I was so surprised to see that this was directed by a man. It was very disappointing that after tell us to hire more women for an hour and a half, they didn't hire a woman themselves to direct it.
94 Reviews
Why a male director?
melissa_levasseur4 July 2021
The data says it all
fischer_patrick20 January 2022
This is not a documentary about a fake problem. The film puts forth irrefutable data about how Hollywood has ignored female creatives for decades. The documentary is straightforward, the data easily explained and put forth. The film puts a spotlight on this glaring problem and will hopefully contribute to the change Hollywood needs.
Almost 2 hours & the credits roll - listing a male director?
gkimmarygleim4 August 2021
I would have liked to hear why the "Director" and the
"D. P." were both men. I can applaud a largely diverse crew, but still ... this male director was your absolute "best" choice from your list of all available directors?
Were all the Women directors working?
Were all the Women directors working?
Gender Discrimination in Hollywood
antcraw25 July 2021
Say what now?
T2TLED28 July 2021
A really decent doc, but like 99% of the reviews here, I'm completely dumbfounded why they hired a MALE to direct this. The epitome of WTF?
The first half of this movie focuses on women characters and lack of representation on screen and all I could think about was all the great female characters and actresses on daytime TV, but sadly, that genre continues to be ignored.
The first half of this movie focuses on women characters and lack of representation on screen and all I could think about was all the great female characters and actresses on daytime TV, but sadly, that genre continues to be ignored.
Seriously?
nikkigreeley28 July 2021
I was in love with this film until I saw the credits start. A f*cling male director? After watching a documentary on how there are no female directors? The first damn name that pops up is a male one? So stupid. Epic failure.
Yes it's a male director but...
elysebradley-682-963176 October 2021
This documentary was really eye-opening and well done. While agree that it would've been great to have a female director, isn't it ALSO powerful that a male is seeking opportunity to give space for female voices? We need both women AND men to speak up and fight for equality. I also really appreciate the call to action at the end. I immediately started looking up female-directed movies that I can see in theaters and support by sharing with others. I'm just disappointed Netflix didn't pop this up on my watchlist much sooner...yet another barrier to tear down- algorithms that fail to suggest female-based content to viewers.
Definitely a good message, the documentary isn't very well done though. Ignore everyone that is complaining that the director is male. He's also a main producer.
garnet-suss10 August 2021
The documentary is kind of sloppy, definitely could have been done better.
That being said, quit complaining that a male directed it! The documentary is about promoting equality in Hollywood, it isn't about cutting men out of the industry. The director is one of the main crrators and main producers of the film, he is an ally, a feminist, and he should be applauded for helping to spread this message. It's not as though he used his own actuall voice to tell the story, women toldtheor own stories, he was just part of the team that made the film a reality, and that is not a bad thing. Like 90% of the cast and crew are female. It's not as though the producers were all male and hired an all male crew and didn't give women a voice. The unfortunate thing is that he didn't do a very good job, not that he has a penis.
That being said, quit complaining that a male directed it! The documentary is about promoting equality in Hollywood, it isn't about cutting men out of the industry. The director is one of the main crrators and main producers of the film, he is an ally, a feminist, and he should be applauded for helping to spread this message. It's not as though he used his own actuall voice to tell the story, women toldtheor own stories, he was just part of the team that made the film a reality, and that is not a bad thing. Like 90% of the cast and crew are female. It's not as though the producers were all male and hired an all male crew and didn't give women a voice. The unfortunate thing is that he didn't do a very good job, not that he has a penis.
Really important message - slightly confusing delivery
talkme-5063617 March 2020
The content of this documentary is great. Fantastic interviews with so many powerful women in Hollywood, it's fascinating to hear from everyone from Shonda Rhimes to Merck Streep about the state of Hollywood for women.
The editing, however, is extremely confusing. Rather than tell one linear story, you get a grab bag of clips and sound bytes that I can only describe as being like a very long trailer.
Also, when the credits rolled at the end and it came up with a man's name as the director I actually laughed out loud. At one point the film literally instructs anyone working in the film industry to take risks and hire female crew. It splashes shocking statistics across the screen showing how few films are directed by females, and all the contributors being interviewed are attesting that "it's not that hard to just find qualified women to do these jobs". To hear a film tell us exactly what needs to be implemented, but then not even be able to implement that on their own movie... took some of the wind out of my sails
The editing, however, is extremely confusing. Rather than tell one linear story, you get a grab bag of clips and sound bytes that I can only describe as being like a very long trailer.
Also, when the credits rolled at the end and it came up with a man's name as the director I actually laughed out loud. At one point the film literally instructs anyone working in the film industry to take risks and hire female crew. It splashes shocking statistics across the screen showing how few films are directed by females, and all the contributors being interviewed are attesting that "it's not that hard to just find qualified women to do these jobs". To hear a film tell us exactly what needs to be implemented, but then not even be able to implement that on their own movie... took some of the wind out of my sails
Eye Opener
jrbrowzer9 March 2022
As a minority I can totally relate to this very well made documentary. I am amazed but not surprised by the lack of gender diversity in the entertainment industry. Really impressed by the work of Geena Davis' organization to bring this disparity to light. Yes, women and minorities are under-represented and yes the time to change is now.
Powerful but One Sided - Lack of Intersectional Lens
cahtaproduction17 September 2021
An interesting look into the lives of women in the entertainment industry. This Changes Everything, a feminist documentary directed by Tom Donahue, dives deep into the sexist culture within the realms of Hollywood, exposing inequality and power imbalances that dictate the experience women face in the industry. The film hosts appearances from many household names like Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman who share their personal recounts and solidify the validity of the argument. The film manages to bring some issues to light, but it fails to cover some of the bigger issues within Hollywood sexism. Due to the narrow scope of the film and lack of an intersectional lens, I would rate the film 7.5 stars out of 10
In a world where feminism is gaining popularity, This Changes Everything speaks to feminists, not only in entertainment but around the world. Shortly after the film starts rolling, your screen is hit with alarming statistics pertaining to the unequal opportunities in show biz; short but powerful bits of data pose questions I have never asked myself. I appreciate that this film strived to make logical appeals using real data, it creates a solid base for the topic that gradually embellishes the rest with recounts from people inside of the industry that hold credibility. The topics covered in the film seemed to mesh well and transition without straying too far from the initial argument of gender inequality in Hollywood.
Additions to the plot of the film include a brief history on women in film during the 1930's and how they dominated the industry until financial interests squirmed their way into entertainment. I won't give away too much but I find it a really interesting story that adds a wow factor that ties nicely into the arguments being made. Another story addition includes a lawsuit against the industry by the Women's Steering Committee of the Directors Guild of America; an interesting look at how women have made waves and pushed against the oppressive system.
As the film finds traction and gets into a uniformed groove, I notice a pattern that doesn't sit right with me; I notice a lot of the main talking points revolve around singular issues and these issues are being explained by mostly rich white women. The film glosses over women of color and their intersectional issues, it almost felt like they did that on purpose.
Intersectionality is best described as an overlapping of discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. As described in the film, women are treated unfairly in the entertainment industry, but what happens when you are also female, gay, muslim, unnatracctive and live in poverty? How much harder would it be to climb the ranks of Hollywood by being on the receiving end of multiple forms of discrimination? I can tell you one thing, this film definitely won't tell us. I found it was kind of contradictory to complain about oppression and inequality when the film failed to include a diverse set of women, further marginalizing the ones considered "different". Yes this film does a great job portraying one dimensional oppression but fails to acknowledge the intersectional issues that many without voices face, this includes the LGBTQ community, disabled, poor etc. I think the film would have benefited greatly had it included a transgendered actor or director such as Laverne Cox or Elliot page. The value of hearing their stories and understanding how difficult making it in the industry is when dealing with more than one form of discrimination would have truly put the film into a more powerful appeal. Maybe next time huh?
Overall the film managed what it had set out to do, and that's nothing to take lightly. It was a great film that used logic, credibility and emotional appeal to send a strong argument. Indeed, Hollywood sexism exists and its films like these that spread that message, let's hope the men in power take these teachings into consideration the next time they're on set.
In a world where feminism is gaining popularity, This Changes Everything speaks to feminists, not only in entertainment but around the world. Shortly after the film starts rolling, your screen is hit with alarming statistics pertaining to the unequal opportunities in show biz; short but powerful bits of data pose questions I have never asked myself. I appreciate that this film strived to make logical appeals using real data, it creates a solid base for the topic that gradually embellishes the rest with recounts from people inside of the industry that hold credibility. The topics covered in the film seemed to mesh well and transition without straying too far from the initial argument of gender inequality in Hollywood.
Additions to the plot of the film include a brief history on women in film during the 1930's and how they dominated the industry until financial interests squirmed their way into entertainment. I won't give away too much but I find it a really interesting story that adds a wow factor that ties nicely into the arguments being made. Another story addition includes a lawsuit against the industry by the Women's Steering Committee of the Directors Guild of America; an interesting look at how women have made waves and pushed against the oppressive system.
As the film finds traction and gets into a uniformed groove, I notice a pattern that doesn't sit right with me; I notice a lot of the main talking points revolve around singular issues and these issues are being explained by mostly rich white women. The film glosses over women of color and their intersectional issues, it almost felt like they did that on purpose.
Intersectionality is best described as an overlapping of discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. As described in the film, women are treated unfairly in the entertainment industry, but what happens when you are also female, gay, muslim, unnatracctive and live in poverty? How much harder would it be to climb the ranks of Hollywood by being on the receiving end of multiple forms of discrimination? I can tell you one thing, this film definitely won't tell us. I found it was kind of contradictory to complain about oppression and inequality when the film failed to include a diverse set of women, further marginalizing the ones considered "different". Yes this film does a great job portraying one dimensional oppression but fails to acknowledge the intersectional issues that many without voices face, this includes the LGBTQ community, disabled, poor etc. I think the film would have benefited greatly had it included a transgendered actor or director such as Laverne Cox or Elliot page. The value of hearing their stories and understanding how difficult making it in the industry is when dealing with more than one form of discrimination would have truly put the film into a more powerful appeal. Maybe next time huh?
Overall the film managed what it had set out to do, and that's nothing to take lightly. It was a great film that used logic, credibility and emotional appeal to send a strong argument. Indeed, Hollywood sexism exists and its films like these that spread that message, let's hope the men in power take these teachings into consideration the next time they're on set.
Male director and DP
belowtheline21 July 2021
As a woman who is "related" to the industry through my husband's job, I was really interested in watching this documentary. I know that the crews he works on are all male. I know when an episode of a show is being directed by a woman. I know what kind of racism exists in the studios. So at the end of this - I was gutted to see both a male director and DP. Are you kidding me? Are. You. Kidding. Me.
Great doc ... until the credits rolled ...
sbdjones21 August 2021
Loved the film but why a male director?
rjwalker-8285620 June 2019
This film is really well done with some remarkable women telling their truth about working in the film industry. After being inspired by some amazing trailblazers for the length of the film, I couldn't help but feel a little deflated to see that it was directed by a man. Surely a film calling for greater representation for women in all aspects of film making should have been directed by a female? That being said I think it's an important film that will hopefully be seen by a wide audience and will hopefully leave a lasting impression on those in positions of power within the industry.
Informative, yet lacks more inclusive perspective and discussion
kmccartneyjohnston16 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The fight for women's equality amongst many aspects of the world has been happening for decades. However, in many areas, women still face discrimination and hardships trying to get the same treatment as their male counterparts. The documentary film This Changes Everything directed by Tom Donahue focuses on that, specifically in Hollywood and film. Throughout the film, the audience gets an inside view of the history of filmmaking, along with which comes blatant discrimination against women in the industry. From the perspective of many well respected big names from actresses to directors, the argument is made that more equality is needed in Hollywood for women in all aspects of filmmaking. Yet there is a large gap in the film when it comes to the idea of intersectionality and the fact that many women have overlapping identities for which they face discrimination as well, harming the overall argument and message.
The message of the film is pushed through the narrative of many recognizable and powerful women in Hollywood both in front of and behind the camera. From actresses such as Ellen Pompeo, Taraji P. Henson, Reese Whitherspoon, to directors such as Shonda Rhimes and Joey Soloway, there is a unique perspective provided into what it feels like being a woman in the industry. By having those speakers who have gone through the experience themselves and truly felt the impact of being a woman whether it's being overpowered, silenced, or simply ignored, the documentary is able to develop an effective sense of credibility. Due to both having a cast of highly admired professionals and the stories being told from a personal perspective, a compelling argument is made.
As the film goes on, different topics are discussed and statistical evidence provided that further pushes the argument and fight for equality. One example of this comes when it was stated that out of the top 100 grossing films in 2017, male leads received twice as much screen time as female leads. Yet, in those same films in 2017 alone, movies with a female lead made 38% more money than those with a male lead. These statistics help prove that there is gender disparity in Hollywood but when given the opportunity, women can make strides. Alongside evidence and powerful speakers, there are emotional moments. Such as the story told by Chloe Grace Moretz. She tells the story of the time that at 16 in her trailer she found a push-up bra with inserts to enhance her physical appearance and when she asked a producer, was told it was a studio note. Adults were discussing and sexualizing the body of a young female who was there to simply work like everyone else. This story created an emotional persuasive feel that how women are being treated is wrong and should be changed.
Now while the documentary does a good job of developing credibility, an emotional feel, and logic in order to push the fight for equality for women in Hollywood, a more complex discussion is left out that ultimately harms the overall message of the film, and it is that of intersectionality. Intersectionality was a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw and points out how those with intersecting identities such as race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and so on experience the discrimination and issues that come with those identities all at once rather than separately. The film lacks a focus on this topic of the discrimination that women with intersecting identities face. While women of each end may face hardship, the voices of female minorities are overlooked with a focus being on the majority of white women.
A majority of the women interviewed for the film were white cis-gendered women. This drowns out other very important perspectives of minority women in Hollywood. Race is touched on very slightly but brushed over and grouped into conversations with the majority. There is a lack of diversity when it comes to the cast of the film whether it is through race, sexual orientation, or disability. It wouldn't be hard to gain this perspective or outlook but simply require other women to be brought in. Some examples of this include trans and non-binary actresses such as Laverne Cox, Roxy Wood, Indya Moore, or those who have disabilities such as Marlee Maltin and Jamie Brewer. These are just a few examples of other people who could have been interviewed in the film to provide insight into intersectionality.
In all, the documentary This Changes Everything provides insight into what it is like to be a woman in Hollywood and the hardships they face compared to the men. The film uses ethos, pathos, and logos in order to develop the argument that women in filmmaking deserve more equality. However, the ultimate credibility and argument of the film are harmed by a lack of inclusion and discussion along the lines of intersectionality. There would have been an opportunity to connect with many more if the time was taken to make sure that there was more representation amongst the women speaking. Women alone do not all have the same experience. Others with intersecting identities may have far different experiences than the majority of women featured, being mostly white women. It leaves a large number of people excluded from a topic that they have experience in and whose voices deserve to be equally heard and shared.
The message of the film is pushed through the narrative of many recognizable and powerful women in Hollywood both in front of and behind the camera. From actresses such as Ellen Pompeo, Taraji P. Henson, Reese Whitherspoon, to directors such as Shonda Rhimes and Joey Soloway, there is a unique perspective provided into what it feels like being a woman in the industry. By having those speakers who have gone through the experience themselves and truly felt the impact of being a woman whether it's being overpowered, silenced, or simply ignored, the documentary is able to develop an effective sense of credibility. Due to both having a cast of highly admired professionals and the stories being told from a personal perspective, a compelling argument is made.
As the film goes on, different topics are discussed and statistical evidence provided that further pushes the argument and fight for equality. One example of this comes when it was stated that out of the top 100 grossing films in 2017, male leads received twice as much screen time as female leads. Yet, in those same films in 2017 alone, movies with a female lead made 38% more money than those with a male lead. These statistics help prove that there is gender disparity in Hollywood but when given the opportunity, women can make strides. Alongside evidence and powerful speakers, there are emotional moments. Such as the story told by Chloe Grace Moretz. She tells the story of the time that at 16 in her trailer she found a push-up bra with inserts to enhance her physical appearance and when she asked a producer, was told it was a studio note. Adults were discussing and sexualizing the body of a young female who was there to simply work like everyone else. This story created an emotional persuasive feel that how women are being treated is wrong and should be changed.
Now while the documentary does a good job of developing credibility, an emotional feel, and logic in order to push the fight for equality for women in Hollywood, a more complex discussion is left out that ultimately harms the overall message of the film, and it is that of intersectionality. Intersectionality was a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw and points out how those with intersecting identities such as race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and so on experience the discrimination and issues that come with those identities all at once rather than separately. The film lacks a focus on this topic of the discrimination that women with intersecting identities face. While women of each end may face hardship, the voices of female minorities are overlooked with a focus being on the majority of white women.
A majority of the women interviewed for the film were white cis-gendered women. This drowns out other very important perspectives of minority women in Hollywood. Race is touched on very slightly but brushed over and grouped into conversations with the majority. There is a lack of diversity when it comes to the cast of the film whether it is through race, sexual orientation, or disability. It wouldn't be hard to gain this perspective or outlook but simply require other women to be brought in. Some examples of this include trans and non-binary actresses such as Laverne Cox, Roxy Wood, Indya Moore, or those who have disabilities such as Marlee Maltin and Jamie Brewer. These are just a few examples of other people who could have been interviewed in the film to provide insight into intersectionality.
In all, the documentary This Changes Everything provides insight into what it is like to be a woman in Hollywood and the hardships they face compared to the men. The film uses ethos, pathos, and logos in order to develop the argument that women in filmmaking deserve more equality. However, the ultimate credibility and argument of the film are harmed by a lack of inclusion and discussion along the lines of intersectionality. There would have been an opportunity to connect with many more if the time was taken to make sure that there was more representation amongst the women speaking. Women alone do not all have the same experience. Others with intersecting identities may have far different experiences than the majority of women featured, being mostly white women. It leaves a large number of people excluded from a topic that they have experience in and whose voices deserve to be equally heard and shared.
Nothing confusing in the delivery for me, sorry
gail-noyer15 October 2021
The content is fantastic! It begins with what everyone "knows", or thinks they do, about women in HW and why that needs to change: Hw provides 80% of the content seen around the world, thus having a huge effect on how women are treated everywhere.
It then goes back to the fact that Hollywood was full of women writers, directors and producers over its first several decades, and examines how and why that changed.
From there, we're shown the incredible battle presently going on to change all that, with the help of actual studies, stats, and the AFLU-CIO, since change has never come from within the industry.
Sorry, !inear would've been boring for people already familiar with some of it. It was thrillingly, brilliantly put-together. And male director or not, it's the highly articulate women from all these fields who make the film a highly welcome searing update on what's going on.
Oh poor me clearly didn't understand a word of it, nor realize who the famous female directors speaking were.
It then goes back to the fact that Hollywood was full of women writers, directors and producers over its first several decades, and examines how and why that changed.
From there, we're shown the incredible battle presently going on to change all that, with the help of actual studies, stats, and the AFLU-CIO, since change has never come from within the industry.
Sorry, !inear would've been boring for people already familiar with some of it. It was thrillingly, brilliantly put-together. And male director or not, it's the highly articulate women from all these fields who make the film a highly welcome searing update on what's going on.
Oh poor me clearly didn't understand a word of it, nor realize who the famous female directors speaking were.
The male director aye?
tobyding15 September 2021
The film This Changes Everything, a documentary that was released on September 8th, 2018, was directed by American director and producer Tom Donahue. The film mainly focused on the gender discrimination issue that's in the entertainment industry. It took a deep look at the gender disparity in Hollywood through the eyes of well known actresses and female filmmakers.
By using the opinion of top actresses like Geena Davis, Meryl Streep, Rashida Jones, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Oh, Jessica Chastain, Tiffany Haddish, the film successfully used the logos rhetorical appeal, to prove the legitimacy of the issue, making the film seems much more credible, thus strengthen its stance towards the gender inequality issue. This can also be looked at as pathos appeal. By using actresses' stories and experiences, the film gave "the oppressed" in this situation a voice, to speak up and speak out. Which did successfully raise the audience's attention, allowing people to connect to the problem on a deep emotional level. Female audiences, actresses, actors, would likely feel empathetic emotions towards how the actress and female filmmakers are being treated, raising awareness of the issue, in the entertainment industry.
In my opinion, the film made a great use of background music, and was very well edited. It would often use intense background music, trumpet or guitar sometimes , in an attempt to make the viewer more excited and interested towards the topic. For example in the beginning of the film, actress Jessica Chastian said :"Filmmaking has told us no. Women shouldn't be focused on or learned about their desires, their wants, their needs, their fears." Which was a strong statement, but the fact that it was followed by an intense guitar melody made the scene stand out. During the discussion I made a comparison with the background music that director Michael Bay would use in his action movie trailer, making the movie seem more interesting. Also compared to the drum and trumpet music people would play before going to war, in an attempt to raise their soldiers's spirits. These are all great use of pathos, and in the film by using such a strong statement at the beginning of the film by actress Jessica Chastain, and by using such an intense melody, the filmmaker successfully made the film seems much more interesting and exciting, it was very smart more director Tom Donahue to use the pathos appeal early on in the film.
However, there is always space for improvement. Personally I think the choice of director was a miscalculation. I think by hiring a female director, it will improve the film's credibility. She will be able to view the problem from a female perspective, where the problem actually exists. The film also included a couple African American actresses , which I thought was outstanding. However, the film only focused on the injustice that they've faced as an actress, but not as a black actress. I believe by adding focus on the racial discrimination these actresses faces everyday, it connects people on many different levels. And it brings us back to Crenshaw's idea of intersectionality, by focusing on the racial discrimination and gender discrimination in the entertainment industry, it make us realize the importance and seriousness of this issue, also allowing audiences to connect from many different levels.
I believe instead of making a documentary, filmmakers should look towards making a video that is similar to a podcast form, like actors around table, but it's actress around table, having a conversation about the discrimination and inequality issues that still exist in entertainment industry today. It could even include alcohol, some of the podcasts I have watched seem to be having success with that. It makes the conversation a lot more smoother and the audience feels like they're a part of the conversation sometime, just simply by having a drink themselves. Also filmmakers should consider making the film shorter, people these days have less and worse attention span and are more likely to click on a short 7 seconds tik tok than sit down and watch a two hours long documentary.
Overall the film was well made, with the only flaw of having a male director. It successfully used pathos and logos rhetorical appeal on several different occasions, making the film much more interesting and credible towards the audiences.
By using the opinion of top actresses like Geena Davis, Meryl Streep, Rashida Jones, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Oh, Jessica Chastain, Tiffany Haddish, the film successfully used the logos rhetorical appeal, to prove the legitimacy of the issue, making the film seems much more credible, thus strengthen its stance towards the gender inequality issue. This can also be looked at as pathos appeal. By using actresses' stories and experiences, the film gave "the oppressed" in this situation a voice, to speak up and speak out. Which did successfully raise the audience's attention, allowing people to connect to the problem on a deep emotional level. Female audiences, actresses, actors, would likely feel empathetic emotions towards how the actress and female filmmakers are being treated, raising awareness of the issue, in the entertainment industry.
In my opinion, the film made a great use of background music, and was very well edited. It would often use intense background music, trumpet or guitar sometimes , in an attempt to make the viewer more excited and interested towards the topic. For example in the beginning of the film, actress Jessica Chastian said :"Filmmaking has told us no. Women shouldn't be focused on or learned about their desires, their wants, their needs, their fears." Which was a strong statement, but the fact that it was followed by an intense guitar melody made the scene stand out. During the discussion I made a comparison with the background music that director Michael Bay would use in his action movie trailer, making the movie seem more interesting. Also compared to the drum and trumpet music people would play before going to war, in an attempt to raise their soldiers's spirits. These are all great use of pathos, and in the film by using such a strong statement at the beginning of the film by actress Jessica Chastain, and by using such an intense melody, the filmmaker successfully made the film seems much more interesting and exciting, it was very smart more director Tom Donahue to use the pathos appeal early on in the film.
However, there is always space for improvement. Personally I think the choice of director was a miscalculation. I think by hiring a female director, it will improve the film's credibility. She will be able to view the problem from a female perspective, where the problem actually exists. The film also included a couple African American actresses , which I thought was outstanding. However, the film only focused on the injustice that they've faced as an actress, but not as a black actress. I believe by adding focus on the racial discrimination these actresses faces everyday, it connects people on many different levels. And it brings us back to Crenshaw's idea of intersectionality, by focusing on the racial discrimination and gender discrimination in the entertainment industry, it make us realize the importance and seriousness of this issue, also allowing audiences to connect from many different levels.
I believe instead of making a documentary, filmmakers should look towards making a video that is similar to a podcast form, like actors around table, but it's actress around table, having a conversation about the discrimination and inequality issues that still exist in entertainment industry today. It could even include alcohol, some of the podcasts I have watched seem to be having success with that. It makes the conversation a lot more smoother and the audience feels like they're a part of the conversation sometime, just simply by having a drink themselves. Also filmmakers should consider making the film shorter, people these days have less and worse attention span and are more likely to click on a short 7 seconds tik tok than sit down and watch a two hours long documentary.
Overall the film was well made, with the only flaw of having a male director. It successfully used pathos and logos rhetorical appeal on several different occasions, making the film much more interesting and credible towards the audiences.
Well Done
OwensDad122 January 2022
It's a shame that there are less than 1400 votes for this doc. It just goes to show that the message isn't getting out and not enough people are aware of the issue. If you're a fan of the film industry, none of this is probably news to you. Not only are there great powerful female actors, directors, writers, producers, etc getting the message out, it actually has the data and #s to back that message up. It is very well done. And for those complaining about a male director, 19 of the 24 producers are female. My guess is that they decided who would direct this and they went with whom they thought was the best choice.
A story about women needed to be behind the camera yet is directed by a man...
lydiarubio12 September 2022
In the Netflix documentary, "This Changes Everything" released on September 8,2018, directed by Tom Donahue sheds light on the issues involving gender/sexism and over all the unfair and Unequal treatment that women experience in the film industry. We are given a behind the scenes tour into the lives of hollywood's most prestigious, well known, and most talented women in the field like Meryl Streep, Geena Davis, Reese Witherspoon, and many many more who've been in this industry for years are providing their view points and experiences from working. Throughout the film we are shown first hand scenes from some of our beloved movies and tv series to give the audience a sense of what things are truly like behind the scenes of so many iconic moments on scene. A prime theme throughout the documentary is about oppression and inequality that can be traced back for decades. Not only are we provided with true stories from well known actresses, producers, and directors, but were also presented with factual data and statistics to back up the argument. Women are constantly objectified and are made to seem like a sidekick to the males to make the male look better since it seems to be the only audience movies are made to target. This film is supposed to spread awareness and attention to the fact that women are more than just eye candy but can provide the same work ethic, dedication, and knowledge that men can if more chances were given. Sounds great doesn't it, strong and talented women standing up for a good cause? Well let's talk about what's missing...Intersexuality.
This changes everything, lacks the opportunity to really stick up for all women and are really only scraping the surface. Representation matters and should matter for women across the board, not just the white woman in Hollywood. I mentioned intersexuality earlier and that refers to a cross section within a minority who has their own unique experiences of oppression and or discrimination whether it involves race, class, gender, sexuality, appearance, religion, political affiliation, etc. The film touched a bit on race and how important it is to see other people who look like you on the screen but are failing to touch on peoples sexual orientation, sexual preferences, and even disabilities like Lavern cox, Elliot Page, Michael Jay Fox, or even Lauren Potter. Silence films were mentioned as a time when women ran the film industry and were admired for their talents but that was back in the late 1800's and early 1900's people of colored were oppressed than ever and there was no such thing as trans or gay communities. The women who are white are fighting against the white man's umbrella after sound comes into play, but why aren't we fighting for the ones who've never been admired for their talent and are just trying to be seen. Some of the women have never had proper validation and can't remember a time where they were equally accepted. It is also of question and seems a bit confusing that they're all fighting for women to be behind the camera when yet, the director is a male? They're talking about the difference between the male gaze and the camera angles would differ then what a female director would film, so why are we still seeing a film especially one with such a powerful story being told from a males point of view? Although this documentary had a powerful message I think being more inclusive to women who face intersexuality would really make the fight a lot more worth fighting and grab more support from audience members who feel they aren't alone and represented as well.
To conclude my review, I think that the film This Changes Everything, did what they set out to, which was bringing awareness to a topic many didn't know existed involving sexism, misogyny, and oppression of gender and race in the film industry is just the tip of the iceberg. If they added more interviews about the woman of color and their personal experiences, stories, and emotions could really give the story home and to add to that more diversity in the interviews by adding transgender people and to hear more about people of color should be the cherry on top. But maybe we can see that in This Changes Everything part 2 which will be directed by a woman.
This changes everything, lacks the opportunity to really stick up for all women and are really only scraping the surface. Representation matters and should matter for women across the board, not just the white woman in Hollywood. I mentioned intersexuality earlier and that refers to a cross section within a minority who has their own unique experiences of oppression and or discrimination whether it involves race, class, gender, sexuality, appearance, religion, political affiliation, etc. The film touched a bit on race and how important it is to see other people who look like you on the screen but are failing to touch on peoples sexual orientation, sexual preferences, and even disabilities like Lavern cox, Elliot Page, Michael Jay Fox, or even Lauren Potter. Silence films were mentioned as a time when women ran the film industry and were admired for their talents but that was back in the late 1800's and early 1900's people of colored were oppressed than ever and there was no such thing as trans or gay communities. The women who are white are fighting against the white man's umbrella after sound comes into play, but why aren't we fighting for the ones who've never been admired for their talent and are just trying to be seen. Some of the women have never had proper validation and can't remember a time where they were equally accepted. It is also of question and seems a bit confusing that they're all fighting for women to be behind the camera when yet, the director is a male? They're talking about the difference between the male gaze and the camera angles would differ then what a female director would film, so why are we still seeing a film especially one with such a powerful story being told from a males point of view? Although this documentary had a powerful message I think being more inclusive to women who face intersexuality would really make the fight a lot more worth fighting and grab more support from audience members who feel they aren't alone and represented as well.
To conclude my review, I think that the film This Changes Everything, did what they set out to, which was bringing awareness to a topic many didn't know existed involving sexism, misogyny, and oppression of gender and race in the film industry is just the tip of the iceberg. If they added more interviews about the woman of color and their personal experiences, stories, and emotions could really give the story home and to add to that more diversity in the interviews by adding transgender people and to hear more about people of color should be the cherry on top. But maybe we can see that in This Changes Everything part 2 which will be directed by a woman.
Very eye opening
ianjustfloors21 March 2020
Very eye opening but I've got one Concern, why was a film that devoted a large part of its message highlighting the lack of opportunities for female directors directed by a man ?
Other than that it hit home just how one sided the film industry continues to be.
Other than that it hit home just how one sided the film industry continues to be.
Could be spark for change
jtinpb24 February 2022
When you take the time to think of the most progressive people in the Twentieth century you think of Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Junior or Sidney Hillman all of which had a huge impacts in civil rights movements. But yet it still seems like the change still hasn't expanded to areas of our nation.
This Changes Everything, a documentary about the ongoing sexism that is plaguing Hollywood and the film industry featuring Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Sandra Oh and Geena Davis, just to name a few. Although powerful testimonies by these remarkable women that have established quite the name for themselves in this cutthroat community, the distractions of jagged shifts and turns as a result of time restraints cause the film to feel generic and hurried.
This was directed by Tom Donahue, a man. Something that simply seemed like a no brainer for this film was to have a female direct it, even though it mentions that over 75% of the film crew were women, having the face behind the scenes be a women would just make sense. Especially as the stat of only 15% of the Directors Guild of America membership is female, having a women behind the scenes would've shown that there are plenty of women that are capable of making a top grossing film that is talking about the issue.
The most influential short coming that comes from an otherwise impactful film is the lack of intersectionality. For those that haven't heard this term, it comes from Kimberlé Crenshaw and is about the the result of many overlapping issues like race, gender, social class and other individual traits that result in an intersection that often results in "damage" or attacks from multiple issues. This documentary clearly mentions the oppression that results from gender, but completely lacks the awareness to mention what the struggles could be like for women of color or disability. What is produced as a result is a single minded perspective on a complex and multifaceted issue and the film suffers from the usage of broad perspective.
But this review would be incomplete if I failed to mention many of the powerful and encouraging stories that are shared and certainly inspire any listener that comes in with an open mind. Although this film is target to the male film maker and directors that have Hollywood controlled, I hope it has a bigger impact on each one of us. Something that becomes crystal clear throughout this documentary is that the ongoing sexualization of women in our society has reached a level that is disturbing. While This Changes Everything does a great job at showcasing and providing examples of the sexualization of women and girls in Hollywood, even more scary is the affect that this is having on women outside of this scene. Fashion and clothes that young teens are wearing have gotten smaller and smaller, to the point of booty short jeans have become a trend for middle and high school girls. While you make think these events are unrelated, this films shows us that representation is a lot more impactful than you might think.
This Changes Everything will sure to inspire and motivate many of the viewers, it is crucial that the story does not get forgotten or drowned out in the critiques or hater because at that point all progress will be stopped. Even though large film directors and prominent men declined to appear in this film, change must start somewhere, so why not have it start with you.
This Changes Everything, a documentary about the ongoing sexism that is plaguing Hollywood and the film industry featuring Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Sandra Oh and Geena Davis, just to name a few. Although powerful testimonies by these remarkable women that have established quite the name for themselves in this cutthroat community, the distractions of jagged shifts and turns as a result of time restraints cause the film to feel generic and hurried.
This was directed by Tom Donahue, a man. Something that simply seemed like a no brainer for this film was to have a female direct it, even though it mentions that over 75% of the film crew were women, having the face behind the scenes be a women would just make sense. Especially as the stat of only 15% of the Directors Guild of America membership is female, having a women behind the scenes would've shown that there are plenty of women that are capable of making a top grossing film that is talking about the issue.
The most influential short coming that comes from an otherwise impactful film is the lack of intersectionality. For those that haven't heard this term, it comes from Kimberlé Crenshaw and is about the the result of many overlapping issues like race, gender, social class and other individual traits that result in an intersection that often results in "damage" or attacks from multiple issues. This documentary clearly mentions the oppression that results from gender, but completely lacks the awareness to mention what the struggles could be like for women of color or disability. What is produced as a result is a single minded perspective on a complex and multifaceted issue and the film suffers from the usage of broad perspective.
But this review would be incomplete if I failed to mention many of the powerful and encouraging stories that are shared and certainly inspire any listener that comes in with an open mind. Although this film is target to the male film maker and directors that have Hollywood controlled, I hope it has a bigger impact on each one of us. Something that becomes crystal clear throughout this documentary is that the ongoing sexualization of women in our society has reached a level that is disturbing. While This Changes Everything does a great job at showcasing and providing examples of the sexualization of women and girls in Hollywood, even more scary is the affect that this is having on women outside of this scene. Fashion and clothes that young teens are wearing have gotten smaller and smaller, to the point of booty short jeans have become a trend for middle and high school girls. While you make think these events are unrelated, this films shows us that representation is a lot more impactful than you might think.
This Changes Everything will sure to inspire and motivate many of the viewers, it is crucial that the story does not get forgotten or drowned out in the critiques or hater because at that point all progress will be stopped. Even though large film directors and prominent men declined to appear in this film, change must start somewhere, so why not have it start with you.
It's directed by a dude
cnppuig6 August 2021
A moving and powerful statement about women and diversity in Hollywood
ivan3725 May 2019
Tom Donahue creates a tour de force on where Hollywood has been been and where it needs to go to with regard to gender equality. A must see film for anyone who wants to understand the history, the issues, and, most importantly, what needs to be done to address the gender and diversity issues of a major American industry. This is a lesson for all businesses and how they should embrace the potential of half the population of our planet.
Very relevant, thought provoking and well put together
drcog11 February 2020
This doco is specifically about women, there may therefore be people who fail to connect with it. That's a shame because it speaks to all of us. Gina Davis puts it best when she asks, how can our little girls reach their potential when there are no role models showing them what is possible for a woman to achieve? Some of the stats concerning male v female representation in the industry are just jaw droppingly shameful.
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