Kristen Stewart Voices Anger Over Hollywood's Regression for Women
The renowned actress and filmmaker has declared she is “so angry” that advancements for female directors in Hollywood have reversed after a brief period of positive change following the MeToo movement.
The Twilight star, who helmed the forthcoming film The Chronology of Water, delivered an emotional speech at a female-focused event in LA hosted by the Academy behind the awards.
“The regression from a short period of advancement is statistically devastating,” she told the audience. “Such a pitiful number of films from the past year have been directed by female filmmakers.”
An annual report that monitors the numbers of female filmmakers stated that eleven of the top 100 films of last year were helmed by female directors, a decrease from 16 in the year 2020.
‘Male-Dominated Industry Model’
In her address, Stewart remarked: “After the MeToo movement, it appeared likely that stories made by and for women were finally getting their due. That we could be permitted or even encouraged to express ourselves and our shared experiences, all of our experiences unfiltered.
“But I can now attest to the intense struggle that it requires at each stage when the content is too grim, too taboo, when the frankness with which it presents insights about experiences routinely experienced by women, often elicits disgust and rejection.”
She added: “We can talk about wage gaps and taxes on tampons and quantify the imbalance in lots of quantifiable ways. But the violence of silencing, it’s like we’re not even supposed to be angry. But I can eat this podium with a fork and [expletive] knife. I’m furious.”
The guests listening to Stewart’s address featured several prominent actresses.
Stewart received several rounds of applause over the course of her brief talk.
“I appreciate you,” she said. “I do not thank a boys’ club business model that claims to desire to hang out with us while draining our assets and diminishing our genuine viewpoints. Let’s try and not be tokenised. It’s time to create our own value.”
Upcoming projects from a few women filmmakers are in the running for the next Academy Awards, but the best director category is anticipated again to be dominated by men.
