The intense awards season will conclude on Sunday, Mar. 12, with the 95th Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theater in California. Although many people of color and women actresses, cinematographers, and costume designers will be at The Oscars, the director category will still be dominated by male filmmakers.
Chloé Zhao, a Chinese female director, broke the status quo by gaining many prestigious awards, such as Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival, Bafta, and two Oscars with her 2020 picture Nomadland, starring four-time Oscar winner Frances McDormand.
Without a doubt, the fact that Academy members ignore female filmmakers doesn’t detract from them, just like Claire Denis, the master director of European cinema. Zhao can’t hide her admiration in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, ‘‘I wish I had an existing relationship with Claire Denis, but no. I only watch her from afar.’’ she said.
Zhao has partnered with First Strides and Women in Film to support female filmmakers in the industry and has seen how effective it is to support new talent after her Oscar success, and one of them isHappeningdirector Audrey Diwan.
‘‘I was in Venice when Happening won the Golden Lion, and I was able to be there for Audrey and have a conversation with her. So, to be able to talk it through with her, and then later on hear that it was beneficial for her reminded me that no matter how long or short your career is, you always have something to share and you’re always able to help someone else.’’
Related:Chloe Zhao’s Dracula Movie Is Still in Development
‘It’s Impossible to Make Everybody Happy’
It was surprising for many that Zhao helmed the star-studdedThe Eternalsfor Marvel Studios. The company has been criticized by many filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese, for its lack of artistic and independent structure. In addition,Zhao’sEternalswas heavily criticizedby many critics for not being a familiar Marvel movie, while others described it as a hidden gem.
Despite these criticisms and the ‘failed’ box office results, Marvel Studios gave the green light for the sequel. Zhao did not comment on the second movie but responded to the critics.
‘‘When you are in Marvel and dealing with an audience that big, I truly treasure and respect that each of us is so unique. It’s exciting that we are all so different, and we’re all changing and growing every day. But with a global audience, it’s almost impossible to make everybody perfectly happy, and to do that is to say that everyone is the same. So I think there’s inevitably going to be different opinions, and you just have to stay true to the kind of film you want to make and who you are and the people you’re collaborating with. That’s all you can do, really, and have a good time. Everything else is out of your control.’’
Zhao added that she is writing the script for the sci-westernDracula,which continues to make progress.
