"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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Just saw My Life in Ruins Yesterday. It was so cute and funny! Go see it if you get the chace!!!
It seems like all the movies that are coming out now are remakes that I sure as hell don't want to see or sequels, mostly to action movies (ie: Terminator 4) that, again, I sure as hell don't want to see. Romantics comedies are few and far between these days, let alone GOOD ones.
Maybe if producers stopped making primarily adolescent male fantasy shitfilms, more women would be attending
And more men, as well.
I don't want to get pummeled here but actually, adolescent males are the largest share of movie revenue. One has to remember that business is business which dictates where the most money can be made, and many times has nothing to do with sexism.
That being said, I am a male and am sick of the schlock that Hollywood calls movies these days. Usually it ends up being an independent movie that never gets any promotion that ends up being what moves me, what entertains me and merits my attention.
Sour grapes.
She had her 1 hit, peaked early, then rightfully faded fast.
(She was a bit player in her own movie--everyone outshone her, even Michael Considine.
Now it's "The Man's" fault.
There is always excellent cinema out there. Sometimes you just have to look past "Transformers II" to find it, that's all.
She didn't say any of that, or do anything to justify being hateful.
She's advertising her movie under the guise of female empowerment.
Well, the dude is right that when the movies are geared toward an adolescent male audience, heck no, I won't go. I can't stand movies where the future of the universe hangs in the balance and one man is the only one who can save it...those are a dime a dozen and the only people who will pay to see that $hi+ is an adolescent minded video game fondling male. The female characters are portrayed as "damsel in distress" eye candy who must run and jump from danger while wearing a short skirt with high heels...yo
I want to see movies about real women...wh
And that's why movies are great. Because I'm a 29 year old non-video game playing woman, and I LOVE those future of the universe hangs in the balance and one man is the only one who can save it movies. Seen X-Men Origins, Star Trek (so totally rocked dude!), and I'm all over Transformers and GI Joe. Only one I haven't yet seen is Terminator, and that's because my boyfriend doesn't want to come! I could care less about the "real women" movies. They bore me senseless. I get too much reality from my everyday life, and I'd rather have some BS fantasy for my films. It's neither right nor wrong; it's just what I prefer (probably why I've never seen Slumdog Millionaire; if I want impoverished reality I can go to SE DC and get my fill--no need to see it on screen). So it's really unfair to make such huge generalizations about the type of people who watch what types of movies. To each his or her own, and that's why we've got such great variety in the first place.
Good point! Now I hope you are not waiting for men to make these movies for you. Why should they? As you quite rightly observed, men make movies that they like. So, it follows, if women(especially the EDUCATED ONES?)want to see good movies that they like, then clearly they should make these movies themselves. Simple as that . So sisters, rise to the occassion, get into movie-making business yourselves. What with all the untapped talent dormant in the sisterhood, this shouldn't pose any problems. Or am I being over enthusiastic by any chance?
I agree with you to a point, but it's not as simple as that. Believe me. My husband is in the movie biz.
Exec: "We make all of these movies targeting teen-aged boys and no women show up. Women just don't like movies! The other day I made a big salad for my cat and she didn't eat it, I guess my cat wants to starve!"
Sorry, can't help ya. Don't go to movies unless they are geared for my child.
I don't go to movies anymore - the last movie I saw was "Return of the King". I think.
I think I can speak for many working women when I say I just put an interesting movie in my Netflix queue and wait for it to show up at my house.
Right now - 90 percent of Hollywood (not indie - but mainstream blockbuster Hollywood) is run by men - ergo - the movies they produce are a man's idea of the ideal man - the fantasy versions of themselves: action hero, fat, slacker who can still get the hot girl, master of the universe.
And the female-driven pictures that get greenlit are a man's idea of the ideal woman: hot assasin in black leather (Catwoman, Wanted), hot, dumb, blonde chick who's also smart (Legally Blonde), a capable woman who still somehow needs to find a man to be complete (insert any chick flick).
That being said - what if a film was produced that was a woman's idea of an ideal woman? Does that movie even exist?
What if 90 percent of Hollywood was run by women? What kind of movies we be seeing?
Cheers to Nia for making this movie and cheers to Drew Barrymore for directing the upcoming Whip It! - a movie about roller derby has nothing to do with shopping or marriage.
We need more women like these in position of power to make movies for us and by us!
Mia,
When my Dad was starting to have problems with his memory and showing signs of dementia my sister took him to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding. He talked about it for weeks. It always made him smile to discuss it and when we bought a copy of it for him he continued to watch it alot and it made him laugh every time. (Three daughters, I think he related to the Dad). Thanks for that.
No offense, but when the studios only "female interest" movies are tripe like Sex and The City, Mamma Mia, and Obsessed of course I'm not going to go. I'm a film nut, and I put my money toward "independent films", (just saw Sunshine Cleaning, pretty darn good) usually much better anyway. Major studios have no interest making films about women "doing things", heaven forbid "kicking some butt". European filmmakers don't seem to have this problem. The industry is horrible, and it is tailored towards young men (the whole county is really) and it makes me sad. If I see another trailer for a Seth Rogan movie, I am going to puke!
Here's an off the cuff thought on this: Movies these days are made for an international audience, that's why action films are so popular; explosions and violence are an international language. Could it be that the culture of women varies more internationally, and women's movies are more language driven and emotionally nuanced, and therefore don't translate for an international audience? They're just another casualty of the movie industry's tragic race to the bottom.
What universe does this guy live in "women don't go t o the movies"? Does he know any women? That's probably the problem. . . someone who's that judemental of women probably doesn't get a date night. Anyway, there seems to be a war on women in Hollywood that's long-going. I've always wondered how the arts could be so narrow-minded. Nia - - - keep fighting for girl movies . . . us girls will take care of the rest!!!
Though for him to say it so bluntly might have seemed a little shocking to her, I dont' think he was trying to say that women stay home. I just think that what he was trying to imply and perhaps rightfully so, that movies with a female lead don't gross as much is accurate. You market a movie towards a man that's female friendly and you'll get both to go. You market a movie towards women specifically and all you'll be left with is girls night out groups. She pointed out the sucess of Mama Mia and Sex in the City. I haven't seen either and I dare to say that Sex in the City evoked a few comments from me (admittedly stupid on my part) that might have contributed to the eventual conversation that was the foundation of my ex gf breaking up with me. I absolutely would have gone to see He's Just Not that Into You though and even though I'd say wasn't that huge of a hit. Now, when you take a look at summer blockbusters, tell me, how many of them have a female lead?
You misinterpreting the available data. Since there are only a few "female" movies each year, of course there are only a few that can be called hits. It's the same fallacy used by the studios' to justify not doing more PG movies (other than the animated ones). If the studios produced more of them, there would be a corresponding increase in the number that did well.
Nia, first of all, I think you're wonderful. And super cute.
There might be some truth to what the bean counter said; all he cares about are numbers, and if there are big numbers for violence-n
I think you're right about voting with your feet. If women stayed away from macho pics, maybe bean counters would take notice.
All the best!!!
Good! That means studios can stop making all these vapid chick-flicks.
Hee hee, couldn't agree more. And I'm a girl.
Thoughtful ,good writing with a coherent story is what a good movie is all about NOT simplistic stupid formulas, violence, gore, special (and all too abundant not-so-special effects), and pointless nudity and all the rest that are typically found in typical movies.
Women and men loved my GFGW. It was recommended to me by Russian friends in Moscow and Chinese friends here in the US: universal story, well written, fine acting which touched all of us on the human level. We will go to MLIR when it comes to our area.
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