Hollywood has a long history of being male-dominated, making it difficult for women to compete with their male counterparts for their place in the film industry.
Behind the scenes, actors often hired an agent to negotiate contracts and finances because freelancing, especially in the 1930s and 1940s, was only an option for top-tier actors. “Independent Stardom: Freelance Women in the Hollywood Studio System” recounts several careers in which women took control and challenged the industry’s patriarchal norm.
Carole Lombard, Irene Dunne and Olivia de Havilland are examples of business-savvy actors who used an alternative path to achieve stardom.
What gave these women the courage to take their careers into their own hands? How did freelancing shape the attitudes of present-day actors?
Emily Carman will be signing copies of her book at Book Soup in West Hollywood on February 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Guest:
Emily Carman, author of “Independent Stardom: Freelance Women in the Hollywood Studio System” (University of Texas Press). Assistant professor of film studies, Chapman University