Sexist America, Racist Hollywood
by Jaden
Since the dawn of my website Screenwriting for Hollywood, I wanted to write about prejudice in Hollywood, but was advised against it.
Good table manners, right? Do not discuss politics, religion, money, or sex.
Uh oh, here we go…
With America’s most controversial election on the horizon, what better time to talk about racism and sexism in Hollywood?
Reality is not what you see on the screen. Even shows that call themselves “reality shows” are selective and manipulating.
Movies and TV do not accurately reflect America’s population when it comes to race, gender, career, and crime. Characters are often unrealistic stereotypes that aid to suppress certain groups of people.
Due to this year’s presidential candidates, I have heard many racist and sexist jokes. My first thought is: Clearly, you didn’t go to college. Yet, truth is, a lot of these people did go to college.
Many years ago, I co-wrote a script with two female lead characters. A reader at ICM (International Creative Management) who gave coverage on it said that scripts like ours would never exist if it were not for Sex and the City.
Hmmmm, I am a female living in Hollywood, is it really that strange that I would write a story about women in a big city?
Aside of having strong female leads and being in a city, nothing else in the script was like Sex and the City. Our characters are a generation younger and wander through the gritty underbelly of a city, not the upscale shi-shi side of Manhattan. The female and male characters are based on real people and many of the incidents are true, yet the reader said they are unbelievable.
There are millions of women who live in big cities, yet we can only have the one specific subculture that is represented in Sex and the City?
Talk about being put in a box!
A large untapped market of women would pay to see stories to which they can relate, stories written by women for women. I’m not talking about Lifetime television movies wherein all the women get stalked and killed. I’m talking about real inspiring women and fun stories that men can enjoy too.
The new box for any female screenwriter trying to break into Hollywood is the stripper blogger Diablo Cody Juno box. Now, female writers would not exist if it were not for her, right?
Half the population are women!
In 80 years of Academy Awards, from what I can gather, only three women without male writing partners have won an Oscar for writing and zero non-white male.
In 1930 and 1932, Frances Marion won for her scripts The Big House and The Champ. 71 years went by before the next solo female writer was to win. Sofia Coppola, daughter of the famous award-winning father Francis Coppola, won for Lost in Translation in 2003. And for Juno, Diablo Cody won in 2007.
In 219 years in America, all the presidents have been Caucasian men.
Racism, sexism, xenophobia, and many other prejudice are alive and sustaining. When you decide to take up a career in Hollywood, be prepared for this road block.
My modest estimate from working in Hollywood for a decade is that 85% of screenwriters and directors are white male. It is a boy’s club to be sure.
For the few race and gender exceptions who break through, seldom are they recognized for their talents, and often they are picked apart and scrutinized.
One of the most beautiful, creative, and intelligent films I have seen is Frida, for which director Julie Taymor did not get nominated.
Endless untapped talent is ignored and rejected out of fear and ignorance.
Who do you envision as a terrorist? Who plays the funny sidekick? Who is the drug dealer? Who plays a thief? How about the gangster? What people are needy and weak? Who knows martial arts? What is a sexy line of work? What color does the bad guy wear? What color does the good guy wear?
Each of those questions prompts a stereotypical image in your mind of a specific race and gender; how do you think those images got in your mind and who put them there?
If you don’t know drug dealers, don’t write about them, because in my hometown, the drug dealers were not Black, they were Caucasian.
If you are going to write about strippers, you ought to know some, because you will see that they are not all pretty and their lives are far from glamorous.
If you are going to write about terrorists, go beyond what is current propaganda, because all the Middle Easterners I know are spiritual loving prosperous Americans who deserve kindness from their neighbors, not suspicion and crappy movie roles.
One successful Iraqi man I know living in Hollywood (who looks just as white as any European and uses a fictitious name, like half the Hollywood Middle Easterners I know) recently lost nearly all of his family to the hands of Americans in his homeland. With sadness in his heart, he holds no grudge and comes to work everyday with a smile on his face, glad he is alive and in a position to make money to send back home to the remaining survivors.
You will not see current heartbreaking stories like these on the screen because America and Hollywood do not want you to know. Furthermore, the American public will not pay to see such movies when they are losing their own sons and need an enemy for justification.
As a screenwriter selling to Hollywood, don’t sell your soul by being part of the suppression machine that teaches hate to the subconscious. Know about what you are writing from first-hand experience. Turn stereotypes upside down. Dig deep in your research. Let the light shine.
A commendable war film project directed by Clint Eastwood are the two films Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima. With an honest and respectful approach, two entire films are dedicated to showing the perspective of each side, the Americans and the Japanese. This is a beautiful endeavor.
For screenwriters who are not white male and not in a position of power, I strongly suggest making your own films. With today’s technology and the Internet, cost of filmmaking is affordable, and the want of the public will speak for itself.
Choose to have a positive effect on the world.
[In the comments section, you may read additional discussion brought forth by Friar about the overplayed stereotypes placed upon white men.]
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[...] in a different post that I have postponed until I can put a positive spin on it — though racism is hard to spin positively. Once I post that diatribe, some fly-by commenter will probably tell me [...]
Great post! It’s so true! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie where the terrorist is a white male. It’s mostly Russians or guys from the Middle East. I find that independent films are a lot better for getting away from stereotypes but they’re not emaculate!
Such a well written post! I agree that stereotypes are in great need of breaking, and you are right — “conventional” Hollywood is not the place. A close look at both Academy and SAG nominees and winners shows that independent productions and visionaries from countries other than California are succeeding…and finding audiences. Frida is but one example of a great movie that was overlooked!
There are plenty of actresses (and actors) out there who are starting their own production companies — and hedge fund managers who want to fund movies.
If you are thinking big…maybe that’s a better place to start than by pitching the “unconventional” to the people who don’t want to hear it. (Actually, secretly, deep down, they probably will want to hear it…and sooner than we think.)
One continuing issue is “The Conventional Hollywood Year” — not much room for the unusual, what with the three seasons “Summer Cartoon & Superhero Blockbusters,” “Serious Oscar Contenders” and “The Other Stuff (Dreck?) that Can’t go Straight to DVD, or MHM (mostly horror movies).” Not all great films (historical or contemporary) fit neatly into those categories. Think of your favorite films. Where would they fit in?
I have a comedy script out right now — a 30ish female protagonist in a very unusual business. Sent to a big contest — we’ll see what happens. I have adopted the attitude that I have sent it out on an angel’s wings with the best intentions — to make audiences, male and female, young and old, etc. — LAUGH! :-)
Muzz — Great assessment and good advice for us. Yes, “angel’s wings” are the best way to fly. As for my favorite movies, they are often too twisted for mass appeal or to win awards from stiffs, but there are also many great films I love that have stomped through and picked up their awards. 1956 Giant, James Dean’s last movie, won 1 Oscar and lots of nominations, was a big budget film that touches class and race issues. Midnight Cowboy 1969 also won Oscars, class issues, great film and weird! I could go on about all the winners I love, but as a separate issue, there is still a huge race and gender imbalance in Hollywood.
SizzlyP — Thanks.
In terms of terrorists, I think what we’re seeing in the films is merely a reflection of our culture and its fears. That would be expected in the years following 9/11. I mean, wouldn’t it be weird if after that, we didn’t see such movies popping up? A great film, however, will show both sides and depict different cultures in a fair manner. I always point out to people that most terrorists attacking the U.S. have been home grown.
But there are tons of movies with non-stereotypical terrorists. In fact, I find them to be the rule rather than the exception: Air Force One, Die Hard, Patriot Games, Twelve Monkeys (one of my faves), to name a few.
I think the most underrepresented group is actually older folks. Our culture is so consumed with youth and beauty that once actors reach middle age, the roles available to them decrease dramatically.
I do realize I’m talking more here about actors rather than screenwriters. I find that most industries are still run by the good old boys but damn, imagine how it was back in the 50s.
I am a minority female screenwriter and I’ve had it!
I’ve written more than half a dozen feature specs, several episodic samples, done well in contests, and have assisted at a major production company, I apply to “diversity” programs for screenwriters, have I ever gotten picked? NO.
Why is this? The glass ceiling still exists.
Cahoots — I feel ya. All I can say is keep plugging away. We are young yet and with improvement and new angles on our self-promotion, you never know. Like I said, do it yourself; get together a gang of people and go indie style. Put film shorts on the web. Enter film festivals. Sounds like you are already doing that, so keep the momentum going. Perseverance reigns in this industry.
I would love to see your documentary Goth Parking Lot, how does one get a hold of that? My buddies and I watched Heavy Metal Parking Lot way back when — hilarious! I shot my own Heavy Metal Parking Lot too… at an Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Deftones concert in like 1995. Too funny. Bunch a drunks and stoners! It’s buried in my storage with other great and weird footage.
Melissa — The good ol’ white boys have written lots of great movies, no doubt, they have also written lots of terrible ones and made tons of money for themselves, while losing studios bank, when great money-making films could have been made if it were not for prejudice. As for the 1950s, bless their style, the mentality was a huge throwback for women. In the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, the women were making great headway, then they hit the brick wall. Again in the 60s and 70s, much progressive movement, then another wall in the 80s.
Men are just scared of us because we are too damn sexy and complex! They can’t handle it. Shoot, I can’t handle myself. It’s ok little babies, we’ll rock you to sleep…. and then take over the world… from under the covers. *wink*
PS. Me and Ax tell each other hilarious old people stories, maybe we will write a great old person script. Have you seen Deep Friar’s gut-splitting post today on old people annoying young people?
http://deepfriar.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/friars-tips-to-seniors-how-to-annoy-the-younger-generation/
Jaden
Wow…what a provocative post. Keep ‘em coming.
Though I would like to give a different slant on Hollywood stereotypes that no one has picked up on yet.
I find there is a signficant part of Hollywood that has a politically-correct agenda, that often uses sexism and racism in a reverse way, where it’s okay to bash white people (especially males).
For example, how many movies still use the tired old stereotype of the villains being white Neo-Nazis? (Die Hard, for example).
(Give it a rest, already! WWII ended 60 years ago…).
Notice how they significantly changed the plot in Tom Clancy’s “The Sum of All Fears” to make the terrorists appear as white-supremacists instead of Mid-Eastern? (God forbid should you stick to the original book!)
Other example: In Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch”, Lilo’s classmates pick on her. There isn’t one other Hawaiian kid making fun of her…all the mean girls just happen to be white. (What’s this teaching our kids?)
As for male-bashing. Ugh. Dont’ get me started.
I’ve lost count of the “family movies” where Dad is a stumbling buffoon, while his much-smarter kids and tolerant wife just roll their eyes while he acts like an idiot. Think of the Griswalds, or Martin Lawrence. (Why isn’ t Mom ever portrayed this way?)
These are just a few examples, but when you think of it, there’s a lot of this in Hollywood.
I just wish they’d poke fun of (or villify) people equally. And stop pushing an agenda on us. We want to be enterained…not lectured!
Friar — Stop making me laugh today, you’re making my cheeks hurt! Yes, me too, I am SOOOOOO sick of Nazi movies. Good grief! Thanks for adding that. How could I forget. I blocked it out of my mind. Really good points.
In Hollywood, the white male population is predominantly Jewish. I guess I should have clarified that, but that gets sticky. It would be like pouring molasseses on a mountain of glue. Check out all the names of studio executives, producers, directors, and writers. Then you can see why the Nazi thing is also overplayed, and the dumb white dad.
All races/cultures/religions have been on both sides of the fence of good and evil at some point in history.
At this point, I would just like to hear and see the ideas of women and different races in equal proportion to their population, instead of being ruled by a small elite.
@Jaden
Oh, I shouldn’t laugh….given the seriousness of this post. But when you talk about wanting to see movies made in proportion to a certain population…. The first thing that came to my mind was India.
… you gotta admit, that country is certainly pulling their weight. They have a billion people, and last time I checked, they’ve made over a billion movies…Bollywood just churns ‘em out by the truckload….!
Now…if only we can just convince North Americans to pay $12 to watch those high-pitched singing and dancing numbers…
…performed by a cast of THOUSANDS…of course! :-)
Friar — I love Bollywood films and the music. They are amazing! I need to see more. Too funny. There is this one scene from the 60s that I watch over and over, can’t watch it enough. It’s the scene spotlighted in Ghost World, where she is dancing to it. So good.
Jaden
I admit, I dont’ get those Bollywood movies…I just dont’ get them. It’s gotta be a cultural thing…
Reminds me of a Simpsons episode, where they’re watching a Bollywood movie on TV with Apu.
Bart tells Apu no offence, but these movies SUCK!
Homer laughs in a clued-out way, and says it’s funny, because their language and their clothes are different. :-)
(But actually, the fake movie clip they showed was a pretty close imitation of the real thing…! Those writers had Bollywood down pat!)
Jaden,
You are my hero. I’m serious. I’m book marking this post and will read it again and again.
“Endless untapped talent is ignored and rejected out of fear and ignorance.” It’s all about the patriarchy. Yes.
You don’t know how much this stuff means to me. I really believe that movies are such a force in our society and “he” who controls the media controls pretty much everything. I had no idea that 85% of screenwriters were male. That sucks.
Women are MORE than half the population. Unfortuately, many women have been conditioned by society to accept this subservient role. And then we have all the institutions keeping it in place.
Thanks for all of this. You’ve truly inspired me.
Ellen
Ellen — Yes, he who controls the media controls the world. When I was 21, I knew this, and that’s why I wanted to get into entertainment, in effort to change the world for the better. MORE than 85% of paid screenwriters are male. The 15% includes women AND other races of men. (This is an estimate from experience in the industry and by looking at the names of screenwriters on every film.) Less than 5% of high earning directors and screenwriters are women, when in film school, it was probably 50/50 male/female ratio. From the Internet and blogs, you can see there is no shortage of women who can and do write when given the opportunity.
Friar — Re: Bollywood. It’s one of those things, it is so bad it is good, like fast food. They are just hilarious.
@Jaden
I get ya. Just like those “Sinbad” movies from the 60′s (if you’ve ever seen them)
Friar — Sinbad? That is classic good! More like daddy’s spaghetti.
@Friar – Pretty soon Hollywood will be catering to the Asian population. Statistics.
@Jaden – I’m so sick of silly white male bullshit and the same old Hollywood formula movies. I’d like to write screenplays, and have thought of turning my novels into screenplays. 125 pages? Can’t be too bad, eh?
Well, keep on doing what your doing. Maybe we can turn the power structure around. Maybe it’s the producers who keep everything the way it is. Whoever has the money keeps everything the way it is. And then everyone cow tows.
Ellen — Visual and dialog-charged novels are best for screenplay adaptations. I write novel and screenplay, they are drastically different beasts. It depends what you like better. Novel is all about the details, thoughts, and feelings. Screenplay is only action description and dialog; the emotion must be drawn from those things. Length wise, screenplays are much easier and shorter. Another difference is that screenplay format is very specific and rigid, whereas novel writing is rather free. Overall, I prefer novel writing because I am detail oriented and think myself in circles of thousands of pages. Sometimes, a story pops into mind strictly as a screenplay, meaning that it is mostly visual or dialog inspired. Other stories are strictly novel, lots of emotion and philosophical ideas. You just have to try it out and see what works for you. Maybe you will find a whole new writing love.
[...] think it all simmers and boils and then explodes. And I think we can all thank Jaden who Writes for Hollywood to blow the lid off. Yes, Jaden says most screenwriters are Caucasian males. Around 85%. Now [...]
I propose “Harold and Kumar meeet Fried Green Tomatoes”
There…a movie EVERYONE can enjoy! :-)
@Jaden – I never thought about the difference between novels and screenplays quite like this. I do enjoy dialogue, though.
@Friar – All these movies are just throwing women and minorities a cookie. Nothing actually changes. Villifying people equally is a good idea.
But really, we are just preaching to the choir, here. The real question is why do things stay the same. Why do they (Hollywood and assciated) make money with this? People aren’t stupid . Or are they? It’s all interconnected.
@Jaden
I don’t want to sound like an intellectual snob…but I would venture to say that the minority of movie-goers is into literature, film-making, screenwriting and movie critiques.
A huge segment of the population is perfectly happy to just watch sappy chick-flicks, or car chases and things blowing up.
Mabye Hollywood makes the movies they do…because that’s what the public wants to see, and that’s what they’re willing to pay money for.
Not saying this is right or wrong. But mabye that’s just the way it is.
Friar — Hey smarty pants, for sure, what you say is one element, but even the people who like blow ‘em up movies and light silly stuff usually like better the movies that take it to the next level and have good dialog and interesting story plots, like the big hits Matrix, Mad Max, Tarantino movies, Spiderman… I have heard lots of non-film-snob family/friends complain about lack of story or good dialog.
For me, the best movies are ones that have something new to say that I haven’t already thought. New angles. Important issues. Personal tales. Or beautiful artistically, cinematography, imagery, framing, etc…
@Jaden
You make a good point. The best movies are the ones that have new angles and original ideas. Something that’s never been done before….I LOVE those kind of movies.
Now..let me check the theater listings, and see what’s playing right now.
The Incredible Hulk. Indiana Jones Part IV. Get Smart. Sex and the City. Iron Man. Chronicles of Narnia Part II. Speed Racer.
(….sigh.)
Mabye I’ll just buy a book instead.
“In Hollywood, the white male population is predominantly Jewish. I guess I should have clarified that, but that gets sticky. It would be like pouring molasseses on a mountain of glue. Check out all the names of studio executives, producers, directors, and writers. Then you can see why the Nazi thing is also overplayed… ”
Jaden, soooo so true, and so fearless for you to point this out. For so many years, “the Nazi as the most evil of all” seems to be one of the most popular subjects ever, but how about now? In the middle east, they may have to worry about suicide bombers, but how about the hundreds of Palestineans living in the hell-hole? How about their stories?
The only movie about the ‘other side’ I’ve been fortunate to see is Paradise Now, and while it’s been said to be destined for recognition (aka awards), protests were heard from everywhere, and what would those that dominate the top at Hollywood do?
How bout Munich? Essentially another movie about the suferrings of the Jews at the hands of the Palestinean terrorists? I think we have these kinds of movies almost every year to keep us from forgetting… do we all have short memories???
I cried watching Schindler’s List, because it’s a genuine feeling from any human who have to witness such an atrocities… but I cried more watching two Palestineans having nothing to look forward to but chaos and violence and death…becoming a suicide bomber is not an excuse, nor it should be justified, but can we try to look at the other side and see what’s happening???
Jed — Hi. Thanks for chiming in here and for also for being brave to add your thoughts. It is hard to discuss these things because it is supercharged with emotions and people’s personal experiences.
In regards to warring nations and factions, what people often oddly don’t recognize is that not too much happens in a vacuum or without reason.
A more honest approach to filmmaking, like the Clint Eastwood films I cite, is to show both sides.
If we ask the why, we might find some truth.
‘Who’ is for blaming.
‘Why’ is for reason.
What leads to tragedy? Why are people angry? Why are they attacking? Religion? Land? Revenge? Starvation? If you know why something is happening, then you can apply an appropriate long lasting solution with compromise and consideration.
Commonly, what we get from News and Cinema is not an answer to why something happens, but rather propaganda and hate with a finger pointing at who, just small blips of emotionally charged situations to rile up people. Profit exists in attacking and sensationalism, not thinking and calm.
To get philosophical and go wider with this, the world’s population is at an all time high, it is only natural that there is fighting for resources (oil, corn, land, water, whatever) and an intrinsic need for stress reduction on society and earth. On the micro level, things can seem insane and irrational, but on a macro level, it makes sense. Religion, Darwinism, Alien Invaders, whatever people believe, it all leads back to the same place: who will survive? Us or them?
To survive without having to steal or kill thy neighbor, it is best to live within your means, live off your own land, and live locally.
As we are now in a phase of world amalgamation where anything from anywhere in the world is available to us, while the gap widens between filthy rich and starving poor, lots of people are beginning the journey back to self-sustaining and micro-living.
(Now you can see why I write, I can go on forever about anything. I haven’t even had my coffee yet today.)
I saw a movie today at the cinema where I was the minority. I watched Dasavathaaram, an Indian movie in Tamal and a little bit of English (English subtitles were also used). There was a young Indian-Canadian that sat a couple of seats beside me and asked if I knew Tamal and told me that it was all in Tamal. He didn’t know there was going to be subtitles. The whole movie looked at terrorism from a different angle. The perceived terrorist was an Indian-American, but the real terrorist was a caucasian blonde male who was chasing the other to get a vial with a biochemical virus. President George W. Bush was also mentionned and seen often. He didn’t look anything like the real him. It was actually an Indian actor wearing a mask. At one part in the film, they blame President Bush for funding the bio-chemical labs in the U.S. Although the cinematography and special effects were horrible, it was good to see a story from a different perspective and not from the North American stereotypical sense.
SizzlyP — Thanks for sharing that one. In America, we don’t really have easy access to films like that. Very few foreign films make it to our big screens, certainly one of that nature would not be the selected for our theaters. Surely, lots of other countries are making films that flip upside down our stereotypes.
Jaden — That’s what I was thinking last night…they would never show a film like this in the U.S., especially because how Americans are portrayed…..(but also because of the filming quality…..at times, probably the worst I’ve seen).
[...] stereotypes. People wanted something mature that grew up with them. Normally, I would agree that this type of movie is no [...]
Jaden
This has inspired me to write a post of my own, on this subject.
At your suggestion, I’ve added the link: :-)
http://deepfriar.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/the-gospel-of-action-movies-according-to-hollywood/
I liked this article very much.
As an independent film maker, most of my current projects have to do with strong female leads, African-American at that. Partly this is because I have managed a small number of African-American females over the years and partly it’s because, well, that’s just what I write.
It’s good to see someone else shouting about the racist attitude of Hollywood (read: film and especially television). I have come to consider the casting and production process in this city to be an unofficial Ministry of Cultural Images, ensuring that only white mainstream and government-supportive media is produced.
Truth is, the Hollywood machine is frightened of ethnic women and women general. It is positively terrified of Black women.
I would like to form an action group to fight this propaganda machine; to produce alternative media and force it onto the mainstream. Anyone want to join me? If so, contact me at shadowmihaiu “@” gmail.com
[...] Post 4 / Focus ~ In Bruges: The Sleeping Beauty of 2008 ~ 80 Years of Oscar Losers I Love ~ Sexist America, Racist Hollywood ~ 14-Ton Underwood Vintage Typewriter ~ Coffee: A Writer’s Best Friend ~ Scariest Horror Films ~ [...]
[...] Screenwriters ~ Write a Screenplay in One Month: Week Zero ~ 14-Ton Underwood Vintage Typewriter ~ Sexist America, Racist Hollywood ~ Do I Need an Agent? ~ What are Spec Scripts? ~ Top 8 Screenplay Contests of 2009 and the [...]
And it always seems like whenever an African American types a comment the ‘whites’ always ignore their comments and don’t reply. F**K YOU! We are not at the bottom of the class strata.
Shadow —
Thank you.
I apologize for my delayed reply, it was my birthday week and I have had an extremely busy year.
” an unofficial Ministry of Cultural Images” Yes, I agree with that.
“action group” Good luck !
My tactic is to try to create a product that the public likes and supports, and break through that way, spreading positive ideas through story and imagery.
Anonymous —
Being negative like this and placing blame will hold you back in life.
To think that you have been singled out to be ignored by a stranger like me (who is concerned with social issues and does what I can in my free time to help others) is sad and delusional.
Time wise, I am just not able to respond to all comments. I do my best. Often, I am pre-occupied with my own personal and other professional matters.
Friar –
Cool! Thanks.
I disagree with your post, but like the site.
As for the post about the presidents all being white men, how is this racist when, except for the last election not too many if any non white men or any women would have run might have been differently. Plus not all the voters are white.
Plus I disagree with your post about Hollywood being an all white boy club…very insulting indeed. Most stories & scripts are submitted without the publisher/producer knowing what race the writer is. Just because a majority of the writers/screenwriters are white means more whites submit works.
Very racist posts, IMO.
Hi Mike — Thanks for your feedback.
This article was written a couple years ago when we still had a white president and only ever had white presidents.
Black men and Women could not even vote for president, much less run for president. Black men got the right to vote in 1870 and women 50 years later in 1920!
Unfortunately, there is still residue of racism and sexism. You are an extremely blessed person if you have never experienced or witnessed racism and sexism.
[...] acting and here, here, and here for race and writing. Also, click here for ageism and acting, and here for an essay on -isms in general (not classism though, this article is a bit classist) and [...]