I am unaware of the exact moment or situation in which the idea for this post came from but I think it had something to do with the low number of female protagonists, and also I was noticing an increase in female leads - which is positive but the fact that the world is noticing proves that we still have a lot of work to do.
Once I started combing through Netflix to find shows and movies with female directors or producers, IT'S A LOT HARDER than you might imagine.
So then I started to do a little bit more research...
Once I started combing through Netflix to find shows and movies with female directors or producers, IT'S A LOT HARDER than you might imagine.
So then I started to do a little bit more research...
These are just a few of the staggering stats that you can find about this topic,I mean, 11% of protagonists are women...are you kidding me?!
Then I started to binge watch everything I could find with female directors.
Then I started to binge watch everything I could find with female directors.
We Are the Hartmans is a bit cheesy, especially from the beginning but it has some funny moments, great lessons and an overall heartwarming story line. Director Laura Newman has many talents besides directing: she is also a composer, writer and has one acting credit. Newman also worked on GASLAND, a documentary about natural gas and fracking.
I effin loved this movie, 16 to Life not only takes place in a small town - it really seems like Minnesota; a few references and the river give it away.
Hallee Hirsh does an amazing job as main character Kate, her hair is epic and her depiction of being sexually frustrated, 16 and living in a small town during the summer is spot on. And although the city in which I grew up is a skip from downtown Minneapolis, I identified very much.
Trivia from Hirsh's IMDB page:
Hallee Hirsh does an amazing job as main character Kate, her hair is epic and her depiction of being sexually frustrated, 16 and living in a small town during the summer is spot on. And although the city in which I grew up is a skip from downtown Minneapolis, I identified very much.
Trivia from Hirsh's IMDB page:
This movie is BOMB! First off remember Haley Joel Osment?!? Cute little boy from Pay it Forward, Secondhand Lions, etc?! Well he is all grown up now and he ROCKS OUT a role as main character Bethany's father's boyfriend.
At the beginning when you first meet Bethany her room, her closet is all very Molly Ringwold in Pretty in Pink, but within the first ten minutes there is an unexpected twist with the whole graduation scenario.
The mom (Anna Gunn) from Breaking Bad does an amazing job being a nervous, uptight, overprotective lunatic and the little brother (Martin Spanjers) from 8 Simple Rules is a great addition to the family dynamic. The cast is great and the nuances of the film are super sweet; the coffee mug scene and the parking at 'Dressed Up,' just to name a few.
The message of following your dreams is one that can not be argued with, but I think that it is so cliche that she wants to go to fashion school. I encourage girls to realize that dream isn't as glamorous as it may seem. It could be much more glamorous to save someone's life or invent something that changes our world for the better.
The message of following your dreams is one that can not be argued with, but I think that it is so cliche that she wants to go to fashion school. I encourage girls to realize that dream isn't as glamorous as it may seem. It is much more glamorous to save someone's life or invent something that changes our world for the better. Although creating pretty outfits is great, (I get high off doing it most days) but find a dream that is more authentic and challenging the arranging and rearranging styles.
At the beginning when you first meet Bethany her room, her closet is all very Molly Ringwold in Pretty in Pink, but within the first ten minutes there is an unexpected twist with the whole graduation scenario.
The mom (Anna Gunn) from Breaking Bad does an amazing job being a nervous, uptight, overprotective lunatic and the little brother (Martin Spanjers) from 8 Simple Rules is a great addition to the family dynamic. The cast is great and the nuances of the film are super sweet; the coffee mug scene and the parking at 'Dressed Up,' just to name a few.
The message of following your dreams is one that can not be argued with, but I think that it is so cliche that she wants to go to fashion school. I encourage girls to realize that dream isn't as glamorous as it may seem. It could be much more glamorous to save someone's life or invent something that changes our world for the better.
The message of following your dreams is one that can not be argued with, but I think that it is so cliche that she wants to go to fashion school. I encourage girls to realize that dream isn't as glamorous as it may seem. It is much more glamorous to save someone's life or invent something that changes our world for the better. Although creating pretty outfits is great, (I get high off doing it most days) but find a dream that is more authentic and challenging the arranging and rearranging styles.
This last movie, I thought this one was important to throw in the mix because it came out in 1996 and takes place outside of the United States. Having varied examples is important to me because women are amazing multifaceted love bugs that all use their wings in different ways. Love Serenade was written and directed by Shirley Barrett who is Australian, and this screenplay takes place in a rural setting off of Australia's Murray River. I LOVE AUSTRALIA (There are one, two and three parts about how amazing my time there was).
This movie is super weird, really hilarious and it won the Caméra d'Or at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. I put it on my Ipad thinking that I would watch half and go to bed, I was so intrigued that I watched the whole thing; I couldn't stop watching this strange, amazing movie that was part Napolean Dynamite, part Lolita and part Jackie Brown (soundtrack).
This movie is super weird, really hilarious and it won the Caméra d'Or at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. I put it on my Ipad thinking that I would watch half and go to bed, I was so intrigued that I watched the whole thing; I couldn't stop watching this strange, amazing movie that was part Napolean Dynamite, part Lolita and part Jackie Brown (soundtrack).
After I started writing this blog post I was perusing Facebook and I came upon this great blurb shared by one of my favorite organizations to follow, HelloGiggles. I am glad Kiera Knightley and I are on the same page! :)
The next time you want to watch a movie (and you are spending more time trolling for something to watch then you will actually spend watching the movie) look for a movie with a main character that has tits, or a director with a feminine sounding name.
This won't change the world, it probably won't do much - but you and Netflix will know that those movies are just as good as any male-directed Hollywood blockbuster. It will also affirm we want to see more women in leading roles, production and directing positions because they deserve to be there.
Stay tuned this week for a blog about my favorite TV shows on Netflix with female protagonists, way easier to find than movies directed by women! (Unfortunately.)
xoxo, kp
RELATED BLOGS:
- Netflix Movies With Righteous Leading Ladies
This won't change the world, it probably won't do much - but you and Netflix will know that those movies are just as good as any male-directed Hollywood blockbuster. It will also affirm we want to see more women in leading roles, production and directing positions because they deserve to be there.
Stay tuned this week for a blog about my favorite TV shows on Netflix with female protagonists, way easier to find than movies directed by women! (Unfortunately.)
xoxo, kp
RELATED BLOGS:
- Netflix Movies With Righteous Leading Ladies
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