Kate Winslet Highlights Challenges for Female Directors as Crew Members Accept Lower Pay on Goodbye June
Kate Winslet attends Netflix’s ‘Goodbye June’ New York screening; Winslet in a ‘Goodbye June’ scene.
Credit :
John Nacion/FilmMagic;Kimberley French / Netflix
Actress Kate Winslet has revealed significant challenges she faced as a female director while working on her feature-film debut, Goodbye June. In a recent podcast appearance, she disclosed that crew members often worked for less than their standard rates, citing difficulties inherent in securing budget and support for female directors.
During an episode of Kermode & Mayo’s Take, Winslet stated, “There’s a different set of language that is used talking to actresses who become directors as opposed to male actors who become directors.” This disparity in communication further complicates the environment for women trying to establish themselves in directing roles.
The actress emphasized that many crew members were willing to take pay cuts to support her vision for Goodbye June, a drama written by her son, Joe Anders. “I’m talking about department heads and their crew. Sometimes people take a little bit of a hit because they want to come and be part of that experience,” Winslet explained.
Kate Winslet directing on the ‘Goodbye June’ set.
Kimberley French / Netflix
Although Winslet appreciates the recent surge of young male directors, she pointed out a societal bias that seems to favor them. “Somehow there’s this societal assumption that they will automatically know what they’re doing, whereas the same assumption is not made of women,” she remarked. This perception, according to Winslet, hampers opportunities for female directors in securing funding and getting projects off the ground.
While sharing a rough cut of the film with a female colleague, Winslet noted receiving feedback that suggested she could benefit from more confidence in her decisions. She expressed disappointment, indicating such advice would likely not have been given to a male director. “Both men and women need to ‘unlearn’ their preconceived notions,” she insisted.
Kate Winslet and Timothy Spall on the ‘Goodbye June’ set.
Kimberley French / Netflix
Winslet concluded by expressing her resolve to advocate for women in the film industry through her own actions. “I don’t really know how to continue to try and change or advocate for other women other than to actually just do it,” she stated. Her pride in completing Goodbye June reflects her commitment to creating a more equitable environment in a struggling industry.
“Even if I never do it again, I feel so proud that I have done it now and done it at a time that I think the film industry is struggling,” she added.
