Jessica Chastain Can't Stop, Won't Stop, Launches All-Female Production Company
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 10:18PM 
Daniel Crooke here. When it comes to gender inequality in the film industry, Jessica Chastain would like the means of production to know that she finds it very disrespectful. Deadline reports that Chastain has thrown her Zero Dark Thirty Aviators in the ring and founded her own production company, Freckle Films. This is obviously hugely exciting news and such an Aries move. As if her engine of multifaceted roles wasn't already roaring on overdrive, she decides to kick it up another notch and become the president of her cinematic brainchild. Hold onto your Coca-Colas because it gets better: Freckle Films will be employing all-female executives and (we assume) zero sex-stymying stereotypes onscreen.
Freckle Films has partnered in a first dibs development deal with Maven Pictures – whose execs’ credits include The Kids Are All Right, Still Alice, and Black Nativity – with two film adaptations (from female authors with female protagonists) already in the works. Ten cheers for the endlessly inspirational Chastain, who constantly reminds us of how to be an unrelenting champion on and off the screen and on Twitter. We’re not surprised that in the midst of #OscarsSoWhite and torrential reports of gender wage inequity, when the call for industry diversity is arguably louder now than it has ever been, Chastain is on the side of shaking things up in the name of representative evolution. More power to the people after the jump...
She’s amongst great company. Last year, Queen Meryl famously put her money where her mouth is and funded the New York Women in Film & Television and IRIS screenwriting lab designed to mentor twelve female screenwriters over the age of forty and develop their scripts for the screen. Ava DuVernay is six years into overseeing her distribution collective ARRAY, which platforms films made by people of color and women, catapulting their exposure from the microscopic to the megaphonic. Just this past month at Sundance, Sarah Megan Thomas and Orange is the New Black’s Alysia Reiner took their production company Broad Street Pictures’ first film, Equity, to Park City. Starring Breaking Bad’s Anna Gunn, Equity is the first female-led film about Wall Street and embodies the company’s mission to “tell wildly entertaining and thought provoking tales about brilliant women.”
As if starring in six movies in one year wasn’t enough, Chastain keeps upping her hard-working ante. We can’t wait to see how far her sharp instincts at Freckle Films can push the needles of art and progress in this industry. Your move, Hollywood.
Reader Comments (17)
Go Jessica! Best actress on this earth! Saint Chastain is a true revelation? When will basic Cate Blanchett help her peers? NEVER!
Saint Realness >>>>>>>> Cate Blanchett
In Cate's defense, she was an artistic director of a theater company that hired many actors, of both genders, during her time there.
It is an open market society, this type of attitude is what actually matters, not bitching and hashtagging or any of that BS. If there's a market that is underrepresented (minority or otherwise), seize it, cater to it, make a profit. In other words, put your money where your (very often loud and obnoxious) mouth is.
I respect Chastain a whole lot for this (also Jodie Foster and Reese Witherspoon), much more than any other of the multimillionaire powerful women in Hollywood who sit comfortably in the victim's row, complaiing there aren't good roles for women, as if scripts can not be commissioned and movies can not be funded outside the studio system. There is plenty of talented (fill in with your minority of choice) writers and directors out there, craving opportunities. Those who have made it and are concerned with the subject surely can dispose of a couple of millions to have a movie made. I mean, if the Veronica Mars people can crowdfund their way into a fan-paid motion picture, I'm pretty sure all these social justice warriors (especially the ones in high places) can get together to produce, promote and attend a movie that suits their sensibilities. Especially now with streaming and other cheaper and wider platforms of distribution.
Bottom line: studios are for-profit organizations, who earn and spend their money legally, and are free to finance and promote any products they want to. If you believe their products are limited or underrepresent the racial dynamics of US society, fine, push your own product to fill that market gap, but you don't get to tell other people how to spend their lawfully earned money and how to run their businesses.
As always, the solutions are in market forces.
I wish her well. I know someone who worked for Jodie's production company EGG, and it was as low brain and dysfunctional as any other house. Why not go for it though. The only thing I don't like is the name. It sounds like she still collects dolls.
I like Jessica Chastain, and I applaud the step she is taking, but I wouldn't go so far as to nominate her for sainthood. Other women have done the same thing previously. Some perspective please. Let's not forget the pathfinders in the industry or forget their hard work.
Due credit should go to Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, Shirley Maclaine, Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, Barbra Streisand, Jodie Foster, Emma Thompson, Jennifer Saunders Oprah, Rita Wilson, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Reese Witherspoon, Tina Fey, Amy Phoeler, Kristen Wiig, and many others.
All of the women I've mentioned either commissioned scripts, wrote scripts, directed, produced, and acted in projects, for their own production companies, just like Chastain intends to do.
Let's not forget Elizabeth Banks, Amy Schumer, and Melissa McCarthy who were all responsible for successful films released this year.
Chastain is following in the footsteps of actors & actresses who have taken an active responsibility for making their own opportunities happen.
This isn't about accolades and egos, this is about supporting all efforts from all women towards making a change for the better.
Give her her fucking Oscar already (Best Actress Only).
Good luck Jessica!
And thank you Daniel for leading me into Chastain Youtube Rabbit Hole, which is great though.
@AveryStepfon, Cate Blanchett helps humanity you silly little thing
- they had an education program while she was running the Sydney Theater Company
- she's ALL OUT on supporting refugees and immigrants
I donated a TRUCKLOAD OF BOOKS to my local library last year and the librarian was like "Oh my! please leave your name so that we can issue a certificate" and I was like "I'm not donating for the purpose of getting a certificate", I'm not unique in that regard and I'm quite sure Cate is very philanthropic privately as are sooooooo many other people on this planet.
The fact that there are ceremonies (AKA spending money) rewarding people who donate means the world is rather messed up.
Thank You
...WHY on a post about something about equality and empowering women is the first comment putting another actress down? Isn't that like, I don't know, the complete opposite point of what this is all bout.
I know some people's brains aren't as fully developed as others, but you actually don't have to put one woman down to raise another up. Shocker, I know. Two can be great at once. Many can, actually.
I mean...at least now you know? You're welcome. :)
(I'm sorry maybe that wasn't necessary but that kind of stuff REALLY irks me).
I like Chastain but I'm not a die-hard fan. In any case, I'm glad that imdb lists an impressive amount of upcoming films that seem to be quality products.
Yes yes YES! My only fear is that audiences don't come out to support female-led films after all this.
@Carmen - "but you don't get to tell other people how to spend their lawfully earned money and how to run their businesses."
Actually, you do get to do that, they just don't have to agree or even listen.
Wonderful news! I love that she is using her fame and resources for good. When was the last time you heard of, say, Jennifer Lawrence, doing anything to help others?
@Tess
Jennifer Lawrence is helping children receive the medical care they need:
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/money/companies/2016/02/12/jennifer-lawrence-give-2m-kosair/80256570/
Why in a thread about celebrating women are we attacking other women?
@Kentuckian, because certain people are just born with stupid.
Unless you're throwing the LOOK, I AM DONATING! party those born with stupid assume you're not a philanthropic celebrity.
Yup, DJ.
Thanks, Kentuckian. I find the constant bashing of certain actresses (Lawrence in particular) very tiresome.