An Open Letter To Hollywood In Regards To Meryl Streep's Acceptance Speech
Start writing a post
Entertainment

An Open Letter To Hollywood In Regards To Meryl Streep's Acceptance Speech

Her words were stirring, but that doesn't negate Hollywood's diversity problem – or how it contributed to Trump's victory.

48
An Open Letter To Hollywood In Regards To Meryl Streep's Acceptance Speech
Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP

Dear Hollywood:

On January 8, 2016, Meryl Streep preached the tenants of diversity and empathy in the midst of Trump's America on your behalf. First, I would like to commend you for taking a stand on Trump: the more we raise our voices, the more hopeful I am that the next four years won't bring about the apocalypse. I'd also like to applaud the frankness of Ms. Streep's words - hearing such stirring remarks and seeing the positive response is incredibly reassuring as January 21 inches closer and closer. But for all the hope Ms. Streep conveyed in her speech, one utterance gave me pause:

"An actor's only job is to enter the lives of people who are different from us and let you feel what that feels like."

As a female cinephile who dreams of breaking the celluloid ceiling to make my own movies, I have a few issues with that statement, Hollywood.

For a majority of cinema’s short history, minority groups have been characterized by stock tropes and archetypes which affirm oft-disparaging stereotypes. They're fartoonumerous to discuss in detail here, but suffice it to say what your disciples project onscreen is a reflection of collective societal attitudes, and what you create informs our individual attitudes. It's a vicious cycle of politics and pop culture which leads to endless prejudice and destruction.

Yet for all the damage you've done, a select few of your disciples and fringe followers have accomplished wonders in advancing minority rights, by virtue of showing the moviegoing public that being "different" doesn't make you inherently different from the majority. Empathetic, nuanced potrayals like Ms. Streep describes are the product of letting minority filmmakers tell their stories, either as translated by white male hegemonic filmmakers or in their own words.

But that's the thing, Hollywood – marginalized groups are the most invested in telling these kinds of revolutionary stories, and the most likely to make them, but for whatever reason you're reluctant to let them do so. In 2012 the percentage of minority Writer's Guild of America members tapped to write screenplays was an abysmal 7%. Less than 20% of films released in 2013 and 2014 had women or people of color in the director’s chair.

Is it any surprise, then, that with so few opportunities to make their mark only 17 of the 250 highest-grossing films were directed by women in 2014? Or that a paltry eight films in that same timeframe had "truly diverse casts"? Or that zero people of color were nominated for an acting Oscar in 2015 and 2016?

Or that this past November, we elected a president who embraces a complete lack of diversity? After all, what we see onscreen is a reflection of societal attitudes, which are themselves informed by the cinematic apparatus.

What I'm getting at here, Hollywood, is that regardless of whether the characters we see onscreen are "diverse", their journey is more likely than not to have been concocted by a white, straight, upper class, neurotypical screenwriter, producer, or director, and all the more likely to be misinformed. Internal biases and stereotypes creep into every artist's work – not just that of the majority – but when there's so little diversity in the writer's room, micro-aggressions via celluloid can creep into the most well-intentioned of screenplays (just see the furor over Passengers for a recent example).

You truly want to combat Trump? Take direct action by letting the people he's targeting get a chance to produce the screenplay you've been sitting on for years.

You want to inspire hope? Greenlight blockbuster films with minority leads and empower our youngest generation with heroes and heroines who look like them, come from the same background as them, and act like them.

You want to preserve the voices that the incoming administration threatens to silence? Let more women, POC, and LGBT+ individuals control the camera - and our attention.

You want to support immigrants? Hire crew members from diverse international backgrounds, get them work visas, allow them to work their way up the corporate ladder.

You want to shift the attitudes which led to Trump's election? Make films which subvert the poisonous rhetoric being spewed by the alt-right and show us that there's no reason to fear those who are different – but don't vilify the blue-collar workers slighted by Washington for decades in the process.

You want to encourage new talent and voices? Rebuild an inherently prejudiced industry starved of diversity so that I, an autistic woman, have a fighting chance of breaking the celluloid ceiling once I graduate from college.

With all due respect, Hollywood, patting yourself on the back for being inclusive will only do so much in the long run. For the sake of all the dreamers out there, practice what you preach.

Sincerely,

A Filmmaker

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71177
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133122
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments