Women and Hollywood

Melissa Silverstein is the founder and editor of Women and Hollywood, one of the most respected sites for issues related to women and film as well as other areas of pop culture. Women and Hollywood educates, advocates, and agitates for gender parity across the entertainment industry.

She is also the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Athena Film Festival. The 4th annual festival will take place from February 6-9, 2014 at Barnard College in NYC.

Melissa recently published the first book from Women and Hollywood, In Her Voice: Women Directors Talk Directing, which is a compilation of over 40 interviews that have appeared on the site.

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Blog Roll

Forbes 2011 List of the Highest Paid Actresses

It's that time of year when we get to see who is scoring in the pay department in Hollywood. It's no surprise to anyone that the highest paid actress in Hollywood is Angelina Jolie. She's really the only female who can star in action movies with budgets topping $100 million. I can't think of another woman who stars in big budget films. Yes, there are women in ensembles on big budget films, but the star of one? Just Angelina.

By Melissa Silverstein
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July 6, 2011 3:01 AM
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8 Comments

Riding the Bridesmaids Wave

Women in Hollywood are finally feeling a little love after the unexpected success of Bridesmaids. The film has now grossed $140 million and counting and for the first time in a long time women's films are getting out of neutral and into drive. Bridesmaids stepped into an abyss and showed the women could be funny and real.

By Melissa Silverstein
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June 23, 2011 3:40 AM
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6 Comments

Mr. Dodd Goes to Las Vegas

Chris Dodd, former Senator from Connecticut, took over as Hollywood's chief lobbyist as the head of the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) about 10 days ago. Keep in mind that the former Senator is barred from lobbying himself for the next 18 months, but that should not prevent him from trying to raise the profile of the six studios who make up the MPAA.

By Melissa Silverstein
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March 30, 2011 3:30 AM
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0 Comments

Natalie Portman Focuses on Producing

Now that Portman is going to take some time off from being in front of the screen for her pregnancy, she is not going to just disappear. She's ramped up her producing business handsomecharlie with her partner Annette Savitch. The due just got overhead financing from 1821 Pictures (cause studios don't do many overhead deals anymore) and right now they are in pursuit of a director for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

By Melissa Silverstein
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February 2, 2011 3:20 AM
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1 Comment