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The 50 smartest people in Hollywood: Where are the women?The folks at Entertainment Weekly like their lists. And their latest list is a big one; so big that it warrants the cover of the print version. Declaring that “It's not about power anymore,” EW has presented us with “The 50 Smartest People in Hollywood.” And guess what? Men are a lot smarter than women. Or, at least, there are a lot more smart men than women in Hollywood. Now, I'm not confident that I counted correctly because, you know, math is hard, but here are the numbers: There's exactly one woman (10 percent) in the top 10, two (8 percent) in the top 25 and 13 (26 percent) in the entire 50. Meryl Streep, at No. 6, is the smartest woman in Hollywood — because she's managed to have a vibrant career after age 50.
The other 12 women are: 15. Amy Pascal, 26. Stacey Snider, 30. Jodie Foster, 31. Kathleen Kennedy, 32. Thelma Schoonmaker, 33. Angelina Jolie, 38. Diablo Cody, 39. Mary Zophres, 43. Beth Swofford, 45. Cate Blanchett, 47. Amy Powell and 49. Sarah Polley. (You can find the full list with explanations beginning here.) Now, I'm not complaining about the women they selected (except for maybe Angelina Jolie and possibly Diablo Cody). We certainly know that Jodie Foster is brainy.
And Cate Blanchett has always struck me as intelligent.
But only 13 women? And overwhelmingly weighted in the bottom half? I'm sure the standard position is that there are so many more men than women in Hollywood, so this is just a by-product of those numbers. But I don't buy it. Because this list is ostensibly about “smart,” not about powerful. And the fact that Hollywood is still so male-dominated means that the women who do succeed are probably smarter and more tenacious than the majority of men. All of which begs the question: What constitutes “smart” according to the folks at EW? In their words,
Or, as a reader on the site commented, “So, by 'smart,' they don't actually mean anything at all to do with being smart.” In other words, “smart” — rather than meaning intelligent — is just another way of saying successful and influential. How innovative. And then there's the logic. Judd Apatow comes in at number 1 because “he changed the whole funny business” with his everyman-fantasy movies, Knocked Up and Superbad. But Amy Pascal, who greenlit Superbad , came in at 15, and Donna Langley, who greenlit Knocked Up, didn't make the list. And Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and Will Smith are smarter than all the women in Hollywood. Uh-huh. But I will not merely rage against the injustice. I'll throw out a few of the many women who could easily have been included among the top 50. 1. Christine Vachon (Producer)
By anyone's standards, Christine Vachon is a mover and shaker in Hollywood. She (along with her production company Killer Films) has been the driving force behind an enormous number of the interesting, and often financially successful, independent movies produced during the past 10 years or so. And she meets the criteria of being currently influential; at last count, Christine Vachon had a zillion projects announced, in pre-production, in production or in theaters right now. 2. Kasi Lemmons (Actor, Director)
Kasi Lemmons directed what may be the best movie of 2007, Talk to Me — and if she does not get an Oscar nod, I'm going to become a full-fledged conspiracy theorist. While I'm neither derogating movies made for a female audience, nor asserting that Lemmons is the first to break the mold, she has unquestionably demonstrated that women can direct primarily male casts and make brilliant movies for wide audiences. 3. Reese Witherspoon (Actor)
Will Smith was declared the fifth-smartest person in Hollywood for making good choices, doggedly pursuing his dreams and becoming an old-fashioned movie star. Reese Witherspoon has made excellent movie choices (Election, Walk the Line), won the Best Actress Oscar in 2005 and generally makes movies with weak scripts (Legally Blonde, Sweet Home Alabama) much better than they should be. She is the highest paid actress in Hollywood, and she has her own production company, Type A Films. 4. Barbara Kopple (director)
Michael Moore, who came in at 27, makes award-winning, commercially successful documentaries (Bowling for Columbine, Sicko) in which he is the star. Barbara Kopple makes award-winning, commercially successful (although not to the same degree as Michael Moore's) documentaries (Harlan County USA, Shut Up and Sing) in which her subjects are the stars. The latter seems smarter to me. 5. Salma Hayek (actor, producer)
Salma Hayek has become a major player in the world of independent film production. Her production company, Ventanazul, is currently negotiating five English-language movies, and Hayek has greenlight power. She describes Ventanazul's niche as follows:
And these five are only a fraction of the women who could easily be considered among the 50 smartest in Hollywood. Who would you include? (Note that this is exclusively a Hollywood and not a television list.) And what do you think of EW's list? Submitted by on December 3, 2007 - 4:00pm. |
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In other words, “smart” — rather than meaning intelligent —etc"
Yeah, anything associated
Yeah. Not to mention the
Yeah. Not to mention the fact that it was probably <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2007/06/04/eckler-sues.html">plagiarised</a>.
Nothing says "brains" to me like ripping off someone else's published book!
Barbara Kopple!
Where the heck is...
Tina Fey?!? I first assumed she had to have been on EW's list somewhere, but when she was inexplicably left off there, I assumed she must be included in the "additional" picks. Alas, wrong again!
First, she gained noteriety by succeeding as head writer on one of TV's longest-running and highest-rated sketch shows in history (SNL, if you live under a rock). Now, she currently co-produces, writes, and stars in the 2007 Emmy winning show for Best Comedy--30 Rock.
Not to mention, she is one of the most openly gay friendly straight women in Hollywood. Perhaps, next to Maeve. :-)
What else does she need to do to get a mention for this list?!?
"Whatever people consider to be normal, it never is." -Ashley Davies
yeah, really!
I can't believe she was left off either! The woman must have satanic powers or something, because I don't know how she can produce so much brilliant stuff! Let's not forget Mean Girls! And she's done all this with a tiny daughter!!
No Joke.
What a terrible list! Lack of female representation aside ... it's just not very good. Boo, EW, boo!!!!
I know that most of us are not happy with Ilene Chaiken, due to L Word Script atrocities, but she has all sorts of "high profile" hollywood types wanting a piece of the Word ...
What about Jane Lynch? She's *everywhere* ... and I really mean *everywhere* ... She must be doing something right.
I DEFINITELY agree with Selma Hayek ... if for nothing else but her work on Ugly Betty. it's its own small screen revolution, and wow, finally the largest "minority" in our country is represented ... I also agree with the Tina Fey suggestion.
Oh! And hi - what about Shondra Rhimes???? WTF?!
And what’s he then that says I play the villain,
When this advice is free I give, and honest
oh yeah!
Shonda Rhimes! How could I have forgotten to rant about that oversight as well?!?
"Whatever people consider to be normal, it never is." -Ashley Davies
Tina Fey
Although I'm reluctant to apologize for this list, I agree with Tina Fey's ommission. It's explicitly a movie-industry list and that's not where she's made her mark recently. (Although that may change once Baby Mama is released.)
That said, I would put her at the top of a TV list. And I though that Mean Girls was one of the smartest teen movies I've ever seen.
Gotcha!
I must say that I didn't see the movie-industry connection, and if that is the case, then I can definitely understand why she was left off. I didn't mean to sound like I was attacking your choices, just all worked up from the (expected?) lack of women on the list in general!
"Whatever people consider to be normal, it never is." -Ashley Davies
# 38: Diablo Cody
word.
Cody is one of the smartest writers I've ever read-- not just for the wittiness of her prose but for writing a movie that busts open the mold of the traditional (read: utterly lame) female protagonist.
I'm guessing that they are
Christine Vachon absolutely
just curious
I wonder if there is a site that lists celerbrity's degrees and G.P.A.s.
I do recognize the smarts it takes to excel in the arts. I also think schooling is somewhat important. Especially now when you're hard pressed to find a decent job without a degree. A lot of celebrities dropped out of their ivy league colleges. Wonder what they have to fall back on when their careers aren't doing so well.
i would defintely add
I was thinking the same thing
Natalie Portman is definetly missing from that list. So is Jodie Foster. I think they are both very intelligent women and great role models!
Jodie
Jodie Foster is on the original list published by EW. It says it in the blog. She is #30.
"Whatever people consider to be normal, it never is." -Ashley Davies
I'm so glad
You included Kasi Lemmons on your list. I outta give you a cyber kiss. Kasi Lemmons is one of my idols in Hollywood. I think she's an overlooked and talentive female director. Aslso, Thanks for including Salma Hayek, most Media just see her for her looks, but after watching Frida, I totally respected her as a true artist.
Geez, I outta come back later to add other female movers and shakers in Hollywood or in indpt film.
I'm in Vibe this month...pick up a copy..check me out and then put it back on the stand. thanks.
peace imani (Imani Coppola's Black & White album from her mypsace page)
Smart v. Intelligence
I live near Harlan County
I live near Harlan County in KY. I bell ring at Christmas for the Salvation Army in Harland. I love my community service and making sure all the little kids get a cool Angel Tree. Her film is right on about Harland. When I lived in D.C. I met Barbara Kopple at a film lecture. She was so brilliant. One student ask her about Harland County, USA. He said, "After you made Harland and got all that money how did you spend it?" It was so funny. She said, "I took all $298 and went to the grocery store and that's what I'm doing after this lecture." She went on to explain how films are about much more than making money. Of course, I think she is brilliant, but we all know money=smart in Holywood. Intelligence only equals smart if it makes money.
If I was making a list of smart young Hollywood I would include Emma Watson and Dakota Fanning. And what about Danica McKellar? I know she's not powerful, but she is all about helping people be smarter.
A cool book to check out: How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci by Michael J Gelb.
I totally get the _EW_ list
It's their way of having a list with pictures and they can include people that they would otherwise think were ugly.
Hence, "smart." See, it's easy when you look at it the right way.
And because I'm so onto it, I'm going to follow their rules and give my own list.
You will be happy to know that no (0%) of women appear on this list.
The Fifth Smartest Person in Hollywood is:
Jack Black. He's unattractive, annoying after not very long, and is in Tenacious D.
They're awful, not in an ironic way, not even in an Alanis way, just in a bad way.
And: he still has a career. Smart, huh?
No. 4: Russell Crowe. He is chunky, not very attractive, bloated (in an ego-not-body way), throws telephones, and was in "30 Odd Foot of Grunt." And: he still has a career. Smart, yes?
No. 3: Robin Williams. An annoying one-trick pony who has been redoing the _Mork and Mindy_ schtick since the seventies
and it keeps getting worse, he gave up drugs which made him much less funny,
and he's always "on." And, still makes movies. Smart as!
No. 2: Tom Cruise. A robot who is a front for a religious cult from another planet,
despite being a reputed blank-shooter and shirt-lifter, still pulls the babes (although had to order a really young and insecure one
at his advanced brace-wearing age.) Still, he makes movies. Too smart, robot boy!
No 1: Mel Gibson. Womaniser. Raging alcoholic. Drunk driver. Misogynist. Hairy-arsed. Right wing religious nut. Anti-Semite. Homophobe. Film maker. Smartest dick in Hollywood...
Re: No. 2: Tom Cruise. A
Re: No. 2: Tom Cruise. A robot who is a front for a religious cult from another planet,despite being a reputed blank-shooter and shirt-lifter, still pulls the babes (although had to order a really young and insecure one at his advanced brace-wearing age.) Still, he makes movies. Too smart, robot boy!
Oh rotezora, you just need more time with the E-meter! *my watcher pats me on the back*
;)
Free Katie!
Evil Lord Xenu ...
is gonna get you! His giant soul-catchers in the sky are waiting ..... waiting.
And what’s he then that says I play the villain,
When this advice is free I give, and honest
rotezora
aw, ta-a-a!
Ta marnett and gypsywee. I just woke up in a puddle of sweat after dreaming about Mariska Hargitay, then saw these lovely replies! I knew it'd be an awesome day when it started raining.
This is a really great blog topic, isn't it? Because that "list" is...
well, I was going to say stupid, but I just realised EW has OCD.
That's right, an entire magazine. So some lists are bound to be... stupid.
what about my baby?
Jodie
hmmmm...