Comments on: William Friedkin Talks Diversity, Says Cinema Is “An Open Playing Field” & “Women Have To Put Themselves Forward” https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/ Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Joanna https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58549 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58549 Exactly! Friedkin has never heard anyone in Hollywood say \’You\’re stupid because you\’re a woman\’, so everything is surely fine. This is a systematic problem, perpetuated by such veiled views such as Friedkin\’s.

]]> By: Sorcerer of the Balls https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58560 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58560 Billy is 100% correct.

]]> By: The Plexorcist https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58559 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58559 Bravo to you, Sir! Speak the truth.

]]> By: black whitie https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58558 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58558 lol the author of the article just wants to wash his hands and put himself as a holier than thou person all the way, as if he\’s point of view is the correct one, tell friedkin in person about his \’ not-quite-successful sports analogy\’ and the penultimate parragraph, i think he\’ll explain it to you, coward.

]]> By: bohmer https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58557 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58557 Well sorry to feel the same way as Friedkin.

]]> By: Anon https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58556 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58556 This article leaves out the fact that Friedkin\’s wife, Sherry Lansing ran Paramount.

]]> By: Leon https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58555 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58555 William is 100 percent right. They already have ruined Star Wars.

]]> By: JayinTN https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58554 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58554 I\’m just curious: does the author of the article believe that a director, if given the choice between an experienced white male and a novice black female for his crew, should choose the novice in the name of diversity and fairness? Or should he choose the person more qualified for the job?

]]> By: SpringLeaf https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58553 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58553 Unfortunately, I do not completely agree with the author, and although yes some of what Mr. Friedkin has said in some way can keep things entrenched in the way they are now however I feel as though this is a breakthrough. I don\’t hear enough white directors talking about this subject about women and people of color and it is very refreshing! I think he is on to something minus the sport analogy that if the person is talented that that person should be sought after for the job.
Furthermore the whole colorblind thing can be damaging. Saying you don\’t see color will not help the industry.
Fact of the matter is is that the industry needs more women of colors to tell stories and that doesn\’t always have to be about race or what its like to grow up being a minority.
Friedkin is absolutely right in that one must compete and work hard if they are to make it in Hollywood, yet no one learned hw to be the best at their respective sport without the mentorship of a coach training them.
I think it would be amazing if Friedkin could mentor women and people of color and show them the way.
I like his stance, and I like that the author agrees that there are some flaws in some of the ways he is thinking, but this is progress and nothing less.

Well done. This is spot on and we need more interviews and articles about like-minded men like Friedkin. That would be amazing and I am looking forward to it.

Thank you Mr. Jagernauth this was a superb article.

]]> By: Rachel Feldman https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58552 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58552 Friedkin\’s privileged, entitled point of view is precisely why things are so slow to change. He\’s a man out of touch.

]]> By: Popcorn Slayer https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58551 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58551 While I believe there\’s more racism and sexism in the industry than Friedkin thinks, he\’s absolutely right that trying to reverse-engineer diversity won\’t work. The talented women and people of color who are really determined won\’t wait for some diversity program from a Hollywood faux-liberal who wants to feel good about themselves. Not the discussion you wanted, I guess.

]]> By: zé https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58550 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58550 does he really believe that there\’s equal opportunity? doesn\’t he see the obstacles women and people of color face in this industry? must be senile

]]> By: Someone https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58537 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58537 Oh my god, how can someone so brilliant be so motherfucking naïve and ignorant? Studio juggernauts etc. won\’t be outspokenly sexist or racist – it makes them look bad. They aren\’t stupid. But women and poc\’s have to work twice as hard to get where the other directors and artists are. Why do you think major studios only hire straight white male directors with practically 0 experience to direct major blockbuster movies?? Tim Miller did not work hard. He never made a single movie. And a fucking blockbuster insanely big bugdet movie such as Deadpool was his debut.

]]> By: Radiohead https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58548 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58548 White male privilege strikes again. Bravo for the article!

]]> By: Lukia Costello https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58547 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58547 Sexism is something that anyone can be complicit in, in big and small ways. Distancing ourselves from the problem because we have not witnessed it personally, only perpetuates the problem. Open your eyes and ears to the experience of others, it\’s good for you, your family and the world and there is nothing lose.

]]> By: Casey Moore https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58546 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58546 Another old white male out of touch.

]]> By: buddy https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58545 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58545 Leon, \’William is 100 percent right. They already have ruined Star Wars.\’ Oh you\’ve seen it! And despite all the best work of everyone involved, the return of the original cast, practical effects etc etc, simply having a female lead and a black lead ruined the film? What a shame. I guess they\’ll know better for next time.

]]> By: Sam Z https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58544 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58544 LOL. A meritocracy? So said every navel-gazing straight white male doctor, lawyer, businessman, politician, professor, scientist, artist, entrepreneur, etc. etc. up until very, very recently. This would be funny if it weren\’t so blind and self-serving.

]]> By: abhi3542 https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58543 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58543 This is journalism of worst kind. The writer just wants to project his own views instead of reporting what the other person is trying to say.

]]> By: POC https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58542 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58542 Thank you for the perspective, Kevin. It\’s pretty easy to ignore racism and sexism when you\’re a white dude.

]]> By: Teresa Jusino https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58541 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58541 Perhaps the reason why Mr. Friedkin has "never seen" any of these problems is because he is a white man who never HAS to see it. Perhaps instead of relying on his own narrow experience, it would serve him well to actually LISTEN to the experiences of others. If people are telling you that something is happening to them, you can\’t just brush it aside with a simple "Well, I\’VE never seen it, therefore it\’s not real." I\’ve never seen a slum in my life, or been homeless, but I know poverty exists.

]]> By: Teresa Jusino https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58540 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58540 Also, to answer JayInTn\’s question:
I think the question is more, why is it that plenty of novice white male directors are "given a chance" on huge franchises having little to no experience, but whenever we talk about giving novice female directors, or directors of color a chance, suddenly we need to talk about "the best person for the job?" Hell Orson Welles had never directed a film at all before Citizen Cane, and that\’s widely considered a masterpiece. Hollywood has never had a problem taking chances on novice/inexperienced directors – so long as they\’ve been white and male. Why should women and people of color have to be held to a double standard? THAT\’S the question that really needs asking.

]]> By: Tema L. Staig https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58539 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58539 Mr. Friedkin has the privilege of being ignorant of his own privilege. His saving grace is having rated The Babadook so highly.

]]> By: Ally https://staging2.theplaylist.net/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-20151208/#comment-58538 Fri, 13 May 2016 10:19:01 +0000 http://www.indiewire.com/2015/more/uncategorized/william-friedkin-talks-diversity-says-cinema-is-an-open-playing-field-women-have-to-put-themselves-forward-100021/#comment-58538 Yes, and as a white woman I\’ve never experienced first hand the subtle racism endured in the daily life of the member of a cultural minority. So if I haven\’t experienced it firsthand then it must not be happening and people who are talking about it are just whining and complaining. There are more women than men in many countries around the world including our own, but when they are kept uneducated or are not given the same opportunities as their male counterparts across the board on a regular basis, those numbers are not reflected in industry. Women also have other pressures that men simply don\’t have because of biology and archaic gender roles. It\’s a very scary thing to admit you might be wrong, to admit to the world that you don\’t know, and I encourage Mr. Friedkin to reexamine his statements and allow himself to truly hear and acknowledge experiences shared by people in different positions than him.

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