'More women needed at decision-making level to fight sexism in cinema'

American film producer Franklin Leonard on Tuesday said more women are needed in powerful positions to fight "a deeply sexist film industry and culture", which perpetuates myth that female-led movies don't work at box office. Leonard, who is best kwn for founding Black List, a yearly list featuring Hollywood's most popular unproduced screenplays, was talking at a masterclass held here on day five of 21st Jio MAMI Mumbai Film festival with actor Kalki Koechlin. 

Franklin talks about lack of women protagonist

Talking about why re is a lack of women protagonist, especially narratives featuring older women, filmmaker said contrary to what male executive would want everyone to believe, such films are more profitable.

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"Movies about women and with women with older roles are more profitable and that is irony. It is sexism, misogyny and patriarchal society that is driving a lot of that reality. I don't think we can rely on men to make that change. I think it is all about more women at position of power of what gets me and what doesn't," he said during discussion. 

"I can't speak in Indian context as I don't kw about it. In US, re are t eugh women in room that decides what gets me and consequences are a deeply sexist film industry and deeply sexist film culture that perpetuates a lot of assumptions about female dynamics that have resulted in reality that we faced right w, with vis-a-vis #MeToo movement."

Leonard said aim should be to find more people, especially women to collaborate and make female-driven stories. "It is all about finding women who can collaborate and support each or and find those who are willing to support. Female-driven films are more profitable and re are studies on it.

"A film with a female perspective should be me and seen more and financers will get mess quickly. We want to empower people who are telling story about ir community. So we do screen writers lab three times in LA, we want to make sure women are telling women's stories, t that men can't do it," he ded.

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'America is rey for a big Indian film'

Asked wher Hollywood was finally opening up to Asian or Indian actors, Leonard said Slumdog Millionaire and Crazy Rich Asians are two of biggest successes to feature predominantly Asian cast.

"America is rey for a big Indian film and success of Crazy Rich Asians' is an example of it. re are lot of people who said it is t possible before it came out. I kw re is an appetite for it as re is a huge Asian diaspora in US." question, Leonard said, is who is going to make it and where do you make that international Indian film. 

"re is an opportunity to make a film here that is amazing and have it go worldwide and be super successful, it is about what is that film and who is going to make it. Where is Indian 'Star Wars'? ...everyone will be down. "Like, 'Black Panr', for years people were like one outside US wants to see black people on screen and it is lousy. Even if people are racist, if movie looks good it is good. And success of 'Slumdog Millionaire' shows that re is an appetite for it. It is about making a good film and marketing it well."

Leonard, who is on jury for India Gold section, said he is in Mumbai to familiarise himself with India and films. 

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