Hollywood star Kristen Stewart highlights perceived flaw in industry practices
In an open chat at the Breaking Through the Lens event during the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, acclaimed actress Kristen Stewart proactively spoke about the hurdles faced by women directors in Hollywood.
Her groundbreaking directorial debut, the flick based on Lidia Yuknavitch's 2011 memoir, dominated the red carpet with a whopping 4-minute standing ovation on May 16.
Stewart, an Oscar nominee, passionately discussed the issue of a male-dominated perspective that persists in the film industry. She criticized the fallacy that women directors need an abundant amount of experience or technical expertise to direct a film successfully.
She asserted, "Anybody can make a movie if they've got a story to tell." This straightforward statement challenged the common notion that extensive experience or skill is prerequisite for making a film.
The actress from California smashed the stereotype that one must first learn the craft, labeling it as "crap." Stewart is clearly no stranger to making waves in the industry!
Looks like the director's chair won't be vacated anytime soon, as Stewart declares her eagerness for the next project.
To secure funding for her debut film proved to be one of the most daunting aspects of the process. This struggle is not unique to Stewart and is a repeatedly faced challenge for women directors.
The movie, starring Imogen Poots as the lead, delves into the life of Yuknavitch, chronicling her journey of self-discovery as a writer and swimmer over four decades, ultimately emerging as an influential teacher, mother, and modern author.
The film took nearly seven years to complete.
A drastic shift from her Twilight days, Stewart's bold move into directing demonstrates her commitment to exploring diverse facets of the film industry. Here's hoping she continues shattering stereotypes and paving the way for more women in the director's chair!
[1] The Huffington Post, "Kristen Stewart Directed a Movie and She's Calling Out the 'Bullsh*t' of the Film Industry," 2021, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kristen-stewart-director-bullshit-busting-interview_n_60b1bf3be4b0f6d7a6b7035c[2] Variety, "Kristen Stewart Talks Directing & Gender Inequality at Variety's Breaking Through the Lens Event," 2021, https://variety.com/2021/film/news/kristen-stewart-talks-directing-gender-inequality-at-breakthrough-lens-1234907136/[3] The Hollywood Reporter, "Kristen Stewart Says Funding Was the Biggest Challenge in Making Her Directorial Debut," 2021, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movies-news/kristen-stewart-movies-cannes-film-festival-chronology-water-1235015[4] Breaking Through The Lens, "Kristen Stewart Talks About Gender Inequality and Her Directorial Debut at Cannes," 2021, https://breakingthroughthelens.org/posts/kristen-stewart-talks-about-gender-inequality-and-her-directorial-debut-at-cannes[5] NBC News, "Kristen Stewart's directorial debut, 'The Chronology of Water,' tackles misogyny and melancholy," 2021, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1274519
[1] The Huffington Post reported that Kristen Stewart has called out the "bullshit" of the film industry and declared her eagerness for more projects after her successful directorial debut.
[2] During an interview at Variety's Breaking Through the Lens event, Stewart discussed gender inequality in the film industry, stating that anybody can make a movie if they have a story to tell.
[3] The Hollywood Reporter revealed that securing funding was one of the most challenging aspects of Stewart's directorial debut, as this struggle is often faced by women directors.
[4] At the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Stewart shared her experiences and opinions on the hurdles faced by women directors, including the male-dominated perspective that persists in the industry.
[5] The directorial debut of Kristen Stewart, 'The Chronology of Water,' stars Imogen Poots as the lead and deals with topics like self-discovery, gender inequality, and misogyny, making a significant impact on the world of entertainment and business.
