We’re hoping that women like Kathryn Bigelow, the woman behind “The Hurt Locker” who could win the Oscar for Best Director this year, will begin to give voice to the silent minority in Hollywood: women. A recent study done at the University of Southern California turned up some disheartening stats about women in film. Of the 100 blockbuster films of 2007 that were studied, only 17 percent of them were written, directed, or produced by women. Even worse, they found that women were minorities onscreen as well. Female actresses were given only 30 percent of all speaking parts. (I wonder how many women were seen and not heard—that would be interesting to know.) While those findings are fairly depressing, there is some good news. Films with women writers, directors, and producers had about twice as many parts for females. So it sounds like the key to building women’s influence in Hollywood is for ladies to make their own material. Sure, it may be intimidating to go up against your allegedly egomaniacal ex for an Oscar, but if Kathryn wins (and even if she doesn’t), she’ll be an inspiration to up-and-coming females in the movie biz. Here’s to equality in Tinsel Town. [AOL]
