1 00:00:01,766 --> 00:00:03,933 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Tonight's 96 Academy Awards will honor the most 2 00:00:03,933 --> 00:00:08,400 acclaimed films of 2023. A year that could be considered a milestone for women in film, 3 00:00:10,466 --> 00:00:14,500 women filmmakers that are record in the best picture category including Greta Gerwig's Barbie, 4 00:00:16,033 --> 00:00:18,700 which is the highest grossing film ever directed by a woman. 5 00:00:18,700 --> 00:00:23,700 But the past year punctuated by months of strikes and Hollywood also highlighted the 6 00:00:25,533 --> 00:00:28,700 ongoing struggles in diversity, equal pay and equal opportunities for women. 7 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:33,200 Rebecca Sun is senior editor of Diversity and Inclusion for the Hollywood Reporter. 8 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:37,300 Rebecca this year a record breaking three films directed by women are 9 00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:41,766 nominated for Best Picture, is this a sign of progress or an outlier? 10 00:00:41,766 --> 00:00:43,666 REBECCA SUN, The Hollywood Reporter: I think it's a sign of progress but 11 00:00:43,666 --> 00:00:48,466 with a huge caveat. It is a sign of progress that people are recognizing 12 00:00:50,300 --> 00:00:53,500 movies directed by women as worthy of Best Picture nominations. However, 13 00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:58,466 it must be noted that only one of those woman was nominated herself for Best Director. 14 00:01:00,566 --> 00:01:03,233 And so that's where the big caveat comes in. People are loving the overall result 15 00:01:03,233 --> 00:01:08,233 and not really giving credit to the person who is most responsible for that success. 16 00:01:10,566 --> 00:01:13,833 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Speaking of these directors last year, no female directors were nominated for 17 00:01:16,066 --> 00:01:19,200 Best Director. This year, we have one Justine Triet for directing Anatomy of a Fall. What 18 00:01:21,266 --> 00:01:26,166 does that say about the recognition of women in major roles in Hollywood? 19 00:01:26,166 --> 00:01:30,833 REBECCA SUN: I think what that says is that we have not yet reached a point of equilibrium or 20 00:01:30,833 --> 00:01:35,833 status quo, you're still dependent on that specific crop of films year to year, you're 21 00:01:37,866 --> 00:01:41,233 still dependent on a number of factors. We're not at a point where just like with men, 22 00:01:43,300 --> 00:01:46,333 you can say, wow, this year, you know, four or five men were nominated for director, 23 00:01:46,333 --> 00:01:48,866 you don't say things like that, because it's sort 24 00:01:48,866 --> 00:01:53,833 of a given. We're still seeing that this is vastly the exception and not the rule. 25 00:01:55,666 --> 00:01:58,633 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: A recent report out of UCLA found that films with diverse 26 00:01:58,633 --> 00:02:03,600 cast received the highest median global box office earnings across last year's top films, 27 00:02:05,333 --> 00:02:09,866 and audiences of color flocked to opening weekends for 14 out 28 00:02:09,866 --> 00:02:14,466 of the top 20 films is Hollywood responding to this in any way? 29 00:02:14,466 --> 00:02:18,466 REBECCA SUN: Not in a way that is commensurate to what we're seeing. 30 00:02:18,466 --> 00:02:23,466 It's been known for years and years, that movie going audiences. In other words, 31 00:02:24,933 --> 00:02:27,266 the American population is growing more racially diverse. 32 00:02:27,266 --> 00:02:32,266 And yet, I do think that conventional wisdom in Hollywood, the decisions made by those who are 33 00:02:34,566 --> 00:02:37,900 at the very top, they still are thinking of white audiences as sort of the norm, and that anything 34 00:02:40,266 --> 00:02:45,133 that appeals to everybody else as niche and so whenever they make a film that's quote, unquote, 35 00:02:47,466 --> 00:02:51,833 targeted towards quote unquote, diverse audiences, that is seen as a niche film and not a wide four 36 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,266 quadrant release. So there is still quite a ways to go despite what the audiences are saying. 37 00:02:59,833 --> 00:03:02,233 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Films like Barbie and The Little Mermaid, 38 00:03:02,233 --> 00:03:06,066 which both had female leads were among the top 10 highest grossing films last year. But does 39 00:03:08,166 --> 00:03:12,633 that mean that that type of success actually translates into more opportunities for women? 40 00:03:14,733 --> 00:03:18,333 REBECCA SUN: I think it has the potential to translate but only if you're taking the 41 00:03:18,333 --> 00:03:23,333 correct take away messages. For example, when Barbie hit huge on opening weekend, 42 00:03:25,466 --> 00:03:27,633 there were a few think pieces initially that said, wow, you know, this means that Hollywood 43 00:03:27,633 --> 00:03:32,300 should make more movies about toys, not more movies that are driven by and about women. 44 00:03:34,366 --> 00:03:37,800 And so it really, really does depend on, you know, what you believe is the moral of 45 00:03:39,933 --> 00:03:42,300 the story. I mean, I think with Barbie and The Little Mermaid, are you just saying that like, 46 00:03:42,300 --> 00:03:46,833 oh, I guess women are going to the movies now? Or are you saying I guess everybody likes seeing 47 00:03:48,933 --> 00:03:51,733 movies about female characters? So those are two completely different takeaway statements. 48 00:03:51,733 --> 00:03:56,733 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: What about unequal pay? Actress Taraji P. Henson, who's in the Oscar 49 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,900 nominated film, The Color Purple spoke out during the film's press tour about how women 50 00:04:03,900 --> 00:04:07,500 and especially black women are treated in Hollywood and essentially, in Hollywood, 51 00:04:09,633 --> 00:04:13,000 women are paid fractions of what their male counterparts make. How pervasive is that problem? 52 00:04:15,166 --> 00:04:19,533 REBECCA SUN: That problem is pervasive in Hollywood as it is in every other industry 53 00:04:19,533 --> 00:04:24,533 in this society. You know, I think that it's the only difference is that the entertainment industry 54 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,600 is a lot more visible. But still, what Taraji P. Henson is talking about she's not comparing her 55 00:04:31,833 --> 00:04:34,400 salary to that of teachers who are chronically underpaid and part of a different conversation. 56 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:39,400 She's talking about her salary, compared to men who have had a commensurate level of experience 57 00:04:41,633 --> 00:04:45,033 and a commensurate level of accomplishment in the industry. When you look at that the numbers do not 58 00:04:47,233 --> 00:04:50,133 lie. Women in Hollywood including famous women, in Hollywood are still underpaid compared to 59 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,833 men and that is exacerbated even further when you're talking about women of color before. 60 00:04:57,933 --> 00:05:00,600 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Before we let you go were there any films this year directed by women 61 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:05,600 produced by women or that had female leads that went under the radar but that are worth watching? 62 00:05:07,900 --> 00:05:11,000 REBECCA SUN: This is a tricky one because it's not exactly completely under the radar. Celine Song's 63 00:05:13,233 --> 00:05:16,533 Past Lives. She's a first time filmmaker. She has an extensive playwriting background. It's just a 64 00:05:16,533 --> 00:05:21,533 subtle piece of work. It's really beautiful. It's a small quiet movie. It has been nominated for 65 00:05:23,900 --> 00:05:26,966 Best Picture, it might take a while for people to discover and so I hope they do sooner than later. 66 00:05:26,966 --> 00:05:30,166 LAURA BARRON-LOPZ: Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter, thank you for your time. 67 00:05:30,166 --> 00:05:31,233 REBECCA SUN: Thank you so much.