Marlee Matlin Says Hollywood Hasn’t Changed Since ‘CODA,’ but That Won’t Stop Her From Creating Her Own Projects: ‘I’m Still Knocking on Doors’

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Marlee Matlin, who won an Oscar for “Children of a Lesser God” and recently starred in the Academy Award-winning film “CODA,” believes that Hollywood’s strict structure may not have provided her with a significant edge when proposing new projects due to its inflexibility.

She expresses her dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. The reason being, she feels uninformed about how the industry operates, which has led to a disappointment in terms of opportunities following her Academy Award win. After an initial burst of excitement, offers didn’t materialize as expected, leaving her to take matters into her own hands. She generates her own projects and currently has several on her plate. However, she continues to seek support from studios, presenting them with various project proposals. Often, the response is positive, but then there are constraints such as the presence of a deaf character in an animated project, which has already fulfilled their diversity quota. As a result, they might suggest revisiting the topic later. This pattern continues, and sometimes projects get shelved due to changes in studio leadership or other circumstances.

At the Google TV & YouTube event titled “EbMaster” & Vibe Reimagining Creativity, Matlin stood out as one of the innovators championing change in Hollywood. This discussion saw the participation of Matlin (of “Not Alone Anymore”), actor and comedian Roy Wood Jr. (“Love, Brooklyn”), Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg (“It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley,” “The Case Against Adnan Syed,” “Deliver Us From Evil”), Harry Hamlin (“Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches”), and Tom Quinn, CEO of Neon. The panel was skillfully moderated by senior entertainment writer Angelique Jackson from EbMaster.

The group of creative minds had a joint conversation emphasizing the significance of venturing into uncharted territories within the realm of Hollywood. To illustrate, “Love, Brooklyn” is a romantic movie, which isn’t the typical genre that Wood Jr. is accustomed to. However, he found pleasure in the experience of exploring fresh possibilities.

This is a love story, but it’s different from the typical ‘will they or won’t they’ narrative. There’s no villain; instead, it’s about people experiencing the complexities of love. The role offered to me was unexpected – I wasn’t anticipating a more subdued performance when I read it, unlike my usual bombastic roles like in ‘black-ish.’ It was a chance to portray a character in a quieter, more introspective manner. André Holland, the producer and star, presented this opportunity for me. To be honest, my resume doesn’t suggest that I could pull off such a role, but they took a risk on me. Now it’s up to me to live up to their trust by delivering a nuanced performance, finding humor in both silent moments and spoken words. It was an enjoyable challenge.

For Hamlin, playing a role out of his wheelhouse ended up as his favorite performances.

Reflecting on my career, I’ve found that taking bold steps and venturing into uncharted territories has significantly impacted my journey, propelling me to greater heights,” he explains. “In 1981, I starred in a film titled ‘Making Love,’ which was the first major studio production to tackle a gay love story. Many of my peers cautioned against it, warning that it could jeopardize my career. Despite being offered to numerous other actors in Hollywood, I saw it as a unique chance to portray a topic relevant to contemporary society, albeit one shrouded in secrecy at the time. Taking this risk transformed my career in an extraordinary manner, and it continues to do so today. People still approach me regularly, expressing gratitude for that film and how it has touched their lives or provided them with hope. In essence, I’ve had the privilege of being part of a project that can alter people’s lives. As an actor, I believe that innovation and taking risks are key to success, not just for us individuals but also for the entire industry.

Quinn says that Neon is a company built on taking bold creative risks.

Expressing a passion and conviction for a collection of films, and having a distinct perspective along with an affinity towards filmmakers who share the same clear-cut viewpoint, requires taking risks,” he explains. “For instance, we’ve produced an expensive musical that served as a tribute to classic Rodgers and Hammerstein productions, featuring a billionaire former oil executive preparing for a possible future apocalypse – not exactly a mainstream concept. This film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising it for its daring statement and others criticizing it. [Editor’s note: The movie in question was ‘The End,’ released in 2024.]

I believe that if we remain committed to our beliefs and think we have the ability to present a diverse range of movies as a distributor or studio, our film selection will resonate with audiences and lead to success. Our slate includes films like ‘Longlegs,’ directed by an exceptional talent, which stands alongside ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ by Mohammad Rasoulof, who made this movie in Iran under threat of persecution, secretly, before eventually escaping the country.

Ultimately, if you genuinely believe in cinema’s power and have a vision about what you can advocate for, you will persist.

Berg, who invested five years in crafting “Jeff Buckley”, found herself fielding questions from people about her decision to create the film at that specific time. However, she contends that the completed project’s success and positive response serve as proof that art daring enough to take risks will always triumph.

She notes that if you manage to complete your film and exhibit it somewhere like this, you’ll have an opportunity to connect with audiences and potential buyers in a distinct manner, without simply pitching. For her, it was fortunate that Topic Studios and Fremantle provided the financing for her film. It’s been some time since she’s been here selling a film. The experience is exhilarating; it feels like we made it ourselves. She had the chance to create the movie she envisioned, and last night was its premiere – an incredible moment. The audience response… people were moved to tears in the restrooms, and it was heartwarming to know that our genuine art resonated with them.

Watch the full conversation at the top of the page.

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2025-01-28 22:17