This week, a new study showed that female-led films have outperformed male films at the box office, proving that there are audiences who are interested in seeing female characters at the lead. The number of female directors taking the helm of films has increased as well, with many of them going behind the camera for a variety of genres. However, it looks like there are some studios who do not have faith in some female directors.
Zama director Lucrecia Martel, who was among the frontrunners to direct the Black Widow currently being developed, reveals why she turned down Marvel Studios’ long-awaited standalone film. In a new interview, she says she turned down the project because she learned that she would not be overseeing the action scenes. More on the report, below.
Martel spoke to The Daily Pioneer (via The Playlist) about her refusal to take on the project. Despite not having the typical background for comic book action films, Martel was very interested in making action sequences:
“They also told me, “˜Don’t worry about the action scenes, we will take care of that.’ I was thinking, well I would love to meet Scarlett Johansson but also I would love to make the action sequences.”
However, her follow-up statement seems to shed some light on the confidence Marvel Studios has in female directors. And based on Martel’s statements, it’s not good:
“Companies are interested in female filmmakers but they still think action scenes are for male directors. The first thing I asked them was maybe if they could change the special effects because there’s so many laser lights. I find them horrible. Also the soundtrack of Marvel films is quite horrendous. Maybe we disagree on this but it’s really hard to watch a Marvel film. It’s painful to the ears to watch Marvel films.”
While these comments are shocking, the flip side of all of this is, Marvel Studios does have major oversight on their action films. Even when some of their more acclaimed directors like Taika Waititi, Kenneth Branagh, and Jon Watts are sitting in the director’s chair. Before these three came on board their respective projects, their films didn’t exactly scream action blockbuster. But their respective projects did bring out the best of the characters.
Martel does have an argument that is worth our attention, but it’s hard to believe that Marvel completely cut their directors completely out of the process. But if that is the case, let’s hope they can move forward with a different perspective and allow some of their incoming female directors to have some input on the action sequences.
For now, Cate Shortland will be directing Johansson in the long-awaited Black Widow standalone film, which is set to begin production in 2019 for a presumably 2020 release.
[Source: The Daily Pioneer via The Playlist]
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