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CNN Live Today

Top Female Director Talks about Women's Changing Role on the Screen

Aired February 24, 2004 - 11:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: Well, "Sex and the City" may be over, but its role in redefining women will continue to be discussed and debated.
More than two decades before the women of the city, the girls in the valley made their own statement about the passion for fashion and about romance and friendship.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like I'm totally not in love with you any more, Tony. I mean, it's so boring. Here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not too cool, Julie. Like, I won't be bummed out. Who else is there? Dude, you can touch me (Ph). I mean, she must be really freaking out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's over.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: All right. Martha Coolidge directed "Valley Girl." And her new movie, "The Prince and Me" come out this spring. She's in our L.A. bureau to talk about women in film and entertainment.

Martha Coolidge, welcome to CNN.

I want to explain to our viewers at home. That this is the kind of thing. We're going to play a new Kevin Bacon game. If there's something cool happening with women in entertainment, one degree separated from Martha Coolidge.

Starting with...

MARTHA COOLIDGE, DIRECTOR: I like that.

KAGAN: Starting with -- Let's just start with what's kind of one of the stories of the week, and that is the finale of "Sex and the City." You directed a couple episodes back in 2001 of that series.

COOLIDGE: Yes, I did.

KAGAN: And what did you think about how they wrapped it up?

COOLIDGE: That season? It was wonderful. That was the season that Mr. Big left and moved out of town. And Miranda had her baby. And Carrie cut her hair, got a new job and went to "Vogue."

And I have to say, it was a -- it was a real delight working in New York City with women who have a great relationship on and off the screen. And they're all different, and they all have different acting styles. But it's -- it was a fantastic group of people.

KAGAN: What did you think about how they wrapped up the whole series with Big and Carrie coming back to New York together, and we get to find out what Big's real name is and the other characters?

COOLIDGE: I think that's -- it's a good thing. You have to give the audience something for sticking it out. They got commitment and love in the end. What woman's not looking for that?

KAGAN: That was last Sunday. This Sunday coming up, of course, the big story in Hollywood will be the Oscars.

Some Oscar history being made. Sofia Coppola. Hard to believe, but this is the first time an American woman has been nominated in the Best Director category, only the third time a woman's been nominated in the category.

As a director yourself, what do you think about that?

COOLIDGE: Look, it is about time that a woman was nominated for Best Director. We've had Best Picture nominated before, that were directed by women. And curiously enough, they didn't receive the Best Director nomination.

It's a huge breakthrough. It's a fantastic movie, and hopefully, one of many to come.

I think the point -- the point is that directing is about point of view. And a variety of point of view is what the public needs. And a woman does not necessarily give the same point of view as another woman but certainly can offer a different point of view from a man.

KAGAN: Well, quickly tell us what your next point of view is going to be that we're going to see from you.

COOLIDGE: Well, my next movie is also a realistic look at a woman's choices.

Julia Stiles plays a woman who wants to be a doctor and is very narrow-minded and single focused, professional and meets the prince of Denmark. And essentially a fairy tale happens to her, but the question is, what is she going to do about it?

KAGAN: And what is the fairy tale?

COOLIDGE: The fairy tale -- The fairy tale would be in her case, is -- does she marry a prince or does she pursue her dreams? But I think the real -- the real choice in the movie is how do you maintain a relationship in a world where people work and have to make compromises?

KAGAN: And all the choices out there. We look forward to it. Martha, thanks for stopping by.

COOLDIGE: You're welcome, thank you.

KAGAN: Appreciate your time. Director Martha Coolidge.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





the Screen>


Aired February 24, 2004 - 11:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: Well, "Sex and the City" may be over, but its role in redefining women will continue to be discussed and debated.
More than two decades before the women of the city, the girls in the valley made their own statement about the passion for fashion and about romance and friendship.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like I'm totally not in love with you any more, Tony. I mean, it's so boring. Here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not too cool, Julie. Like, I won't be bummed out. Who else is there? Dude, you can touch me (Ph). I mean, she must be really freaking out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's over.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: All right. Martha Coolidge directed "Valley Girl." And her new movie, "The Prince and Me" come out this spring. She's in our L.A. bureau to talk about women in film and entertainment.

Martha Coolidge, welcome to CNN.

I want to explain to our viewers at home. That this is the kind of thing. We're going to play a new Kevin Bacon game. If there's something cool happening with women in entertainment, one degree separated from Martha Coolidge.

Starting with...

MARTHA COOLIDGE, DIRECTOR: I like that.

KAGAN: Starting with -- Let's just start with what's kind of one of the stories of the week, and that is the finale of "Sex and the City." You directed a couple episodes back in 2001 of that series.

COOLIDGE: Yes, I did.

KAGAN: And what did you think about how they wrapped it up?

COOLIDGE: That season? It was wonderful. That was the season that Mr. Big left and moved out of town. And Miranda had her baby. And Carrie cut her hair, got a new job and went to "Vogue."

And I have to say, it was a -- it was a real delight working in New York City with women who have a great relationship on and off the screen. And they're all different, and they all have different acting styles. But it's -- it was a fantastic group of people.

KAGAN: What did you think about how they wrapped up the whole series with Big and Carrie coming back to New York together, and we get to find out what Big's real name is and the other characters?

COOLIDGE: I think that's -- it's a good thing. You have to give the audience something for sticking it out. They got commitment and love in the end. What woman's not looking for that?

KAGAN: That was last Sunday. This Sunday coming up, of course, the big story in Hollywood will be the Oscars.

Some Oscar history being made. Sofia Coppola. Hard to believe, but this is the first time an American woman has been nominated in the Best Director category, only the third time a woman's been nominated in the category.

As a director yourself, what do you think about that?

COOLIDGE: Look, it is about time that a woman was nominated for Best Director. We've had Best Picture nominated before, that were directed by women. And curiously enough, they didn't receive the Best Director nomination.

It's a huge breakthrough. It's a fantastic movie, and hopefully, one of many to come.

I think the point -- the point is that directing is about point of view. And a variety of point of view is what the public needs. And a woman does not necessarily give the same point of view as another woman but certainly can offer a different point of view from a man.

KAGAN: Well, quickly tell us what your next point of view is going to be that we're going to see from you.

COOLIDGE: Well, my next movie is also a realistic look at a woman's choices.

Julia Stiles plays a woman who wants to be a doctor and is very narrow-minded and single focused, professional and meets the prince of Denmark. And essentially a fairy tale happens to her, but the question is, what is she going to do about it?

KAGAN: And what is the fairy tale?

COOLIDGE: The fairy tale -- The fairy tale would be in her case, is -- does she marry a prince or does she pursue her dreams? But I think the real -- the real choice in the movie is how do you maintain a relationship in a world where people work and have to make compromises?

KAGAN: And all the choices out there. We look forward to it. Martha, thanks for stopping by.

COOLDIGE: You're welcome, thank you.

KAGAN: Appreciate your time. Director Martha Coolidge.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





the Screen>