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

Meryl Streep: Political Biopic of an "Old Lady" Will be a Hard Sell at the Box Office

Evening Standard writer Liz Hoggard reports about a dinner she was invited to at the home of The Iron Lady director Phyllida Lloyd to talk about film with several other female writers along with Meryl Streep and screenwriter, Abi Morgan.

Clearly the powers that be know they have to get women (many who don't agree with Thatcher) to want to see the movie so they are doing everything they can to build buzz. There's no one who can sell the film as well as Streep who is so respected and cares deepply about women's issues. It's smart to begin the conversation in England where people have a very different relationship to Thatcher. It will be an even bigger challenge here in the US to get people to see the film since we don't have as deep of a connection (like or hate) to her. Still, I can't wait for her to get to the US to start talking about the film.

By Melissa Silverstein
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November 16, 2011 10:45 AM
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2 Comments

Jennifer Yuh Nelson Becomes The Top Grossing Female Director

Jennifer Yuh Nelson, the director of Kung Fu Panda 2 has become the highest grossing female director. These are worldwide numbers and they are big. The tally now is at $645 million. She wins the crown from Phyllida Lloyd who held it since Mamma Mia grossed $609 million.

By Melissa Silverstein
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September 7, 2011 2:30 AM
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2 Comments

A December to Remember

I know that December seems really far away, especially since most of the country is sweltering, and while I'm sure I will hate my winter coat and my boots by December, I sure won't hate the AMAZING women that are going to onscreen that month.

By Melissa Silverstein
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July 28, 2011 3:15 AM
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0 Comments

Teaser Trailer: The Iron Lady

Here's a teaser trailer for the UK version of the film which will open in the US in December and the UK in January 2012.

By Melissa Silverstein
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July 7, 2011 1:15 AM
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0 Comments

Films to Watch for This Fall on the Film Fest Circuit: The Women

The intrepid folks at IndieWIRE have put together a wish list for films they want to see this fall on the film fest circuit. Here are the women centric and women directed ones on the list. (all descriptions from IndieWIRE) On the list there are 7 films directed by women out of 50. My only other thought is that I would have added Angelina Jolie's film In the Land of Blood and Honey.

By Melissa Silverstein
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June 21, 2011 3:00 AM
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1 Comment

Weinstein Co. Picks Up Meryl Streep Film The Iron Lady

Looks like we will have a Meryl Streep film in Oscar contention this year. At Cannes, the Weinstein Co. has secured the US rights for the film.

By Melissa Silverstein
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May 13, 2011 2:15 AM
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EW Picks the 25 Top Working Directors

EW published a list of the "top" 25 working directors and they define top as "most talented, in-demand filmmakers behind the camera today". Not surprisingly, only one woman, Kathryn Bigelow makes it to the list at number 15.

By Melissa Silverstein
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February 23, 2011 4:10 AM
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3 Comments

Meryl as Maggie

They are on week two of filming. Film is directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Abi Morgan. Footage will be screened at Cannes. No US distributor yet.

By Melissa Silverstein
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February 8, 2011 1:30 AM
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0 Comments