So I’m making a very pro Zack Snyder post right now because something I don’t see people acknowledge very much about him is how much all the actresses he’s worked with really like him and have consistently praised him.
This is Hollywood. A lot of actresses don’t have good experiences on films. Directors will belittle them, make them cry, put them in situations that make them uncomfortable, etc. So I have found it interesting for a while how much actresses who have worked with Zack clearly like him, because a lot of women in Hollywood will either call out unpleasant directors, or just keep silent about them, rather than saying anything bad. Zack’s actresses, across the board, seem to really like him.
Don’t worry. I have receipts. Let’s start with Sucker Punch, shall we?
Emily Browning repeatedly praised Zack on the press tour for Sucker Punch. She even went as far as to say he gave her her love of acting back.
“At one point I was [doubting that I would continue with acting] and actually this film, to be honest with you, is the one that’s brought me back and made me realize this is absolutely what I want to do. I have faith in this industry, if a movie making experience can be this positive and this much fun, then I can’t imagine ever doing anything else.”
For video reference, here’s a video of Emily and Abbie Cornish. They start talking about Zack at around the 5:00 minute mark.
“He keeps the set really fun and light and positive. I mean, obviously when we were doing our emotional scenes, he was really super respectful of that.”
Just wanted to point out from that what Emily is probably referencing there are the scenes of sexual abuse her character faces. You don’t think it would be asking a lot for a director to be respectful of those scenes and their impact on the women performing them, but unfortunately it sometimes is, and from what she said, Zack obviously is respectful of her while performing those scenes.
Jamie Chung, Jena Malone, and Vanessa Hudgens also praised him a lot here around the 4:30 mark.
Moving on to 300, Lena Headey was the female lead in that film (it’s worth noting that Zack expanded her role greatly from the graphic novel, where her part was extremely minimal) and she, like the others, had many kind things to say about Zack at the beginning of this interview.
“He’s so enthusiastic and it’s kind of infectious to be around that. And he’s got such a clear vision and knows absolutely what he wants to bring to the screen. So it’s great to have a leader like that.”
While on the San Andreas press tour, Carla Gugino, who worked with Zack on Watchmen and Man of Steel, expressed interest in working with Zack again in the DCEU at 1:07.
“I would go anywhere with Zack Snyder, do any movie with him and Debbie.”
So now for the DCEU actresses. We can start with Amy, as she’s said many sweet things about Zack. Most recently she discussed how it was difficult for her to see Zack take so much heat for BvS. It’s at around the 40:00 minute mark in this podcast.
“I just felt for Zack,” Adams says. “Zack’s like the nicest person ever, and to see him kind of talked about like that was really hard for me, because he’s really such a respectful director.”
There’s that word again. “Respectful.” Amy has been pretty candid in the past about working with directors who she didn’t get along with or didn’t treat her very well. With Zack, she’s only ever had nice things to say.
Now for Holly Hunter, she starts discussing him at the 1:00 minute mark.
“People have a fabulous time on this movie because the atmosphere is very creative, very respectful, and at the same time playful.”
Somehow I’ve gotten the impression that the women on his movies have never felt disrespected by Zack given the constant use of the word “respectful.”
So of course we have to hear from Wonder Woman about Zack. She starts talking about him at 1:38.
“He’s so women friendly. He’s very into women empowerment, and I think that for him, personally as well, it is very important to show a strong female on the big screen, that is equal to the other heroes.”
Lastly I’ll link Diane Lane’s interview, where she talks about Zack at 1:45.
“It’s so wonderful to work with Zack, who I trust implicitly, and has all the answers. It’s so wonderful to be able to trust him.”
So basically with this I wanted to say if you don’t like Zack Snyder as a director, that’s fine. No one is obligated to like a director’s movies. But I feel like the attacks on Zack Snyder have become downright personal, and that is ridiculous. I think it’s rather sad that a director that the media and some fans have decided to target is a director who treats his actresses with respect and clearly goes out of his way to make them comfortable and collaborate with them and actually care about the women in his movies.
There are not very many action film directors today who I feel care a whole lot about women, and Zack is one of the few, and I wish that was appreciated more. But instead I still see constant personal attacks that he does not deserve.
theartofmadeline
annaxmalina
titsay
jacobvanloon
dededos
tangentwithtanner
janainaart
