The foundations of Hollywood have been shaking lately with women and PoC (People of Color) lining up to show how the system works against them. In front of and behind the camera, a severe lack of bodies that aren”t white and male is evident. A watershed was reached last year when powerful women like Jennifer Lawrence voiced their concerns about pay inequality and lack of representation. Matt Damon set off a firestorm about diversity with his comments about diversity off-camera. #OscarsSoWhite, #AsianAmericanIronFist, #HeForShe, and more hashtags have swept across social media. You can see Hollywood beginning to react and course correct in response, but it takes a while for behemoths to move.
Jessica Chastain doesn”t have time for that.
Announced by Deadline this morning, Chastain had founded her own production venture entitled Freckle Films. The company has partnered with Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray of Maven Pictures. The all-female executive team already have two films optioned. The best part? Both Freckle Films and Maven Pictures are committed to female talent on all fronts.
“Trudie and I have always been great admirers of Jessica both on screen and off,” said Maven”s Celine Rattray. “Her intelligence, passion, and talent are something that so naturally align with our work and mission at Maven Pictures-showcasing female talent both in front of and behind the camera.”
“I”m excited to launch Freckle Films, and I can”t imagine a better production partner than Maven Pictures,” said Chastain. “Trudie and Celine are not only both highly experienced and successful producers, but the projects they”ve created demonstrate their tenacious dedication to strong characters and compelling stories that clearly resonate with audiences. It”s an honor to work with them.”
Both films optioned by Freckle Films are based on novels starring women: The Magician”s Lie by Greer Macallister and Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagan. The former is about a female illusionist who must clear her name after the body of a man is found inside one of her stage props. The latter follows the journey of a recently single woman (she just discovered her husband is gay) with aggressive cancer rediscovering herself in Puerto Rico.
As the old saying goes, “If Hollywood won”t give more roles to women and minorities, we”ll just do it ourselves.”