I thought I would start my first blog commenting on women in the film industry – specifically directors and screenwriters. Since I am beginning pre-production on my own feature length film “Stealing Roses” and moving full steam ahead with production planned for 2010 – I wanted to take a look around to see how women are fairing in the business. I looked up some statistics and found the ones below on the Women Make Movies website (www.wmm.com). Did you know...

• Women accounted for 6% of directors of the top 250 domestic grossing films released in 2007, a decline of 1% since 2006. This figure is approximately half the percentage of women directors working in 2000 when women accounted for 11% of all directors. -Celluloid Ceiling 2007 Report

• Women accounted for 10% of writers working on the top 250 domestic grossing films of 2007. Eighty two percent (82%) of the films had no female writers. -Celluloid Ceiling 2007 Report

• On average, films employing at least one woman as director, executive producer, producer, or writer earned slightly higher opening weekend U.S. box office grosses ($27.1 vs. 24.6 million) than films with only men in these roles. -Women @ The Box Office

Statistics tell a story and many women want to tell a story. At times, you need people to pave the way, guide you, and believe in you when you decide to take on a dream, a vocation or anything you believe is important. I believe in women filmmakers and I plan on writing and encouraging them as I look to my network of friends and community for similar support. Women – young and old – if you have a story then tell it – let it out and let it rip – anyway you can. Look to your community for support and let’s improve these statistics. I challenge other women in the film business to mentor other women, hire them and develop their stories.

When I asked Kathryn Bigelow, Director of the feature film The Hurt Locker, what advice she had for a women directing her first feature film, she said, “Just don’t take no for an answer.” Simple advice…too simple? I liked it and I plan on following it. Stop asking for permission and tell your story. And if you are immobilized and can’t move forward without asking permission – then permission is granted to you – now get busy.

Cheers,
Megan