Reese Witherspoon: Hollywood Feminist of the Day

The Stats on Women & Hollywood

Women comprise only 23% of film critics at daily newspapers. (San Diego State)
In 2007, women only comprised 15% of all directors, executive producers, writers, cinematographers, and editors working on the top 250 grossing films. (San Diego State)
In 2007, only 6% of the top 250 grossing films were directed by women. (San Diego State)
In 2007, only 5 of the top 50 films starred or were focused on women.
Of the 6,833 single speaking characters in the film nominated for best picture from 1977-2006 only 27.3% were females. (USC)
Women make up 27% of TV writers and 19% of film writers (WGAW)
In 2006, less than a dozen of the 307 films eligible for an Oscar were women driven (EW).
In 2006, only 3 movies in the top 50 starred or were focused on women. (EW)

Why focus on Women & Hollywood?

Ever notice that most of the films in mainstream Hollywood are by and about boys? Women & Hollywood does and is tired of it. Women & Hollywood will focus on bringing attention to the films, TV shows, theatre and other entertainment that highlights women and our contribution to the culture.

This blog will focus on what's going on for women in Hollywood: what movies are being made; what directors are getting jobs; what projects actors are working; and will call attention to the continuous disparity that dominates Hollywood.

March 5, 2008

Reese Witherspoon: Hollywood Feminist of the Day

Reese Witherspoon celebrated Women's Month at the UN yesterday and helped launch an international campaign to end violence against women. She teamed up with Avon (she's their global ambassador) and UNIFEM and showed off the new "women's empowerment bracelet." (Will it have the same powers as Wonder Woman's bracelets?) 100% of the profits will go towards ending violence against women. Why can't we just give our money, why do we need jewelry to make us feel good about giving to such an important cause?

Full story: Witherspoon pitches fund to combat violence against women (AFP)

Upcoming Films

Nothing but the Truth- Opens December 19
New in Town- Opens January 30
Blessed is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh- February 6, 2009 (Doc)
Spinning Into Butter- Opens March 1, 2009
Sunshine Cleaning, directed by Christine Jeffs- Opens March 13, 2009
Case 39- Opens April 10
My Life in Ruins- Opens May 8, 2009
The Proposal, directed by Anne Fletcher- Opens June 12, 2009
When in Rome- Summer 2009
Julie and Julia, directed by Nora Ephron- August 2009
Amelia, directed by Mira Nair- October 23, 2009
Downloading Nancy- Opens Spring 2009
The Lovely Bones- 2009
Dancing with Shiva- TBA
Grey Gardens- TBA
Jennifer's Body, directed by Karyn Kusama- TBA
Julia- TBA
Margaret- TBA
Nine- TBA
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee- directed by Rebecca Miller- TBA
See You in September, directed by Tamara Tunie- TBA
Surveillance, directed by Jennifer Lynch
The Time Traveler's Wife- TBA
Whiteout- TBA
The Young Victoria- TBA

Future Films

Alice in Wonderland- starring Anne Hathaway and Helen Bonham Carter
The Beautiful and the Damned- starring Keira Knightley
Betty Ann Waters- starring Hilary Swank
Class Act- starring Halle Berry
Cheri- starring Michelle Pfeiffer
The Countess, directed by Julie Delpy
The Danish Girl- starring Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron
The Debt- starring Helen Mirren
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World- starring Meryl Streep
Edwin A. Salt- starring Angelina Jolie
The Governess
Heaven & Earth, directed by Marleen Gorris- starring Natasha McElhone
How Do You Know- Starring Reese Witherspoon
Mother and Child- starring Annette Being and Naomi Watts
The Opposite of Love- starring Anne Hathaway
Pope Joan
The Runaways- starring Kristen Stewart
Satisfaction, directed by Miranda July
The Sea Change- directed by Brek Taylor and Elizabeth Mitchell
Sex and the City 2
The Tempest- starring Helen Mirren, directed by Julie Taymor
The Ten Best Days of My Life- starring Amy Adams
Untitled Nancy Meyer- starring Meryl Streep
Within the Whirlwind, directed by Marleen Gorris