Becka Wall, Guest Blogger

Women make up only 7% of all directors in Hollywood, and according to Entertainment Weekly; the top-grossing films directed by a woman are Kung Fu Panda 2, Mamma Mia!, Shrek, and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel. Notice a trend?

While some call these successes an occasion to celebrate, I’m being a little more cautious before I whip out my confetti and champagne. Although animated films are basically a license to print money and appeal to a large audience, they’re lacking in something vital in being taken seriously as a filmmaker: substance. Hollywood seems to be comfortable handing over control to women in animation – a task often seen as managerial, due to the collaborative nature of making an animated film. The only times animated films are seen as visionary is when men like John Lasseter, Brad Bird or Hayao Miyazaki is directing.

Hollywood doesn’t trust women with live-action films, particularly ones that have the potential to start a franchise; like superhero films, comedies, or prestigious dramas. This isn’t because the talent isn’t there; but because they are seen as “male” genres. Needless to say, I take up issue with this blanket statement – I know plenty of females who are hilarious or love comic books or have a powerful story to tell who would love to break into filmmaking. The first female director to win an Oscar only happened very recently with Kathryn Bigelow’s win for The Hurt Locker. It’s time for Hollywood to start paying attention to the artistic endeavors of women in film, and take them seriously – because men aren’t the only ones who should be taken seriously on the silver screen. 

Becka also writes for her own blog, Becka Tells All and is the founder of Couch Potatoes with a Cause: the Feminist TV Club.

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