.
Why are "guy flicks" always viewed as being more "serious" than "chick flicks" -- it's all a matter of perspective, isn't it?
my gf is the one who drag me to the cinema with her, and all the DVDs belong to her. i love movies, but not as crazily as my gf....
now who say woman dont like movies?
Far as I'm concerned Ms. Vardalos can advertise all she likes. The studio's certainly not doing it for her. And let me tell you - she's dead right about women being universally dismissed in the industry. I spent the majority of my working life in the business - as both actor and director (theatre, mostly - with some film). I was actually told to my face I wouldn't be considered for a directing job because I was female. Oh yes - it's there. Look at what happened to Catherine Hardwicke. The woman kick-starts what is potentially one of the most profitable film series of the decade (Twilight, New Moon, etc) - and is summarily replaced. By a man.
So you rock on, Nia. Keep making your films. I'll look forward to seeing you at my local theatre.
Thank you Nia!
I am old enough to remember some great woman actors in terrific LEAD comedy roles. And I never understood why there are so few of these roles in new films. I can't wait to see My Life In Ruins...make them and we will come.
Although somewhat different, I was remembering an experience from my 30 year old daughter's childhood when I took her to look for a new doll. We were in the doll section of the toy store and my daughter, then in 1rst grade was amazed to see a dark skinned doll.... actually so was I, as that was rare indeed. We are caucasians. While we were looking at the dolls a two elderly-ish white ladies walked slowly by and one exclaimed "that's disgusting" in regards to the dark skinned dolls.
I remember having a big wake-up call at that time, realizing that 99% of all the dolls were white and that in essence non- caucasian parents and children need to "just suck it up" and in essence accept a white reality. I then started realizing how many areas of life races/cultures other than white simply needed to "suck it up", as the white population has been the most prominent in numbers, and for the longest time, that reality also applied to movies and TV, with whites even being cast as darker skinned people, having their skins dyed for the rolls!
As Ms Vardalos so keenly observed and reported, women of all races, for the most part are still expected to "suck it up", in terms of accepting the white male reality/vision of the world!
Finally a lengthy discussion on this issue!
Now then, how many of you have seen Oscar nominated Melissa Leo in Frozen River?
It's so fine.
Well, we have to do something to keep these 13 year old boys off the streets.
They cause lots of trouble when they don't have something to do.
We must keep them constantly amused.
Old Bowery Boys movies used to do it when I was a kid, on free movie passes from the Downtown Businessman's association. And the theater certainly sold enough candy to make it worthwhile for them, though we were certainly an unruly crowd. Once in a while, they'd even throw in a quality movie that we kids had never seen, Captain Blood, Robin Hood, Treasure Island, Huck Finn, stuff like that. In that pre-DVD age, these old movies could be rented for about the current price of double latte at Starbucks.
It's money, pure and simple. These guys have decided that young male audience is the one that spends the dough, and drags their female pals along. I have noted that women have some greater tolerance for the rather ignorant and useless male movies than men have for films that show relationships with no car explosions or shootouts. It is also harder to write a relationships movie, and they must be more carefully cast. Anybody could play in the wacky buddy movies with shootouts that pass for male entertainment, and they can be written by a machine. Sometimes they are.
The ratings system supports this, simply because it follows the money. You can have bloody shootouts and get a PG, but one brief flash of a breast and you get an R (As with the infamous case of "Shakespeare In Love"). Makes you wonder who the boobs really are.
I'm a 61 year old woman. We have the opposite problem. I won't go to a movie unless there's action - the more explosions the better. My guy actually likes movies with complex characters and story line. I hate it when he tries to drag me to 'chick flicks'. I want release from reality and movies like The Taking of Pelham 123, which we saw yesterday, are perfect for me. He enjoys them, too. But if he wants to go to some movie where the characters talk a lot, cry, and have relationship issues, he can go without me.
Hello! Why do you think Netflix is doing so well?
Who wants to see any more car chases, explosions, Rambos, murder and violence crap.
I will see Nia's new movie.
Can you blame them LOL just kidding just kidding, I am certain I see women at the movies every single time I go.
Don't diss film slike "Mamma Mia"...I did not want to go either at first and my daughter dragged me to it and I loved it!!!! Went to see the musical in london, bought the DVD...watch it again and again...is fantastic!
The guy who claims that girls don't go to movies better have some hard data to back himself up because the only people I know who go to movies regularly are my wife and her girl friends. I can't think of a single male who has their knowledge of actors, actresses, movies, directors, etc.
Hollywood is condemned to repeat three things - its seem - since the "Golden Age" of film (the 70s) passed (well, when they made literate films ALLOWED US the assumption we were not all brain-dead proles):
1. Mediocrity.
2. Banality.
3. Stupidity.
Women don't go to movies..... is that guy high? It really irks me that even with real live evidence (the successful movies you mentioned) some jerk (albeit a jerk with decision-making power) can hold on hard to old ideas (which need to be retired).
Women are a great target audience. They especially love films with complex, authentic characters (both female and male). When they love a film, they tell everyone. They are an excellent word of mouth marketing campaign. Why is duh, such a stretch for small minds? My other pet peeve is when the female audience is referred to as a "niche". Since when is 51% of the population niche?
This makes me grumpy, but I have also been far more conscious of seeking a film where I think females might be intelligently, authentically portrayed and I go see it opening weekend. Vote with you pocket book, right?
Good God man, check you facts!
I'm "the guy" who said that women don't go to movies. Although I'm actually not "a guy." Clearly, I didn't mean that NO women go to the movies. My point was that Hollywood films are not geared towards adult women over 30. They're just not. As a result, MOST adult women over 30 rarely go to the movies (other than to see the rare Hollywood film for thinking adults, or to take their child to see a movie). My "facts" come from my husband, who is a Cinema Studies professor. In particular, he studies and writes on American film history. I'm pretty sure he's got his facts straight.
Nia we need your wonderful humor on the big screen, what a talent you are. Thank you for writing your post. Please tell that movie executive he needs to get out more often. Better yet, he should hire a female associate and job share for a year. Perhaps that way he will start to realize, despite seeming evidence to the contrary, the world in fact does not revolve around men or the male viewpoint!
I loved Big Fat Greek Wedding, and I'll go to this one. There are lots of people Hollywood neglects: women, Christians, old people, folks who like their action films to have a logical script ... That's why me and my 21-year-old son don't go to see many. Even HE'S gotten tired of being talked down to by Hollywood.
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