Guest column: Having more women in power could increase the urgency of egg conservation

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s swearing in of the first black woman to the Supreme Court on June 30 was both historic and inspiring. Though her promotion was canceled after just six days by the court Roe vs Wade Ironic and exasperating to many, it should also serve as a powerful reminder that in Washington, as in Hollywood, the fight for justice is often fought behind closed doors.

In 2018 I prepared a documentary called reverse deer explore the precarious state of reproductive rights in America. I started the project nearly a decade ago, inspired by the first 100 years of Planned Parenthood. I was driven not only by my desire to stay behind the camera after years on cable news, but also by the disillusioned coverage of reproductive politics I encountered during my years as a journalist; The Media Matters survey found that male voices dominate coverage of the issue. (I once tipped off a cable personality I like and respect after he and other male pundits repeatedly interrupted a friend of mine during an on-air conversation about birth control.) What I learned in the production process. reverse deer it’s at that moment WHO Telling our stories is, of course, important, whoever makes the decisions determines which they tell stories In truth problems. I also learned how similar entertainment and politics are.

Both are essentially about popularity, and who has power is not always an indicator of who actually has it. (There is a reason for the famous saying that politics is not sexy enough for people to pursue it the way movie stars tolerate it.) There are more movies and TV shows about campaigns than governance, because good governance It’s not glamorous, sexy. , or exciting. Likewise, in Hollywood, the stars (a roster of on-screen and off-screen talent) gain fame. But just as it doesn’t matter if there’s a woman in the Oval Office (or close to it), if court rulings are harmful to women, Hollywood’s racial and gender equality deficit will remain until we have more diverse power. Only on red carpets.

I saw this first hand when I ran an early iteration reverse deer The most common refrains I heard from potential male executives and producers were, “Nobody thinks this is what the 2016 election is going to be about” or “You should try to buy this after Hillary’s inauguration.” (No, I’m not kidding). Then I met an executive named Abra Potkin, who at the time was Senior Vice President of the Disney ABC Television Group. It felt like we were talking about a possible on-air opportunity, but when he asked me, “If you could do anything, what would it be?” I told him about the documentary. He immediately got his best news producer together to see how we could do this. Each of them understood the importance and relevance of the topic. Despite one hurdle after another, over the years Abra refused to kill off the project, eventually dedicating it to Eva Longoria, who joined our production team. Critically acclaimed directors Ricky Stern and Ann Sundberg made the finish line feel like it was finally within reach… but it didn’t get us there. Donald Trump was elected.

On election night 2016, I introduced WNYC, the New York-based NPR affiliate, in front of a live audience. It was as if a crowd of weddings had turned into a wake. The next morning, I was on the air with Gloria Steinem about the meaning of the election. Obviously, this conversation took a very different tone than he had originally envisioned. But Abra came to me that morning and said, “This movie is definitely going to happen.” Was he right.

My goal as a storyteller is to represent those who never get a chance to be in the rooms I am in. When Abra asked me about my inspiration for the film, I told her that my grandmother was one of 14 children and what family planning was like. Ultimately a solution to poverty for my family. I have spoken of several women in my life who have told me of their horrific experiences with illegal abortions and my family’s conflicting attitudes on the subject. He listened and accepted, and even as the film and the team behind it changed during development, his commitment to the project never wavered. (Netflix eventually became the film’s home, securing its completion and release in 2018.)

My conclusion from this particular experience, and my subsequent experience as a screenwriter, is this: It doesn’t matter what stories I write or produce if the person I’m sending them to doesn’t find them meaningful. I’m not implying that executives and BIPOCs can solve all of Hollywood’s justice problems the way Clarence Thomas, who is a member of the Supreme Court, does. (To be clear, male allies are essential in the fight for equality, as are people of all political backgrounds. And unlike Amy Connie Barrett, Sandra Day O’Connor, a longtime Republican and the first woman on the Supreme Court, supported what conservatives have long realized that being well represented in unglamorous power rooms, like all levels of the judiciary (not just the Supreme Court), is ultimately the key to power. It’s a long time to elevate dissenting voices to positions of power It’s not just smart optics that matter, it’s also smart strategy, so those of us who really care about racial and gender equality in Hollywood need to think strategically.

In a post-Roe world, it’s important to think about which women you want to run for president in 2024 and beyond. But also convincing smart, ambitious women who aspire to be Kamala Harris or Hillary Clinton that the world needs more women judges. Not just future superstars like Ketanji Jackson, but women whose names we may never know, but who will wield immense power and influence all of us. Likewise, while I’d like to see more writers, directors, showrunners, producers and stars of big projects, In truth I would like to see more women on the boards of entertainment conglomerates and more film and television CEOs. Because my biggest dream is to see more women in Hollywood who can define what stories about women and what matters to women can and do he must They said: don’t ask the man whether he agrees or not.

Kelly Goff was twice nominated for an Emmy Award for her work deer tail, ONE History of the Supreme Court’s battles over abortion. KCRW Contributor left, right and centerHis latest script is for HBO Max and so and the peacock against Joe Carroll.