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The Impact of the Barbie Movie on Women in Hollywood
In this episode, Matt Belloni explores the potential impact of the highly anticipated Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, on the representation of women in Hollywood. He sheds light on the glaring lack of female directors in the industry and the underrepresentation of female protagonists in mega blockbusters. Shockingly, out of the 52 movies that have grossed over a billion dollars, only five were directed or co-directed by women.
However, the Barbie movie, directed by a woman, featuring women in lead roles, and with a predominantly female audience, has the potential to challenge this trend. Belloni engages in a thought-provoking conversation with guest Rebecca Keegan as they delve into the barriers faced by female directors in Hollywood. They discuss the risk-averse attitude of executives and the limited opportunities for women to direct big-budget franchises.
Despite these challenges, there is hope for change in the industry. Belloni and Keegan explore the potential for a shift, with younger executives being more open to taking risks and the evolving cultural landscape that favors female stars. They highlight the importance of breaking down barriers and creating more opportunities for women in all aspects of filmmaking.
The episode also touches on the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike and the recent developments in negotiations between the guild and the studios. Belloni predicts that a deal will be struck with the writers first, followed by the actors, and suggests that the strike may come to an end in mid to late September.