Marvel’s Agenda Supports Gender Equality Says Exec VP

Marvel has long presented characters that have pushed the boundaries of all creation, suffered the indignity of discrimination, and fought for their rights on every battle field available, side-by-side, a mighty conglomerate front for change. Now, outside the pages of our beloved comic books, avatars for equality are rallying together. Gender inequality in Hollywood is still a real, live entity, and thankfully (speaking as a woman in the industry, myself) these issues are continuously being brought into the light to be discussed publicly.

Monday, at the Women in Technology luncheon provided by the Hollywood Professional Association’s Women in Post and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Marvel Productions’ Executive Vice President of Physical Production, Victoria Alonso, spoke about Marvel’s role in influencing Hollywood towards gender equality.

“We have had gender inequality for some time. It wasn’t always talked about ….  In the past year, it bubbled up and it’s no longer acceptable to women and some men. …Change is needed and hopefully we can make a balanced Hollywood for the next generation.”

With the recent, strong showing of female presence in the Marvel projects of late including the efforts of its Netflix show, Jessica Jones, which will feature an all women line up of directors for its second season, and Captain Marvel, the first Marvel film to feature a female lead, it seems gender equality is becoming reality sooner than later.

Other studios, such as Warner Bros. are also answering the call to action in Wonder Woman, due out June 2nd, 2017 as well as Justice League due out November 17, 2017.

“I don’t want to be the only [woman]  in the room,” Alonso added. “Our rooms should be 50/50. If any of you — men or women — can lift [women] up, we’ll all be better for it.”

Alonso was also careful to mention the men who were in attendance at the luncheon:

“You are important change makers. When you wonderful men say ‘balance is necessary.’ …You open that door and the product is going to be better [with varied perspectives].”

With continuing discussions revolving around the need for gender equality in the movie industry receiving much deserved attention, and the efforts of Marvel being so warmly received with the many successes of its heroines behind and before the cameras, I’m anticipating the kind of change that will lend an abundance of success for us all to share.

SOURCE: THR

‘Jessica Jones’: All Women Directors for Season 2

The depiction of rape and sexual violence towards women has been alluded to, and written into storylines for decades, and each time I view such a storyline, I can’t help but overanalyze it with a bit of a racing mind. Being a writer who’s even had some of this particularly damaging imagery in my own stories to help lend a voice to those who need it, I was emotionally eviscerated with relief when Season 1 of ‘Jessica Jones’ took the subject head on.

With its main character of Jessica being a survivor of rape, and outrageously outspoken about everything to nearly a volatile level, the show’s efforts soaked in all the feels and displayed the actions that come with being branded with such a trauma; these include violent outbursts, binge drinking, and distancing one’s self from everyone trying to contain the heartbreak bleed out.

‘Jessica Jones’ showrunner, Melissa Rosenberg announced during her keynote panel at the Transform Hollywood symposium that all 13 episodes of Jessica Jones season 2 will be directed by women. Marvel has had an ongoing initiative to diversify across its media boards, and this is just a fantastic effort in that vein. The maturity level, overall graphic telemetry, social diatribes, and emotional content that Marvel has been pouring into its Netflix offerings is truly impressive. Seeing that reflected behind the cameras is a fitting feather in that extending wingspan.

Rosenberg went on during the panel to speak on being in the industry:

“I think the only reason I’m sitting here is because of tenacity. It’s a tough business. You really have to be able to take a hit… I’ve gotten fired so many times, I can’t even count now… That’s the nature of the business, it’s really hard. You have to be able to pick yourself up and say that tomorrow is going to be better than today.”

Tenacity is that rare savory sting of metallic determination on the palate of any person’s career; once you get a taste for it or of it, you can’t live without it scraping the pages of your life. The character of Jessica Jones is striding towards crafting a better life for herself, moving forward from crushing past events, as JJ season 2 starts filming after ‘The Defenders’ which is set to begin in November of this year. Tomorrow may not be coming today, but it is coming, and that is something beautiful for any survivor out there.

Melissa Rosenberg

SOURCES: SCREENRANT, VARIETY