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Lesson 6

We will view the documentary Half the Picture about the struggles of women directors in Hollywood, and consider the issue of lack of diversity in filmmaking. We will also read an article about the DuVernay effect and the Bechdel effect and discuss the question of why the percentage of female and minority directors dramatically decreases as a film’s budget increases.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I critically assess stereotypes and prejudices reflected in the movies I analyze?

  • Can I summarize the main arguments and conclusions in the documentary Half the Picture?

Texts

Optional

  • Multimedia
    • Half the Picture, Amy Adrion, Gravitas Ventures, 2018
  • Unit Reader
    • “Want to Measure a Film’s Diversity? Try ‘The DuVernay Test’,” Victoria Massey, Vox Media, LLC, 2016

Materials

Tools

Activity 1: View

We will view the documentary Half the Picture, about inequality in the film industry.

Watch the documentary Half the Picture.

In your Learning Log, write down questions, comments, and observations about this movie to share with your teacher and peers.

Activity 2: Read – Discuss

We will read the article “Want to Measure a Film’s Diversity? Try ‘the Duvernay Test.’” we will try out the duvernay test and the bechdel test on our own movie ideas and the movies we’ve chosen for our independent viewing.

Read and annotate the article “Want to Measure a Film’s Diversity? Try ‘The DuVernay Test.’”

In small groups, share the movie idea you have been developing. Together, establish whether each movie would pass the Bechdel test and the DuVernay test.

Activity 3: Read – Write – Discuss

We will choose a feature film Director and research their career path. We will share our findings and compare the opportunities and obstacles each Director might have faced.

Outside of class, choose a director who interests you, and research that person’s career. How and when did that director first get an opportunity to create a feature film? What obstacles did your director face? Come to class with three to five pages of notes about your director.

In small groups, tell your peers about your chosen director. How does each director’s story connect to the information about inequality in the movie industry that you learned from watching Half the Picture and reading about the Bechdel test and the DuVernay test.