Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig: Hollywood will shift quickly

The director believes the #MeToo movement will help bring a more even playing field for women in Hollywood

Director Greta Gerwig. AFP

Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig feels campaigns like #MeToo are bringing change in Hollywood.

These have been a seismic few months for women in the film industry. The allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein and others have led to the most positive kind of backlash: Through the #MeToo and Time's Up movements, and the 50/50 by 2020 initiative, which aims to have male-female parity in the business world in two years. 
"I think it's going to shift much more quickly now," theguardian.com quoted Gerwig as saying.

She added: "When studios are looking to hire now, they'll ask themselves — as they rightly should — 'Is there a woman who is qualified for this job?' That's tremendously important. And again, if I were running a studio, I would think that it's just good business. Because I look at the audience response to films made by women about women that have done incredibly well and I'd say, 'Well, that's a reason right off the bat.'"
As for whether there are any plans for a co-ordinated protest at this year's Oscars, in line with the black gowns at the Golden Globes or white roses at the Grammys, both orchestrated by the Time's Up organisers, Gerwig is unsure.

"I am not aware of a dress code," she said.

But if there is any, she is in: "I'm in awe of the people who are collectively working on this."
The 90th Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will be held on March 4 at the Dolby Theatre.

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