Just a quick note to say that it's been super interesting to hear what everyone thinks - there's lots to mull over - but while differing opinions are welcome, personal insults won't be tolerated. I will also remove comments that are defamatory/libellous or egregiously attack someone else's character or reputation. Thank you everyone for reading and sharing! Thanks, Terri
Being a life long on set film crew member this piece/comment rings loud and true over here! The boy’s club vibe of an a typical film crew/industry is an understatement to say the least. I am new to Substack but came here for pieces like this and people like you. So first and foremost thank you!
The truth hurts for the older generation and their trickle down machismo social economics is the gas light that burns all to bright when someone like you provides a wind break from this kind of behavior just blowing out someone’s fire over and over again.
Keep on keeping on because one cannot hide from the truth no matter who’s proverbial fire is trying to be snuffed out by the candle makers of old
I'm listening to the audiobook of Just the Funny Parts by Nell Scovell. It's eye-watering how matter-of-fact she is about the innate sexism in Hollywood.
The double standards, and just plain nastiness drive me batty. Part of me wants to walk around with Olivia, with snarky comebacks to all the ridiculous questions she’s been asked. I don’t know how that would help or if it, most likely, would launch a new gossip cycle. It’s disgusting.
Thank you for articulating this, it's a misogynistic campaign, regardless of the film's quality. I'm looking forward to seeing the film, the trailer looks great!
There's all these things of course. Kubrick literally broke Shelly Duvall into pieces. Nobody cared at the time. When was the last time you saw a female Director described as an artist/Auteur? Emerald Fennell is by any metric an artist, and a brilliant one at that. Bigelow made one of the greatest horror thrillers ever. ( Near Dark, obvs). Penelope Spheeris made a couple of the best documentaries ever made about music and musicians.
There's another thing here too of course and it's both depressing and annoying. Wilde is a beautiful woman, currently in a relationship with her star, who happens to be the current most famous man on the planet. This helps the misogynists who don't believe average women to be their equal, let alone a beautiful woman. Note the bullshit around Emily Ratajkowski's excellent book about her abuse. Some things change but never quickly.
YES MIKE. Brilliant point about auteurs. There is something really interesting/bleak going on with how these female directors look. Like a certain level of attractiveness is preferred to greenlight them in the first place, but it then becomes something to beat them with. For what they have in beauty they must lack in intelligence and vision? I don't know: I haven't quite thought it through, but there's something in it...x
Emerald Fennell is a terrible nepotism-baby filmmaker. Ya'll need to expand into European Cinema! There are tonnes of amazing women directing. You just need to go beyond the mainstream.....
Talking about mainstream cinema usually involves giving mainstream cinema examples. I am highly amused that you think "ya'll" (surely that's "y'all" but I digress) need to expand into European cinema. We are in Europe after all.
As for the nepotism, if you took all the nepotism out of modern culture, it would be an extremely barren field unfortunately. It also does not make her less talented.
No Adam. I would have preferred it if both John Lennon and Joe Strummer had been as working class as they claimed to be. Especially Strummer. It doesn't make any better or worse at what they did for their art. I loved Fleabag, but would have preferred not to know about her extremely privileged background. I'm fairly sick of finding out that someone I admire got an easy leg up, but it hurts less if the talent is there too. See my first point.
Besides, without nepotism there would be no Wild at Heart.
Responding to Tim’s Thoughts. The only people who are interested in this type gossip are the exact people she’s writing about, it’s esp prevalent with women who believe Harry is with ex band mate and spread and enjoyed the ugly gossip. The women who are not mean girls find it awful. And, there are a lot of men who enjoy this gossip bc reason above or they are not nice people. So…it’s not a “women” issue, esp on this. Stay off twitter if u don’t want to see how vile they are towards her, bc Harry. And the film critics, journalists shouldn’t encourage this behavior. Does that make sense? Anyway…fantastic article. Sad it even needs to be written!
I was going to say the same thing. This has nothing to do with misogyny or double standard, not particularly in this case, anyway. Through absolutely no fault if his own, Harry is at the center of this vendetta against Olivia. There is a large subgroup of his "fans" who make it their mission to cause trouble for any woman he dates, and unfortunately, Olivia appears to be getting a much heavier dose than others have. These so called fans are absolutely vile and they are loud. Their delusion is strong, insisting the relationship is nothing but a publicity stunt to 1) promote the film and 2) cover up a fictional decade long romantic relationship with Harry's former bandmate because their "management" forces them to stay closeted. Unfortunately, their usual antics have spilled over to cause turmoil for not only Olivia, but for everything surrounding the film. They have perfected their craft of being the bully and spreading hate in the form of gossip and slander like wildfire across the internet.
It seeps into the public consciousness even affecting those, like yours truly, who barely hold any interest in celebrities apart from the stories they’re hired to bring to life. People are inherently biased and can easily polarize their views to such mind-numbing frenzy that it makes collective art appreciation less appealing by the minute.
This is what I thought, but then I saw 30 year old women on tiktok talking about how Wilde is evil and needs to be held responsible. Adult women with podcasts, who claim to be feminists, not unintelligent. I think those fans played a big part in the beginning, but it feels like it's become something bigger. And I'm sure those fans feel very powerful and proud because of that. A lot of people of all ages seem to get some enjoyment out of it now, which is inexcusable.
I don't dispute there are men who like this, and women who don't, but women are generally more interested in gossip. We know who buys Empire and who buys the Daily Mail (generally).
As for journalists, sadly they are just going to print what sells. For all we know, it may even be the case that the producers are fine with it because it's going to generate interest.
Oh phew. I'm thinking it'll be the same atmosphere as The Last Post (with Jessica Raine) but with something darker at the heart, à la Get Out. And that sounds cool! By the way, the Cinema con serving of papers was post separation abuse, plain and simple. Disgusting.
Sadly, this is nothing new. Barbra Streisand had to contend with exactly the same kind of toxic reporting when she made "Yentl" back in 1982. To counteract the malicious and unfounded gossip, the whole crew signed a letter praising the way she acted as both director and producer. However, practically no newspaper would print it. Women doing a brilliant job in a man's world doesn't attract (a certain kind of) readers, but, sadly, stories about "Diva behaviour" or "cat fights" still do.
It’s just all a bit vile and mean isn’t it? There is absolutely no way that a male director like Nolan would be questioned in the manner that Wilde has. Stuff like this is just so frustrating to say the least. I really enjoyed Booksmart and still excited to watch this though - I did love the trailer!
Brilliantly written, just to say, and thank you for that. Really looking forward to seeing the film. Booksmart was a great thing all the way round so more than anything I hope her future creative projects are unencumbered. Wilde I mean. Hollywood is just not very good right now, for me, my fave stuff is being done by Nadine Labaki and Ritesh Batra, out East, and gunless. I have less than zero interest in anything but the product, the work of art. That Hollywood more and more relies on the new Social Media to sell their mediocre work maybe needs resisting. I wish you, her, and all the genuine talent best luck.
I am a 77 year old retired technical writer and project manager. And this kind of crap is exactly what I dealt with in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and 90’s. And well into the 21st century. Appalling. ‼️
YES ! SO MUCH THIS! been truly frustrated listening to fellow filmmakers slag the film before they've even seen it based on the publicity. You never saw this done to other filmmakers on this scale.
Just a quick note to say that it's been super interesting to hear what everyone thinks - there's lots to mull over - but while differing opinions are welcome, personal insults won't be tolerated. I will also remove comments that are defamatory/libellous or egregiously attack someone else's character or reputation. Thank you everyone for reading and sharing! Thanks, Terri
Being a life long on set film crew member this piece/comment rings loud and true over here! The boy’s club vibe of an a typical film crew/industry is an understatement to say the least. I am new to Substack but came here for pieces like this and people like you. So first and foremost thank you!
The truth hurts for the older generation and their trickle down machismo social economics is the gas light that burns all to bright when someone like you provides a wind break from this kind of behavior just blowing out someone’s fire over and over again.
Keep on keeping on because one cannot hide from the truth no matter who’s proverbial fire is trying to be snuffed out by the candle makers of old
✌️🖤🎬
you're a good man xx
I'm listening to the audiobook of Just the Funny Parts by Nell Scovell. It's eye-watering how matter-of-fact she is about the innate sexism in Hollywood.
The double standards, and just plain nastiness drive me batty. Part of me wants to walk around with Olivia, with snarky comebacks to all the ridiculous questions she’s been asked. I don’t know how that would help or if it, most likely, would launch a new gossip cycle. It’s disgusting.
Thank you for articulating this, it's a misogynistic campaign, regardless of the film's quality. I'm looking forward to seeing the film, the trailer looks great!
exactly this x
There's all these things of course. Kubrick literally broke Shelly Duvall into pieces. Nobody cared at the time. When was the last time you saw a female Director described as an artist/Auteur? Emerald Fennell is by any metric an artist, and a brilliant one at that. Bigelow made one of the greatest horror thrillers ever. ( Near Dark, obvs). Penelope Spheeris made a couple of the best documentaries ever made about music and musicians.
There's another thing here too of course and it's both depressing and annoying. Wilde is a beautiful woman, currently in a relationship with her star, who happens to be the current most famous man on the planet. This helps the misogynists who don't believe average women to be their equal, let alone a beautiful woman. Note the bullshit around Emily Ratajkowski's excellent book about her abuse. Some things change but never quickly.
YES MIKE. Brilliant point about auteurs. There is something really interesting/bleak going on with how these female directors look. Like a certain level of attractiveness is preferred to greenlight them in the first place, but it then becomes something to beat them with. For what they have in beauty they must lack in intelligence and vision? I don't know: I haven't quite thought it through, but there's something in it...x
Emerald Fennell is a terrible nepotism-baby filmmaker. Ya'll need to expand into European Cinema! There are tonnes of amazing women directing. You just need to go beyond the mainstream.....
Talking about mainstream cinema usually involves giving mainstream cinema examples. I am highly amused that you think "ya'll" (surely that's "y'all" but I digress) need to expand into European cinema. We are in Europe after all.
As for the nepotism, if you took all the nepotism out of modern culture, it would be an extremely barren field unfortunately. It also does not make her less talented.
So the bar for progress starts at feminism but stops at class & nepotism hey?
No Adam. I would have preferred it if both John Lennon and Joe Strummer had been as working class as they claimed to be. Especially Strummer. It doesn't make any better or worse at what they did for their art. I loved Fleabag, but would have preferred not to know about her extremely privileged background. I'm fairly sick of finding out that someone I admire got an easy leg up, but it hurts less if the talent is there too. See my first point.
Besides, without nepotism there would be no Wild at Heart.
Responding to Tim’s Thoughts. The only people who are interested in this type gossip are the exact people she’s writing about, it’s esp prevalent with women who believe Harry is with ex band mate and spread and enjoyed the ugly gossip. The women who are not mean girls find it awful. And, there are a lot of men who enjoy this gossip bc reason above or they are not nice people. So…it’s not a “women” issue, esp on this. Stay off twitter if u don’t want to see how vile they are towards her, bc Harry. And the film critics, journalists shouldn’t encourage this behavior. Does that make sense? Anyway…fantastic article. Sad it even needs to be written!
I was going to say the same thing. This has nothing to do with misogyny or double standard, not particularly in this case, anyway. Through absolutely no fault if his own, Harry is at the center of this vendetta against Olivia. There is a large subgroup of his "fans" who make it their mission to cause trouble for any woman he dates, and unfortunately, Olivia appears to be getting a much heavier dose than others have. These so called fans are absolutely vile and they are loud. Their delusion is strong, insisting the relationship is nothing but a publicity stunt to 1) promote the film and 2) cover up a fictional decade long romantic relationship with Harry's former bandmate because their "management" forces them to stay closeted. Unfortunately, their usual antics have spilled over to cause turmoil for not only Olivia, but for everything surrounding the film. They have perfected their craft of being the bully and spreading hate in the form of gossip and slander like wildfire across the internet.
Stan culture is the one of the most toxic things to come from social media. I’ve seen it literally ruin lives.
Agree with every point you made Jennifer.
Fandomania is toxic.
It seeps into the public consciousness even affecting those, like yours truly, who barely hold any interest in celebrities apart from the stories they’re hired to bring to life. People are inherently biased and can easily polarize their views to such mind-numbing frenzy that it makes collective art appreciation less appealing by the minute.
Sounds so much like USA politics.
This is what I thought, but then I saw 30 year old women on tiktok talking about how Wilde is evil and needs to be held responsible. Adult women with podcasts, who claim to be feminists, not unintelligent. I think those fans played a big part in the beginning, but it feels like it's become something bigger. And I'm sure those fans feel very powerful and proud because of that. A lot of people of all ages seem to get some enjoyment out of it now, which is inexcusable.
I don't dispute there are men who like this, and women who don't, but women are generally more interested in gossip. We know who buys Empire and who buys the Daily Mail (generally).
As for journalists, sadly they are just going to print what sells. For all we know, it may even be the case that the producers are fine with it because it's going to generate interest.
Can I go back to just looking forward to this now then? It's a genre I like, love Florence, etc.
YES! I know reviews have mixed but I am booking my ticket with a great deal of excitement xx
Oh phew. I'm thinking it'll be the same atmosphere as The Last Post (with Jessica Raine) but with something darker at the heart, à la Get Out. And that sounds cool! By the way, the Cinema con serving of papers was post separation abuse, plain and simple. Disgusting.
Sadly, this is nothing new. Barbra Streisand had to contend with exactly the same kind of toxic reporting when she made "Yentl" back in 1982. To counteract the malicious and unfounded gossip, the whole crew signed a letter praising the way she acted as both director and producer. However, practically no newspaper would print it. Women doing a brilliant job in a man's world doesn't attract (a certain kind of) readers, but, sadly, stories about "Diva behaviour" or "cat fights" still do.
Wonderfully written. Thanks for your article unfortunately the people who need to see it will skip it. Keep up the great work
Excellent analysis. There's something distastefully 00s about the gleeful attempts to goad Wilde and Pugh into a public catfight.
It’s just all a bit vile and mean isn’t it? There is absolutely no way that a male director like Nolan would be questioned in the manner that Wilde has. Stuff like this is just so frustrating to say the least. I really enjoyed Booksmart and still excited to watch this though - I did love the trailer!
Brilliantly written, just to say, and thank you for that. Really looking forward to seeing the film. Booksmart was a great thing all the way round so more than anything I hope her future creative projects are unencumbered. Wilde I mean. Hollywood is just not very good right now, for me, my fave stuff is being done by Nadine Labaki and Ritesh Batra, out East, and gunless. I have less than zero interest in anything but the product, the work of art. That Hollywood more and more relies on the new Social Media to sell their mediocre work maybe needs resisting. I wish you, her, and all the genuine talent best luck.
If only Harvey Weinstein had gotten such scrutiny… Men fail upward in our culture.
Fantastic article!! Wish you were not the only one saying this!! Retweeting ur article daily. Bc it’s important.
Amen, amen, amen ‼️‼️‼️
I am a 77 year old retired technical writer and project manager. And this kind of crap is exactly what I dealt with in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and 90’s. And well into the 21st century. Appalling. ‼️
YES ! SO MUCH THIS! been truly frustrated listening to fellow filmmakers slag the film before they've even seen it based on the publicity. You never saw this done to other filmmakers on this scale.
Well bloody said - it’s has been driving me potty too - it’s definitely gendered. Such a shame
Excellent newsletter. I completely agree. I think the film looks very intriguing and the rest of it is just (very irritating) noise.