Colin Trevorrow Disappoints With Comments Regarding Sexism in Hollywood

Jill Pantozzi | August 21st, 2015

Colin Trevorrow, the director who recently made box office history with Jurassic World and who was recently named director of Star Wars: Episode IX, has made some choppy waves with a recent statement about fairness in Hollywood.

Here, because it’s too exhausting to go into all over again, are my series of tweets on the topic:

"Many of the top female directors in our industry are not interested in doing a piece of studio business." Trevorrow pic.twitter.com/QFlvZ0ZcMz

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

His photo statement, given in response to a fan question on Twitter reads:

“I want to believe that a filmmaker with both the desire and ability to make a studio blockbuster will be given an opportunity to make their case. I stress desire because I honestly think that’s a part of the issue. Many of the top female directors in our industry are not interested in doing a piece of studio business for its own sake. These filmmakers have clear voices and stories to tell that don’t necessarily involve superheroes or spaceships or dinosaurs.

To me, this is not a simple case of exclusion within an impenetrable corporate system. It’s complex, and it involves a component that I think is rarely discussed – very high levels of artistic and creative integrity among female directors.

Maybe this opinion makes me naive, but as an employee of two companies run by brilliant women, I don’t think I am. There is a sincere desire correct this imbalance at the highest levels of our industry right now. And yes, it does make me feel terrible to be held up as a symptom of social injustice. I’m a person. Nobody wants to be part of the problem.”

So much UGH in that statement by Jurassic World & upcoming Star Wars director Colin Trevorrow.

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

First of all, he's making a weird assumption he knows the thoughts of all the top female directors in Hollywood.

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

Second, he's assuming he WAS considered a top male director in Hollywood before being offered Jurassic World. He wasn't.

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

Women in Hollywood are not granted the opportunity Trevorow was on Jurassic World.

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

Before Jurassic World, Trevorrow had a meager resume which consisted of a short, a documentary, a TV movie, and an indie film (the critically acclaimed Safety Not Guaranteed).

He's also seemingly dissing men in the industry as having a lack of creative drive…

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

But he recognizes the system he's working in that has afforded him these opportunities & its injustice but isn't standing against it.

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

Don't forget, Trevorrow was given Jurassic World because Brad Bird didn't have time & thought “there is this guy that reminds me of me.”

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

Yes, really.

So he clearly understands he's working under serious privilege. When discussing that, maybe pledge to do something to help in the future?

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

Because the reason all industries are still like this is people know and don't do anything to change it.

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

When you're in a position of power and/or privilege you must, MUST, MUST actively choose to help underserved voices.

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

.@ajhan is also saying good stuff about this Trevorrow thing over at @slashfilm http://t.co/uO0HHJFDuT

— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) August 21, 2015

And you should, there’s some good analysis there.

[UPDATE]

Trevorrow later gave this statement to /Film:

“The last thing I’d want to communicate is that I don’t acknowledge this problem exists. I think the problem is glaring and obvious. And while it does make me a little uncomfortable to be held up as an example of everything that’s wrong, this is an important dialogue to have, so let’s have it.

Would I have been chosen to direct Jurassic World if I was a female filmmaker who had made one small film? I have no idea. I’d like to think that choice was based on the kind of story I told and the way I chose to tell it. But of course it’s not that simple. There are centuries-old biases at work at every level, within all of us. And yes, it makes me feel shitty to be perceived as part of this problem, because it’s an issue that matters so much to me. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t talk about it in the first place.

I do stand by the idea that a great many people in the film industry want this to change. I have made attempts at every turn to help turn the tide, and I will continue to do it. When I got the script for Lucky Them, released last year, I advocated hard for my friend Megan Griffiths to direct. She did, and she made a wonderful film (see it please). On my next project, Book of Henry, nearly all of my department heads and producers are women. Will I give a female filmmaker the same chance Steven Spielberg gave me someday? Let’s hope that when I do, it won’t even be noteworthy. It will be the status quo.

I came home from New York tonight and saw my daughter again after a week away. This had come up earlier in the day, so it was on my mind. I did think a lot about how vital it is for me to empower her now, even at age 3. To encourage her to go out and grab whatever it is she wants in life, to lead. It starts with the constant, steady assurance that the top job is attainable.

Becoming a filmmaker is not easy. It’s years of rejection and disappointment and it’s very hard, often grueling work. The job takes insane levels of endurance and sometimes delusional amounts of self-confidence. All I can do is raise one girl with that kind of fearlessness, then let her choose her path. That’s my contribution. The rest is up to her.”