Drew Barrymore's Directorial Debut
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RB: Oscar® nominations just came out, and Kathryn Bigelow, who was nominated for Best Director for The Hurt Locker, is only the fourth woman in Academy Award® history to get that nomination. Why do you think it has taken so long for women to get recognized as directors, and what do you think the future is for women in the field?
DB: Well, I did see The Hurt Locker, and I'm just in awe of what Kathryn Bigelow did with it. You know, it's funny, I think I have always purposefully tried to believe that women fought so hard for rights and opportunity that I should sort of take that ball and run with it and not complain about what we don't have. Instead, we should surge forward on the opportunities that we have created for ourselves. So I tend to get awkward and shy when women are like: "It's not balanced! It's not equal!" I know what they mean and I totally understand it and there is a strange dichotomy there, but it has been changing and it continues to change, so I think about looking forward. I mean I'm talking to Oprah.com. Oprah is one of the most empowered people on our planet, and she's a woman. So I just feel like, let's look forward and accomplish things. Nothing comes from stomping our heels, we have to just do the work. I think Kathryn Bigelow did the work and she's being recognized for it. So I just want to encourage women to not feel disempowered but to create their empowerment. Look out for each other. I celebrate every woman who's done that so far, and opened doors for everybody else, so I say just walk through it. Carry the torch so to speak.
RB: Any more plans for directing?
DB: Yes. I cannot wait. I want it to be something that I feel the way I did about Whip It. Which is to say, "Yes, I am willing to spend 16 to 20 hours a day, six or seven days a week for three years." It was exhausting and I never lost that passion to see it through on every level, and I just want to feel that way again about whatever I do next. So nothing specific yet. I'm waiting to fall in love again.
DB: Well, I did see The Hurt Locker, and I'm just in awe of what Kathryn Bigelow did with it. You know, it's funny, I think I have always purposefully tried to believe that women fought so hard for rights and opportunity that I should sort of take that ball and run with it and not complain about what we don't have. Instead, we should surge forward on the opportunities that we have created for ourselves. So I tend to get awkward and shy when women are like: "It's not balanced! It's not equal!" I know what they mean and I totally understand it and there is a strange dichotomy there, but it has been changing and it continues to change, so I think about looking forward. I mean I'm talking to Oprah.com. Oprah is one of the most empowered people on our planet, and she's a woman. So I just feel like, let's look forward and accomplish things. Nothing comes from stomping our heels, we have to just do the work. I think Kathryn Bigelow did the work and she's being recognized for it. So I just want to encourage women to not feel disempowered but to create their empowerment. Look out for each other. I celebrate every woman who's done that so far, and opened doors for everybody else, so I say just walk through it. Carry the torch so to speak.
RB: Any more plans for directing?
DB: Yes. I cannot wait. I want it to be something that I feel the way I did about Whip It. Which is to say, "Yes, I am willing to spend 16 to 20 hours a day, six or seven days a week for three years." It was exhausting and I never lost that passion to see it through on every level, and I just want to feel that way again about whatever I do next. So nothing specific yet. I'm waiting to fall in love again.
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