Should women directors be hired for directing action films?

I came across this discussion yesterday in one of my movie making feeds. Needless to say, this title got my attention.  Not only because I’m a women who can direct action films, but because it’s just stupid.

This is the exact post from the users who posted this:

“Should women directors be hired for directing action films? 

Our company was hired by an independent to develop and produce an action drama on location throughout Central Europe. The independent and the primary investor were excited about the script and development of the project.

With funding in place, our executive producer chose an excellent female director for filming the project. The independent and the primary investor both do not believe a woman has the same insight and creativity when it comes to violence as a man to film an action film, and at first mildly suggested hiring a male director, but now insist upon it.

With the exception of me, everyone involved in this decision making process is a female (our EP, the independent and investor.) Although we have several good male directors that have gone through the interview, our EP still wants the first director everyone was happy with, until they found out she was female. This is a $12/M project, so the investor will have her wish, but the final decision has not been made … so how would you convince her woman can direct an action film?”

Wow.
I noticed that all the responses were from men and they apparently were mostly agreeing that hiring a women needs to be heavily consider in this situation.  Not whether the director is talented and experienced – but whether she is a women.  What is going on in Hollywood people? Does anyone remember Kathryn Bigalow won an oscar for a violent action film called “The Hurt Locker” in 2009?

I’m  not one to play the “minority” card in any situation, but in this case, I really have to say something.

I realize, as a women, it’s still a struggle to work in an industry dominated by men.  For some reason this isn’t changing and doesn’t appear to be any time soon.  But I’m still out there directing projects.  I’m aware that I must work harder than a man does in order to gain the same respect.  I know that when a man pushes hard, gets the job done, he’s considered a hero and good at his work.  When a women does the exact same actions, she’s considered (even by other women) maybe good at her work, but mostly a bitch.  Women are still expected to be quiet, submissive, and keep an unrealistic beauty standard while all the time walking in high heels. Can we please move on from this lie?!

When are people going to stop excluding an entire group of others because of ancient, archaic, and backwards thinking?  I believe that many women can do the exact same (if not better) job as a man when it comes to directing a film.

Let’s remember when movie making started, almost all directors were women.

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Jaime Byrd is an award winning “FEMALE” director, DP, and editor for Blind Lyle Films.  She studied Fine Arts and Music at California State University of Los Angeles.

She has produced, directed, and/or edited multiple shorts, a TV pilot, several award winning commercials, an award winning web series, multiple documentaries, a cooking show, and music videos.

She produced the TV pilot show “Talker” (featuring Jay Thomas, Tim Matheson, and Sharon Lawrence), which won best actor, best director, and best comedy at the 2011 International TV awards in Los Angeles.