A little over a year ago, Reed Morano directed “Meadowland,” a dramatic indie film following the lives of Sarah (Olivia Wilde) and Phil (Luke Wilson) as they attempt to recover from a tragic loss. This movie struck me, leading me to discuss the plot and my analysis of it with my friends even to this day. The most important part to me, however, is not the film itself but the light it sheds on the hidden abilities of women in film.
One of the most amazing parts of this film is Morano’s work with coloring. I’m not sure if this was done on purpose, but I love how Sarah is almost always shown in warm lighting and is frequently wearing a yellow hoodie while Phil is often shown in cool lighting and is usually clothed in his blue police officer’s uniform. The contrasting coloring not only shows the tension between Sarah and Phil but also represents how each character is responding to the loss. Sarah, in warm colors, responds more explosively and in self-destructing ways, while Phil, in cool colors, responds calmly, keeping his emotions inside and attending therapy groups.
Olivia Wilde lends an amazing depth to her character, receiving critical acclaim from names as big as Martin Scorsese. As a new mother herself, she used her son Otis as an inspiration for those painfully real emotions she portrays as a mother onscreen. I was shocked to discover that the scene I found to be the most moving was shot in only three minutes. This is an enormous task and truly an attest to Wilde's talent as an actor. This scene, pictured below, was filmed on a major thoroughfare for 18-wheelers, and the time limit was due to the fact that the crew was only given that short period of time to hold back traffic.
It’s no surprise to anyone that Reed Morano could create as beautiful a piece of art as she did with "Meadowland." As not only one of the 14 women and the youngest member of the American Society of Cinematographers, she has always had the abilities and talent needed to do so. Although I was originally attracted to the film knowing and loving one of the stars and producers, Olivia Wilde, I soon grew to love the film for reasons other than the movie itself.
Reed Morano is tangible proof of the potential women in Hollywood have. Personally, I'm tired of seeing the same patterns in film, and without utilizing our female cinematographers, we are ignoring the ideas and talents of half of the brilliant people at our disposal. Only 4.1 percent of all directors among the top-grossing films are female. Programs like Female Filmmakers Initiative hope to close the gap by providing resources for these female directors as well as advocating for their recognition.
Wilde herself, in addition to producing "Meadowland" and several documentary films, has stepped into the role of directing with, most noticeably, the recent Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros music video "No Love Like Yours." The entire video was filmed on an iPhone.
Creative ideas can come from anyone, and by excluding females from directorial roles in Hollywood, we are refusing to allow new creative ideas to succeed.
