Day by day, the chorus grows louder about the need for more women and people of color to have their stories told and let their voices be heard in Hollywood. For the most part, everyone agrees that progress needs to come more quickly, but how that will be achieved is still an open conversation. But at the very base level, there is an agreement that there’s a problem that needs to be fixed. However, for director William Friedkin, he believes that meritocracy will see the best talent rise to the top, and as far as he’s concerned, Hollywood is both gender- and color-blind when it comes to hiring.
In an extensive conversation with Cinephilia & Beyond, Friedkin shares his thoughts about women and minorities in the movies, and as far as he’s concerned, anyone who is willing to work hard will get ahead in Hollywood, regardless of gender or color.
“I’ve been in Hollywood for fifty years and I have never met an executive of a television or movie company, or a talent agency, that was prejudiced against people of different colors or against women. I’ve never met anyone,” he said. “Now, why there are more men directing films than women, I can’t answer that. But it’s not because of prejudice.
“It’s a question like why there are more white basketball or football players in America," the director continued. "Most of them are black, or from another country. Why is that? The only answer to that is that they compete and that they’re better! Wherever women can compete, they get the jobs. I don’t know anyone who’s prejudiced against African-Americans or women, I’ve just never seen it. Why is that there are more black athletes? Because they’re better. So what should we do? Should we get some legislation or pass some rules that there have to be more white players? No, you can’t do that! Why are the greatest painters that ever lived mostly white men? I don’t know! Women are free to paint. But you cannot pass diversity laws in an art form.”
Taking his not-quite-successful sports analogy to a different place, he also asked why there were more Asian women in the Los Angeles Philharmonic and in the classical-music world in general. He answered his own question thusly.
“I can’t explain why that is, but that is an open playing field, and I believe that cinema is too," he said. "I have never heard of a man running a studio, talent agency or a network saying, ‘Oh, I don’t want to hire a woman for that job.’ But women have to put themselves forward. …All I can say is that I’m certain people have faced obstacles in trying to work in all the art forms or in sports. I was a pretty good basketball player when I was a kid in high school, but I could never play on a professional basketball team. There was no way anybody could pass a diversity law so that I could. I just wasn’t good enough. And that’s hard for people to face. If you’re good enough, you’re gonna work. All this other stuff to me is just smoke screen.”
“…anyone who would deny a talented woman, or a talented member of a racial minority, a job, is just an asshole, and not fit to be in a position to hire,” he also said. “Are there assholes in every business in every industry, in every country? You bet. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be cured by some kind of diversity rule.”
Indeed, when it’s mentioned that Meryl Streep recently pointed out the large imbalance between male and female film critics, Friedkin was particularly put out.
“….[W]ho the fuck is counting the gender of critics?!" he said. "What is that? Are we now asking for diversity among film critics? Oh my God! What is the world coming to? Let me just say this to you. I guess in the United States, which is all I can speak about, I think there are probably now more women than men. So the whole concept about how many women will be critics or directors or whatever is bound to change. In terms of African-Americans, there are fewer African-Americans in this country than white people, and as their numbers grow, there are bound to be more African-Americans in all facets of the art. Just by sheer numbers.”
The director does take the time to point out the talents of Kathryn Bigelow (“a great filmmaker”) and Ryan Coogler (he said “Creed” was “terrific” and said of the helmer that “he’s got the talent, and nobody gives a flying fuck what color he is”), and adds that on his own sets, he always hires the best person for the job, regardless of who they are.
And while that’s admirable, Friedkin’s position is exactly the kind of thinking that keeps things entrenched as they are. It ignores the broader systems of class, power, and social structures that have long been in place — and have denied opportunities to women and people of color — that have led to the inequalities that are so glaring now. Moreover, while Friedkin himself has never witnessed prejudice in the industry, he misses the point that often those that are already marginalized aren’t always provided the avenues to be candid about their experiences. And thus, the cycle continues.
This will certainly spark plenty of discussion, so let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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.
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.
Mr. Friedkin has the privilege of being ignorant of his own privilege. His saving grace is having rated The Babadook so highly.
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.
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.
Thank you for the perspective, Kevin. It\’s pretty easy to ignore racism and sexism when you\’re a white dude.
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.
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.
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.
Another old white male out of touch.
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.
White male privilege strikes again. Bravo for the article!
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.
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
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.
Friedkin\’s privileged, entitled point of view is precisely why things are so slow to change. He\’s a man out of touch.
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.
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?
William is 100 percent right. They already have ruined Star Wars.
This article leaves out the fact that Friedkin\’s wife, Sherry Lansing ran Paramount.
Well sorry to feel the same way as Friedkin.
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.
Bravo to you, Sir! Speak the truth.
Billy is 100% correct.