WEBVTT 00:01.766 --> 00:03.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Tonight's 96 Academy Awards will honor the most 00:03.933 --> 00:08.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% acclaimed films of 2023. A year that could be considered a milestone for women in film, 00:10.466 --> 00:14.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% women filmmakers that are record in the best picture category including Greta Gerwig's Barbie, 00:16.033 --> 00:18.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% which is the highest grossing film ever directed by a woman. 00:18.700 --> 00:23.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But the past year punctuated by months of strikes and Hollywood also highlighted the 00:25.533 --> 00:28.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% ongoing struggles in diversity, equal pay and equal opportunities for women. 00:28.700 --> 00:33.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Rebecca Sun is senior editor of Diversity and Inclusion for the Hollywood Reporter. 00:33.200 --> 00:37.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Rebecca this year a record breaking three films directed by women are 00:37.300 --> 00:41.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% nominated for Best Picture, is this a sign of progress or an outlier? 00:41.766 --> 00:43.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% REBECCA SUN, The Hollywood Reporter: I think it's a sign of progress but 00:43.666 --> 00:48.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% with a huge caveat. It is a sign of progress that people are recognizing 00:50.300 --> 00:53.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% movies directed by women as worthy of Best Picture nominations. However, 00:53.500 --> 00:58.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% it must be noted that only one of those woman was nominated herself for Best Director. 01:00.566 --> 01:03.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And so that's where the big caveat comes in. People are loving the overall result 01:03.233 --> 01:08.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and not really giving credit to the person who is most responsible for that success. 01:10.566 --> 01:13.833 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Speaking of these directors last year, no female directors were nominated for 01:16.066 --> 01:19.200 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Best Director. This year, we have one Justine Triet for directing Anatomy of a Fall. What 01:21.266 --> 01:26.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% does that say about the recognition of women in major roles in Hollywood? 01:26.166 --> 01:30.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% REBECCA SUN: I think what that says is that we have not yet reached a point of equilibrium or 01:30.833 --> 01:35.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% status quo, you're still dependent on that specific crop of films year to year, you're 01:37.866 --> 01:41.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% still dependent on a number of factors. We're not at a point where just like with men, 01:43.300 --> 01:46.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% you can say, wow, this year, you know, four or five men were nominated for director, 01:46.333 --> 01:48.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% you don't say things like that, because it's sort 01:48.866 --> 01:53.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of a given. We're still seeing that this is vastly the exception and not the rule. 01:55.666 --> 01:58.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: A recent report out of UCLA found that films with diverse 01:58.633 --> 02:03.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% cast received the highest median global box office earnings across last year's top films, 02:05.333 --> 02:09.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and audiences of color flocked to opening weekends for 14 out 02:09.866 --> 02:14.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% of the top 20 films is Hollywood responding to this in any way? 02:14.466 --> 02:18.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% REBECCA SUN: Not in a way that is commensurate to what we're seeing. 02:18.466 --> 02:23.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% It's been known for years and years, that movie going audiences. In other words, 02:24.933 --> 02:27.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the American population is growing more racially diverse. 02:27.266 --> 02:32.266 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% And yet, I do think that conventional wisdom in Hollywood, the decisions made by those who are 02:34.566 --> 02:37.900 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% at the very top, they still are thinking of white audiences as sort of the norm, and that anything 02:40.266 --> 02:45.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that appeals to everybody else as niche and so whenever they make a film that's quote, unquote, 02:47.466 --> 02:51.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% targeted towards quote unquote, diverse audiences, that is seen as a niche film and not a wide four 02:54.000 --> 02:58.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% quadrant release. So there is still quite a ways to go despite what the audiences are saying. 02:59.833 --> 03:02.233 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Films like Barbie and The Little Mermaid, 03:02.233 --> 03:06.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% which both had female leads were among the top 10 highest grossing films last year. But does 03:08.166 --> 03:12.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that mean that that type of success actually translates into more opportunities for women? 03:14.733 --> 03:18.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% REBECCA SUN: I think it has the potential to translate but only if you're taking the 03:18.333 --> 03:23.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% correct take away messages. For example, when Barbie hit huge on opening weekend, 03:25.466 --> 03:27.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% there were a few think pieces initially that said, wow, you know, this means that Hollywood 03:27.633 --> 03:32.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% should make more movies about toys, not more movies that are driven by and about women. 03:34.366 --> 03:37.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And so it really, really does depend on, you know, what you believe is the moral of 03:39.933 --> 03:42.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the story. I mean, I think with Barbie and The Little Mermaid, are you just saying that like, 03:42.300 --> 03:46.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% oh, I guess women are going to the movies now? Or are you saying I guess everybody likes seeing 03:48.933 --> 03:51.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% movies about female characters? So those are two completely different takeaway statements. 03:51.733 --> 03:56.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: What about unequal pay? Actress Taraji P. Henson, who's in the Oscar 03:58.800 --> 04:01.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% nominated film, The Color Purple spoke out during the film's press tour about how women 04:03.900 --> 04:07.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and especially black women are treated in Hollywood and essentially, in Hollywood, 04:09.633 --> 04:13.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% women are paid fractions of what their male counterparts make. How pervasive is that problem? 04:15.166 --> 04:19.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% REBECCA SUN: That problem is pervasive in Hollywood as it is in every other industry 04:19.533 --> 04:24.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% in this society. You know, I think that it's the only difference is that the entertainment industry 04:26.800 --> 04:29.600 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% is a lot more visible. But still, what Taraji P. Henson is talking about she's not comparing her 04:31.833 --> 04:34.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% salary to that of teachers who are chronically underpaid and part of a different conversation. 04:34.400 --> 04:39.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% She's talking about her salary, compared to men who have had a commensurate level of experience 04:41.633 --> 04:45.033 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% and a commensurate level of accomplishment in the industry. When you look at that the numbers do not 04:47.233 --> 04:50.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% lie. Women in Hollywood including famous women, in Hollywood are still underpaid compared to 04:52.200 --> 04:55.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% men and that is exacerbated even further when you're talking about women of color before. 04:57.933 --> 05:00.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Before we let you go were there any films this year directed by women 05:00.600 --> 05:05.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% produced by women or that had female leads that went under the radar but that are worth watching? 05:07.900 --> 05:11.000 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% REBECCA SUN: This is a tricky one because it's not exactly completely under the radar. Celine Song's 05:13.233 --> 05:16.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Past Lives. She's a first time filmmaker. She has an extensive playwriting background. It's just a 05:16.533 --> 05:21.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% subtle piece of work. It's really beautiful. It's a small quiet movie. It has been nominated for 05:23.900 --> 05:26.966 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Best Picture, it might take a while for people to discover and so I hope they do sooner than later. 05:26.966 --> 05:30.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LAURA BARRON-LOPZ: Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter, thank you for your time. 05:30.166 --> 05:31.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% REBECCA SUN: Thank you so much.