Patty Jenkins wanted a dog to win Best Actor, but Hollywood had other plans. The challenges of being a female screenwriter in Tinseltown. Creating authentic emotions in a pit bull for a film. Reflecting on loss and tragedy shaping storytelling. Navigating creative independence in the film industry.
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Quick takeaways
Patty Jenkins challenges traditional redemption arcs by exploring dark and transformative journeys in storytelling.
Gender biases in Hollywood hinder diverse voices, as seen through Jenkins' struggles to greenlight unconventional narratives.
Deep dives
The Origin of Stories
Exploring the darkness and complexity of human experiences and tragedies, the podcast episode delves into the personal background of the filmmaker Patty Jenkins, emphasizing how her early exposure to loss and darkness influenced her storytelling. Reflecting on the impact of her father's death at a young age and subsequent experiences with grief and tragedy, Jenkins' approach to storytelling is deeply rooted in exploring the nuances of darkness and understanding the complexities of human emotion.
Divergent Perspectives
Jenkins' storytelling style challenges conventional narratives by presenting nuanced and unconventional perspectives on characters and situations. The podcast highlights how Jenkins' proposed film, featuring a misunderstood pit bull named Bandit, defies traditional redemption arcs common in Hollywood. By exploring the dark yet transformative journey of Bandit and the inmate in the dog prison program, Jenkins aims to challenge the audience's perception of familiar storytelling tropes and offer a fresh and thought-provoking narrative.
Struggles in Hollywood
Addressing the challenges faced by women filmmakers in Hollywood, the episode sheds light on the gender biases and industry standards that hinder diverse voices from being fully recognized. Jenkins' experiences in pitching her unique and dark-themed projects underscore the industry's reluctance to embrace unconventional narratives, particularly those driven by female directors. Despite her successes with films like 'Monster' and 'Wonder Woman,' Jenkins continues to face resistance and skepticism in getting her distinctive stories greenlit.
Empowering Creative Control
Reflecting on her journey as a filmmaker, Jenkins expresses a shift towards seeking creative independence and control over her projects. The podcast highlights Jenkins' strategic decision to potentially self-finance her proposed film to ensure the preservation of her artistic vision and the authentic portrayal of her dark and poignant storytelling. By prioritizing autonomy and placing trust in her own storytelling capabilities, Jenkins explores avenues to navigate the challenges of the industry and bring her compelling narratives to life.
Between her big hits, “Monster” and “Wonder Woman”, Patty Jenkins wrote an R-rated fairy tale, starring a dog. She hoped that the dog would deliver such a great performance that the Academy would — for the first time — give the Best Actor award to an animal. The story was about a dog program in a prison, a perfect set-up for a story of both canine and human redemption, right? Wrong. That’s the kind of story Hollywood loves, but not the kind of story Jenkins wanted to tell. Enter development hell.