Mindy Kaling: CBS Sunday Morning profiled Mindy Kaling, who spoke candidly about not seeing people like herself represented on screen, and how her new film Late Night is one of the first comedies all about workplace inclusivity.
Booksmart Buzz: The disappointing box office returns from the Olivia Wilde-directed comedy Booksmart, which had been hotly anticipated on the indie circuit, leads to questions about whether women in film are held to an unfair standard. (But don’t count it out yet – it could still be a hit.)
Thumbs Down: The latest report from San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Film and Television, led by Dr. Martha Lauzen, shows a slight uptick in female film critics this year: 34% of the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes were written by women. But, as the report notes, “not only do men account for the majority of our filmmakers, they are also more likely to have the last word on the quality of our films.”
Don’t forget to buy your tickets for Designing Women on June 11th. It’s just a week away and we’re looking forward to a fantastic celebration!
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