“I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special,” Obaid-Chinoy recently told CNN. “We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.”
– Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Storyteller
“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.”
– Ariel Durant, Philosopher
Folks, I’m on record hundreds if not thousands of times in this space saying that I don’t like to pick on people.
Essentially, there’s little to be gained from such corrosive activity. Each of us at times have been prone to say or suggest something that might end up to be bone-headedly stupid upon further reflection, so why expend any substantive effort throwing sticks and stones at folks who at the end of the day just don’t matter? Maybe it isn’t so much wasted energy as it is misdirected momentum, the kind of muscle that could be exercised in a more productive fashion. Granted, I’m not necessarily out to save humanity by blogging about movies, television, and the wider state of entertainment; and yet I can still try to set a good example for those who show up to this space when and if they do. I try – at all times – to be a respectable steward … maybe not a good one or a bad one … but a respectable one. Someone folks might not always agree with, but someone who’s proven he has something worthwhile to say … right or wrong.
Still, when the tree serves up such delicious low-hanging fruit, why not pick it?
Am I right?
So … the comment above was a little ‘something something’ muttered in an actual interview by the much-lauded filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Apparently, it’s her contention that in all of Star Wars history there’s been no woman actively shaping this space saga; and she’s just been granted the opportunity to take Rey Skywalker into the future in a proposed stand-alone adventure that’ll likely be very, very, very decidedly female in perspective.
Hmmm.
Now – as I said, I’m not one to pick on others – but let it be known – for the record – that a good many ladies have left a substantial mark on Star Wars production. (Yes, yes, and yes: I think what Ms. Obaid-Chinoy likely meant to say that no individual film has had a woman directing, and that’s accurate … but it entirely dismisses the Star Wars Television Universe.) A misspeak doesn’t excuse such blithering and impolite stupidity, so I’m choosing today to use this space to kinda/sorta set the record straight. (Ms. Obaid-Chinoy, if you can spare a moment? This short list might help bring you up to speed. Apologies that it’s been written by a man, but I can’t change my gender.)
Of course, it’s long been stated that while George Lucas is given full artistic credit for the creation of the galaxy far, far away, his wife – Marcia Lucas – was an accomplished Hollywood editor who aided her husband in streamlining unnecessary footage and giving the Original Trilogy a great deal more emotional warmth. So, yeah, it might be true that Marcia never directed anything (that we know of and/or has been confirmed, at least to my albeit limited knowledge), it stands without question that she made a rather substantial impact alongside others in placing this saga where it is today.
Also, ignoring the late Carrie Fisher’s contributions to the space saga only because she never served as a director is also a huge, huge, huge insult to those involved. Granted, Fisher is rather famously known for dressing up and bringing one of the signature figureheads of the Rebellion to life in the Original Trilogy as well as the Sequel Trilogy; but it’s been written that she also helped Lucas by punching up some of the dialogue in the Prequel Trilogy. Sure, sure, and sure: I get that perhaps those scripts aren’t exactly revered for their brilliance, but what matters here is that we’re talking about the contributions of females in shaping Star Wars, and I think that’s relevant.
Furthermore, has Obaid-Chinoy never even heard of her boss, Kathleen Kennedy? Kennedy and her supporters within Lucasfilm rather notoriously announced that “The Force Is Female” whilst in the midst of production for the Sequel Trilogy as well as a great deal of the television entries, so … ? Because Kennedy was never christened as “director” apparently all of the effort expended to both create new products and steer the franchise practically off the financial cliff counts for nought? Mind you, Kennedy wasn’t involved in every single decision, I’m sure, but there’s no mistaking her contributions made. That’s the substance of Obaid-Chinoy’s awful take, so it’s worthy of mention.
Dare I even fail to list Leslye Headland? This controversial storyteller and Harvey Weinstein enabler has been diligently at work behind the scenes crafting what Kennedy has promised to be the greatest next chapter in all of Star Wars: The Acolyte is finally going to seeing the light of day some time in 2024. It sports an almost entirely female cast, no blasters, and a lot of space-aged kung fu (from what I’ve read), and I would expect a force like Headland might feel more than a tad slighted by Obaid-Chinoy’s rather obvious dismissal from the proceedings.
Now … mind you … I could go on. There are an incredible number of specialists who have toiled almost endlessly behind-the-scenes in roles big and small with Star Wars production. (Bryce Dallas Howard and Deborah Chow have made significant contributions to The Mandalorian, but, again, that doesn’t mean squat in Obaid-Chinoy’s universe, apparently.) All one need to is run down the credits list for any single motion picture to see that a good percentage have been of the kinder, gentler sex. Dismissing their impact simply because they weren’t directors should be the kind of egregious slur that, normally, would end one’s career … but this is Hollywood … and in Hollywood name-calling and backstabbing are in ample supply.
Instead of looking at the make-up of one’s chromosomes in deciding what’s best behind the camera, why can’t we just see your completed effort and let us decide for ourselves?
– Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Storyteller
“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.”
– Ariel Durant, Philosopher
Folks, I’m on record hundreds if not thousands of times in this space saying that I don’t like to pick on people.
Essentially, there’s little to be gained from such corrosive activity. Each of us at times have been prone to say or suggest something that might end up to be bone-headedly stupid upon further reflection, so why expend any substantive effort throwing sticks and stones at folks who at the end of the day just don’t matter? Maybe it isn’t so much wasted energy as it is misdirected momentum, the kind of muscle that could be exercised in a more productive fashion. Granted, I’m not necessarily out to save humanity by blogging about movies, television, and the wider state of entertainment; and yet I can still try to set a good example for those who show up to this space when and if they do. I try – at all times – to be a respectable steward … maybe not a good one or a bad one … but a respectable one. Someone folks might not always agree with, but someone who’s proven he has something worthwhile to say … right or wrong.
Still, when the tree serves up such delicious low-hanging fruit, why not pick it?
Am I right?
So … the comment above was a little ‘something something’ muttered in an actual interview by the much-lauded filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Apparently, it’s her contention that in all of Star Wars history there’s been no woman actively shaping this space saga; and she’s just been granted the opportunity to take Rey Skywalker into the future in a proposed stand-alone adventure that’ll likely be very, very, very decidedly female in perspective.
Hmmm.
Now – as I said, I’m not one to pick on others – but let it be known – for the record – that a good many ladies have left a substantial mark on Star Wars production. (Yes, yes, and yes: I think what Ms. Obaid-Chinoy likely meant to say that no individual film has had a woman directing, and that’s accurate … but it entirely dismisses the Star Wars Television Universe.) A misspeak doesn’t excuse such blithering and impolite stupidity, so I’m choosing today to use this space to kinda/sorta set the record straight. (Ms. Obaid-Chinoy, if you can spare a moment? This short list might help bring you up to speed. Apologies that it’s been written by a man, but I can’t change my gender.)
Of course, it’s long been stated that while George Lucas is given full artistic credit for the creation of the galaxy far, far away, his wife – Marcia Lucas – was an accomplished Hollywood editor who aided her husband in streamlining unnecessary footage and giving the Original Trilogy a great deal more emotional warmth. So, yeah, it might be true that Marcia never directed anything (that we know of and/or has been confirmed, at least to my albeit limited knowledge), it stands without question that she made a rather substantial impact alongside others in placing this saga where it is today.
Also, ignoring the late Carrie Fisher’s contributions to the space saga only because she never served as a director is also a huge, huge, huge insult to those involved. Granted, Fisher is rather famously known for dressing up and bringing one of the signature figureheads of the Rebellion to life in the Original Trilogy as well as the Sequel Trilogy; but it’s been written that she also helped Lucas by punching up some of the dialogue in the Prequel Trilogy. Sure, sure, and sure: I get that perhaps those scripts aren’t exactly revered for their brilliance, but what matters here is that we’re talking about the contributions of females in shaping Star Wars, and I think that’s relevant.
Furthermore, has Obaid-Chinoy never even heard of her boss, Kathleen Kennedy? Kennedy and her supporters within Lucasfilm rather notoriously announced that “The Force Is Female” whilst in the midst of production for the Sequel Trilogy as well as a great deal of the television entries, so … ? Because Kennedy was never christened as “director” apparently all of the effort expended to both create new products and steer the franchise practically off the financial cliff counts for nought? Mind you, Kennedy wasn’t involved in every single decision, I’m sure, but there’s no mistaking her contributions made. That’s the substance of Obaid-Chinoy’s awful take, so it’s worthy of mention.
Dare I even fail to list Leslye Headland? This controversial storyteller and Harvey Weinstein enabler has been diligently at work behind the scenes crafting what Kennedy has promised to be the greatest next chapter in all of Star Wars: The Acolyte is finally going to seeing the light of day some time in 2024. It sports an almost entirely female cast, no blasters, and a lot of space-aged kung fu (from what I’ve read), and I would expect a force like Headland might feel more than a tad slighted by Obaid-Chinoy’s rather obvious dismissal from the proceedings.
Now … mind you … I could go on. There are an incredible number of specialists who have toiled almost endlessly behind-the-scenes in roles big and small with Star Wars production. (Bryce Dallas Howard and Deborah Chow have made significant contributions to The Mandalorian, but, again, that doesn’t mean squat in Obaid-Chinoy’s universe, apparently.) All one need to is run down the credits list for any single motion picture to see that a good percentage have been of the kinder, gentler sex. Dismissing their impact simply because they weren’t directors should be the kind of egregious slur that, normally, would end one’s career … but this is Hollywood … and in Hollywood name-calling and backstabbing are in ample supply.
Instead of looking at the make-up of one’s chromosomes in deciding what’s best behind the camera, why can’t we just see your completed effort and let us decide for ourselves?
RSS Feed