HBO just released the director line-up for Game of Thrones' upcoming seventh season, and everyone has one thing in common. They're all men! Surprise! Okay, so this is actually pretty unsurprising because #sexism, but is also massively disappointing considering that GOT is made up of some seriously badass women.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the show's new season has four directors thus far: Alan Taylor, Jeremy Podeswa, Mark Mylod, and Matt Shakman. Three out of four have directed GOT before, but Matt is a first timer for the show—which means that HBO is open to new blood. As one commenter with the username @greenpizza sarcastically noted: "Women directors obviously don't exist?"
For a show with such strong female leads, it's not just sexist, but straight up unfair to the show's characters that there are no female directors on this list. And by the way, this is definitely a trend: among Game of Thrones' 18 revolving directors, there is only one woman, Michelle MacLaren.
Not to be dramatic, but LOOK AT YOUR LIFE, LOOK AT YOUR CHOICES, HBO.Women directors exist. They are out there. Jodi Freakin' Foster directed an episode of Orange Is the New Black. But there are also plenty of non-household names willing and able to do these jobs. Women like Tricia Brock (The Walking Dead), Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland), and Daisy von Scherler Mayer (Mad Men).
Sure, it's encouraging that The Academy's new class has more women than usual, but the trickle down effect isn't happening fast enough. Massively popular shows like Game of Thrones need to be active participants in industry change, not passive bystanders.
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