Director Sam Mendes admits that awards will be moved to gender-neutral categories
Sam Mendes has said that he believes it is “inevitable” that the awards move to gender-neutral categories in the future.
The 57-year-old film director and screenwriter admitted he thinks it’s “perfectly reasonable” to eliminate separate categories for men and women when it comes to awarding honours.
In the quest to make the film industry more inclusive, he told the BBC: “I have total sympathy for her, yes, and I think in the end it could be inevitable.”
The future: Sam Mendes has said he thinks it’s ‘inevitable’ that the awards move to gender-neutral categories
The ‘Empire of Light’ director, who won an Oscar in 2000 for ‘American Beauty’ and a BAFTA for ‘1917’ in 2020, insisted that award shows are primarily about ‘selling’ films and entertaining viewers. with a TV show.
He added: ‘To me, people forget about the awards, I think this happens all the time, they use it as an indicator of the industry, but the truth is that the awards are a TV show.
You know, the awards are there to promote the movies. If that movie wins an award, I’m more likely to go see it and that’s what you’re doing there.’
“It’s not about yourself, it’s not about the art or craft of the industry, especially, it’s about selling movies.”
Admissions: The film director admitted that he thinks it’s “perfectly reasonable” to eliminate separate categories for men and women when it comes to awarding honours.
But Sam insisted she wasn’t discounting the praise she’s received in the past.
He continued: ‘I’m not discounting the importance of them, but I’m saying they were there to promote the movies and the craft and art of the movies. They are the showcase but they are not the thing itself.
The debate around gender-neutral categories sparked after Emma Corrin, who identifies as non-binary and used gender-neutral pronouns, previously called for gender abolishment at award ceremonies.
The crown star said: ‘I look forward to a future where that happens. I don’t think the categories are inclusive enough right now.
Inclusive: In the quest to make the film industry more inclusive, he told the BBC: “I have total sympathy for her, yes, and I think in the end it might be inevitable.”
“It’s hard for me right now trying to justify in my head being non-binary and nominated in the female categories.
“When it comes to categories, do we need to specify if you’re nominated for a female or male role?”
Sam’s comments come after the director opened up about his childhood and being raised by a single mother in a new interview, following his parents’ divorce when he was just three years old.
She admitted that she had to ‘raise’ her own mother, Valerie, from a young age, growing up faster than most while seeing her ‘manipulated’ by men.
Where it started: The debate around gender-neutral categories ignited after Emma Corrin, who identifies as non-binary and used gender-neutral pronouns, previously called for abolishing gender at award ceremonies.
And this upbringing was the inspiration for his extremely personal new film Empire Of Light, which is based on his mother’s battle with mental health.
Sam was three years old when her parents, children’s novelist/author Valerie and Jameson college professor Peter Mendes separated.
This left Valerie as a single mother to the budding movie buff, who explains that this was also an important role for him as the man of the house.
Talking with The Guardian, explained: ‘When you’re a kid, you deal with what’s in front of you. And what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Mother and son: Sam’s comments come after the director opened up about his childhood and being raised by a single mother in a new interview, following his parents’ divorce (pictured with his mother Valerie in 2000)
“It definitely gave me resources, but it also made me a caretaker. In a sense, I was raising my own mother.
Referring to his mother, now 83, and her battle with mental health, Sam said: “Even as a child, I could see that my mother, when she was on medication or controlled, was being manipulated, mostly by men.”
‘Coming off the medication allowed him to finally tell them the truth. I felt like that was heroic. There was something extraordinary when she turned to them. And magnificent he expressed his whole being, ”he continued.
He recalled: ”It definitely gave me resources, but it also made me a caretaker. In a sense, I was raising my own mother’ (pictured early 2000s)
She drew on these experiences for Empire Of Light, which is a romance/drama that focuses on a single woman with mental health issues.
The new release boasts a great cast, with Olivia Colman, Colin Firth, and Michael Ward taking on major roles.
Sam’s mother, Valerie, has seen the film and has given it her stamp of approval, and the director explains, “You’re very aware that the film is informed by autobiography and you’re alert to the sensitivities of that. There’s a fragility in certain scenes you have to honor.’
Plot: The new film from filmmaker Empire of Light is a romance/drama that focuses on a single woman with mental health issues.