Including Women In The Production Industry Isn’t Rocket Science…Or Heart Surgery
On the set of Red Summit’s recent shoot interviewing a woman on her experiences with heart surgery, I was compelled to reflect on the experiences of women in production.
As empowered as this woman was to be able to to show her strength in the face of a medical issue, it is even more impressive when you remember that modern medicine has come a long way in treating such issues in women. The credibility of women’s symptoms was poorly regarded and the chance of doctors properly diagnosing them with heart disease was low, as it was thought to be primarily found in men. The world of science had to change their view on treating heart problems once more women came forward with them.
In order for women to be regarded with the same immediate consideration as men in today’s society, they need to work ten times as hard to be visible. Like coming forward with heart disease and proving their symptoms’ credibility, the same goes for women in the production industry coming forward with scripts or reels, and hoping they are taken seriously in a male-dominated field. And lately, they have been. However, there shouldn’t have to be a prerequisite, like more women winning Hollywood awards or more men accused of abuse, for them to be regarded as equals in production.
Women in the film industry have been discussed now more than ever, with attendees at the Golden Globes wearing all black to stand with women’s abuse allegations, and the SAG awards making their host and award presenters all women. People aren’t used to seeing women portrayed on film sets in the very media they strive to create, only as assistants or stylists and rarely, if ever, camera operators, gaffers, or directors. Normalizing female inclusion in the realm of film bigshots is the first step in getting people interested in supporting female-driven films.
It’s important that this support isn’t just a trend, but a movement in both the Hollywood and freelance aspect of the production industry, and sticks around so more diverse stories can be heard: through groundbreaking female characters like Mildred Hayes in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; composed by female writers like Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird; and organized by female directors like Dee Rees for Mudbound. Finally seeing women credited for acclaimed films is reminding people that a knack for production isn’t something that only men “can be diagnosed with.” Female directors, producers, and camera operators all exist and are a necessary addition of diversity to a crew that will give audiences stories and perspectives women didn’t have as much traction to show before.
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This was article was written by Red Summit Productions Intern Stacy Andryshak
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