Half the Picture

Listen, I am all for equality in the workplace and anywhere else. It's not only the law, but it is fair. Black or white, man or woman, everyone has the right to be treated with respect and given opportunities to succeed. But, if audience appeal leans towards movies by men, what are studios supposed to do? They cant change the viewing habits and preferences of millions of people. If you want more women directing films, go out and convince the public to buy the product they are offering. It's a business. Ask yourself if you would throw away your livelihood to make a brief point? To be politically correct all the time. Everyone is comfortable going with the flow until it hits them in their own wallet. Stop crying and find a better way to achieve what you want...

Excellent portrait of Hollywood's current state, relative to women directors.

Entertaining and yet profound call for immediate change.

A must see.

Half the Picture (2018) is a documentary directed by Amy Adrion. The problem discussed in this movie is that women direct only a small percentage of movies. Not only that, but this percentage is not getting larger. In fact, it may be getting smaller.

The weakness of the film is that it's primarily a "talking head" documentary. We hear the same problematic story from woman after woman. Even if they direct a very successful film, their phone doesn't ring with calls from producers who want them to direct another film. The consensus is that most producers are men, and they just don't trust women to properly direct a movie.

I knew about the grim prospects for women directors before I saw Half the Picture, but it was useful to get the facts first hand from the directors themselves.

The problem I find with a movie like this is that nobody suggests any action, except maybe discrimination lawsuits. If someone in the audience wants to help change the situation, how would they do it?

If you're a movie buff and/or a feminist, this film is well worth seeking out. We saw it on the large screen at Rochester's wonderful Little Theatre. It will work well on DVD.

"Half the Picture" (2018 release; 95 min.) is a documentary that examines why not more woemn aren't directing films in Hollywood. As the movie opens, it is "2017 Cannes Film Festival", and a reporter asks this very question to the Cannes jury members. Jessican Chastain is all too happy to provide her perspective on it. The facts are clear: Hollywood movies are directly mostly by men, mostly white men. In the last 10 year years, 1045 men have directed a Hollywood film, and only 45 woman have. It absolutely blows the mind.

Director Amy Adrion interviews lots and lots of women who have been able to direct a Hollywood film, and the tales we hear are remarkably similar, time and again, Even if you are successful, it doesn't guarantee duture success (cue: Catherine Hardwick, whose "Twilight" was a mega-success, and yet she was dropped for the sequels; likewise for Penelope Spheeris, who directed the smash hit "Wayne's World" and promptly was dropped for thesequel, and on...). Midway through this film, we are minde dof this particular stat: in the 90+ years of Oscars, how many women directors have won? Exactly ONE. Sexism, discrimination, lack of access to finance, these are just some of the factors responsible for the lack of women directing Hollywood films. Others intreviewed for this include Gina Prince-Bythewood, Lucy Walker, Miranda July, Ava Duvernay, Nisha Ganatra, Jill Soloway, and more.

I recently stumbled upon this while surfing on peacock for a good documentary to watch. "Half the Picture" highlights how closely knit the Hollywood circle really is.Does anyone really believe that women are less capabale than men to direct a film? C'mon already.

This film played at Through Women's Eyes International Film Festival in Sarasota, Florida, as well as at the Sarasota Film Festival. At TWE it played to a sold out audience and was incredibly well received.

The film accurately and carefully documents the difficulty faced women directors. No surprise really, but still shocking in 2018. This is film which should be seen by every woman interested in film, whether you are in the film industry or a devoted movie goer.

Through Women's Eyes can recommend this film without hesitation!!!