This Changes Everything (2019)

During our month with Netflix, I’ve tried to be more focused about watching things from our list.  I came across This Changes Everything and thought I’d just preview it for a few minutes to get a feel for it and then move on to something else for the evening.  Well, an hour and a half later…

I really liked this film and think it is such an important one for people to see.  This documentary discusses the underrepresentation and inequality faced by women in Hollywood.  I think it’s important to note though, that the focus is on women.  The stats, the interviews, the stories are about women in Hollywood.  Looking at the low percentages of women writers or directors or female leads, I can only imagine how much smaller (to non-existent) that number is for people of color, transgender people, non-binary people, and so many more.  And while this discrimination is obviously equally important to explore, This Changes Everything‘s focus is women.  There were many criticisms I read about this in reviews, but I personally think it was important for the documentary to keep a focus.  It would be like saying this film should have explored discrimination faced by women in all fields.  The topic is women in Hollywood.  Ok, moving on.

This Changes Everything was a big wake-up call for me.  Even as it began, I seriously thought, ‘Oh, well, maybe this used to be the case, but certainly not now.’  But as more and more women shared their stories and statistics were given, I was shocked.  I guess I didn’t fully realize things like why a big deal was made of Gerwig’s Little Women being directed, written, and produced by women.  I don’t tend to watch a ton of movies and I can be a bit particular in what I choose to spend my time watching, so I’m not always ‘in the know.’  But, I think these low numbers would probably surprise most everyone.  It’s interesting because I feel like the book world has made huge strides recently in representation.  I can find everything from picture books to YA to adult about so many people’s stories.  But, oddly, in the ‘open-minded’ Hollywood, this isn’t the case.  And, as much as I far prefer and adore books, let’s be realistic – The average person is way more likely to experience story on the screen than in a book.

I can understand and appreciate that big change doesn’t happen overnight.  So, seeing responses like these in this link of Hollywood women speaking up might seem awesome, but looong overdue.  But I get it.  It’s a process.  Still, I was very surprised by the inequality that’s been happening in Hollywood this long.  And when audiences continue to hear or see a story from a white, male perspective then that is what we think is the norm.  I really loved Shannon Hale’s post about Do Boys Only Get to Read Half the Books? but it seems that female authors get more opportunities to storytell than females in Hollywood.  It was interesting to think of that from the TV/movie perspective where the women’s perspective isn’t as readily an option.  I heard several times in the documentary that studios weren’t sure if they were willing to risk telling a woman’s story for fear of losing half their audience.  Seriously?  So, much like Hale talks about, women are just expected to watch a male’s view, but men can’t do the same for women?  (Or seriously, like I said, fill in the blank of any minority group.). Do we think so little of men?

And yet, another huge issue of (certain) men being at the helm of these productions has been the gross sexism and appalling behavior that women have had to deal with.  Isn’t it fortunate for this male-centric bubble that the young female actors they most desperately want for these parts are also the ones trying so hard to navigate this new show-business world and become a success that they are more likely to put up with such bull crap?  I loved one quote from the documentary – “Progress will happen when men stand.  It’s the chivalry of the 21st century.”  Although I don’t know much about FX, I loved seeing the male head of this channel really take it to heart that women and minorities were being so under-represented on the network.  He did something about it.  And, when big change and lots of change needs to happen, we really do need the help and support of people ‘on the inside.’  Much like the groups of men in the early 19th century whose votes would decide the fate of women’s suffrage.  And to create change, we also need women to come together in community.  So many of these male-centric stories have shown women pitted against one another in competition and that has influenced our culture.  Even interviews will try to perpetuate this and keep women separate.  We don’t all need to be BFFs, but women need to support each other and stand up for one another.  Divided, alone, and silent is when we fall.  We are stronger together.

And is this gender imbalance in production the same reason our cartoons have been so lopsided for so many years?  Makes sense, I guess, if men are the ones writing and producing them.  I remember when I was teaching elementary school, I used to do an exercise where I had the students think of a male cartoon character.  Preferably a human-looking one for the sake of the exercise.  What did he look like?  What was he wearing?  What were his hobbies?  What did he spend his time talking about?  And then, I asked them to do the same with a female character.  Now, I know things have changed since I did this.  I know they have.  But, is it as balanced now as I’m assuming?  At the time I was doing this with students, Tinker Bell had a huge comeback.  This jealous, mean fairy from 1950s Peter Pan who wears very little clothing and spends a good amount of time pouting or playing mean tricks on the only other female? Yeah, her.  (Link that is hilarious but rated-R) That is not a role model for young girls or an appropriate view of the female for any audience members.  Characters like Tinker Bell are one of the reasons my children have not seen any of the classic Disney films.  And, actually, it was the imbalance of females in cartoon movies that led Geena Davis (producer of This Changes Everything) to start her Institute on Gender in Media in the first place.

So, yes.  We’ve had too many moments of “This Changes Everything!” in this and so many other aspects of the way our world is.  But like that 100th monkey, I just have to believe that all these steps, whether small comebacks in an interview or large movements like MeToo and TimesUp, these will make a difference.  And even though Hollywood, and specifically women in Hollywood, is one, just one, piece of a much, much bigger problem, every change helps.  And whether we agree with it or not, people do look to movies, TV, and celebrities as guides from a young age and into adulthood.  Seeing women’s stories, hearing women stand up for themselves, watching women finally be recognized for their talents and hard work, and not just the dresses they wear to the awards shows, these things all make a difference in how we all view ourselves and those in our lives.  These people in Hollywood – actors, directors, writers, producers, interviewers, critics – they have great power and responsibility to create change.

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