When we think of cinema, we tend to think of strong male figures: Eastwood, Scorsese, Spielberg and Tarantino… but what about the women shaping the films you’re watching? Whether they’re directing, writing, producing, editing or designing, women have changed the face of cinema – and you probably didn’t even know it. So, next time you’re searching through the Sky Planner for something to watch, or flicking through the films listed in your favourite magazine subscriptions, why don’t you consider watching something influenced by these inspirational women?
1. Alice Guy-Blaché, director
Alice Guy-Blaché was a pioneer. The first (and only) female director for a number of years, she directed over 1,000 films between 1896 and 1920 and was a prolific silent film actress, screenwriter and producer too. Credited as being the inventor of narrative fiction films, Guy-Blaché’s career spanned 24 years which places hers amongst the longest careers for any cinematic pioneer; remarkable given her position in an industry that was even more male-centric than it is today.
2. Kathryn Bigelow, director
Kathryn Bigelow, an American director, was the first woman to win Best Director at the Oscars – and thus far, continues to be the only one. Think that’s shocking? Wait until you find out it took until 2008 for that to happen at all… Bigelow has won an Oscar for the Hurt Locker, and has also won a number of Baftas and Academy awards. Most recently, she’s earned critical acclaim (and prompted CIA internal agency investigations) for Zero Dark Thirty.
3. Kathleen Kennedy, producer
Producing the majority of Steven Spielberg’s films for three decades whilst occasionally collaborating with other major influencers such as Scorsese and Eastwood, Kennedy produced ET, Back to the Future and The Force Awakens, to name but a few. Kennedy is now president of Lucasfilm and brand manager of Star Wars after it was sold to Disney, causing female geeks across the world rejoice. After all, science fiction is a genre beloved by women as well as men.
4. Edith Head, costume designer
Edith Head was an American costume designer who won eight Oscars and racked up no fewer than 35 academy award nominations. Embarking on a career in costume design without much in the way of training, Head was soon in high demand. Why? Unlike (most of) her male counterparts, she bothered to ask actors about their characters – extensively. As a result, stars demanded her services as a condition of their contracts, including the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Bette Davis and Ginger Rogers.
5. Phoebe Cates, New York family of Broadway producers
Phoebe Cates was born into a New York family of Broadway Producers and is best known for being an American actress, singer, entrepreneur and model turned store owner known primarily for her roles in several films, most notably Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Gremlins and Drop Dead Fred.
6. Reese Witherspoon, producer and actress.
Reece Witherspoon is famous for her performances in Legally Blonde and Walk the Line, but has been doing a great deal behind the camera too. Noticing that major studios rarely develop projects for women over 30, Witherspoon has taken matters into her own hands by developing projects for herself and others. The result? The creation of films such as Wild and Gone Girl (both of which were nominated for an Oscars, Golden Globes and SAG awards). Witherspoon has since been championing the #AskHerMore campaign which puts pressure on the media to ask actresses about something other than what they’re wearing.
t. Sherry Lansing, studio boss and producer.
At age 35, Sherry Lansing became the first woman to head a Hollywood studio; in 1980 she was president of production at 20th Century Fox. Named as one of the most powerful women in America during the noughties, Lansing became CEO of Paramount, heading up hits including Clueless, Forest Gump, Braveheart and Titanic. Six of the ten highest grossing Paramount films were shown to the public during Lansing’s tenure.