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| Reese Witherspoon giving her speech at Glamour's 2015 Women of the Year Awards |
Many of you probably recognize Reese Witherspoon from the numerous movie roles she has been apart of. Movies such as Legally Blonde, Sweet Home Alabama, This Means War, Fear, Four Christmases, and many more. She began her acting career at a young age, being only 14 years old in The Man in the Moon. She also began modeling at 7 years old and placed first in Ten-State Talent Fair at 11 years old. Reese is a wife and a mother to three children. But what many people may not realize about her is that she is not just another talented actress. She is also a producer, entrepreneur and activist for women in the entertainment industry.
Reese started her own retail brand in May 2015, Draper James, which is inspired by her southern roots. The first store was opened in her hometown of Nashville, Tennesse. But what I believe to be even more intriguing and important is her role as a producer. In 2000 she founded Type A Films, which later merged into the production company Pacific Standard in 2012. The company produced films such as Gone Girl and Wild, which then went on to be nominated for Oscars. Then in 2016, Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rodsky and Otter Media went on to create Hello Sunshine with the focus being to tell female-driven stories in the industry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKKRBnpDpBY
Reese gave a speech at Glamour's Women of the Year Awards in 2015 that gave emphasis as to why she wanted to start this production company and the dire need for this movement in the media industry. She brings up how too often the women in movies and TV shows are presented as these meek, underqualified characters who need to look to a man to solve things. "What do we do know?" is a line many of these female characters are given, even though, as Reese points out, is not logical.
"Do you know any woman in any crisis situation who has absolutely no idea what to do? I mean, don't they tell people in crisis, even children, 'If you're in trouble, talk to a woman.' It's ridiculous that a woman wouldn't know what to do."
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| Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde |
She wanted to create a production company that would change the perspective on leading woman roles and create successful movies that empowered women everywhere. With several upcoming movies that will begin showing up in 2020, there is the promise that Reese will not be stopping this movement anytime soon and continue giving women better opurtunities in the media industry.
Works Cited:
(2019, August 24). Hello Sunshine (company). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_Sunshine_(company)
(2019, February 20). Reese Witherspoon -- Not Just an Actress, But Also a Successful Entrepreneur. Retrieved from https://www.businesswomen.org/2019/02/actress-reese-witherspoon-also-successful-entrepreneur.html
A.M. (2015, November 10). Reese Witherspoon's Moving Speech at Glamour's 2015 Women of the Year Awards: 'Like Elle Woods, I Do Not Like to be Underestimated'. Retrieved from https://www.glamour.com/story/reese-witherspoon-women-of-the-year-speech
Pictures:
Reese Witherspoon- Glamour's Women of the Year Awards 2015
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjG-JT_8cbkAhVnnuAKHe2UAJgQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F6051780727081329%2F&psig=AOvVaw1ZJ4RCH1_kkxIwQnh-WfZ5&ust=1568226630238990
Reese Witherspoon portraying Elle Woods in Legally Blonde
https://www.google.com/urlsa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjKtuv87cbkAhUivFkKHR8iDmcQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.sg%2Freese-witherspoon-best-outfits-2018-11%2F&psig=AOvVaw07uEZtdj4lTGnyWuE9uvNg&ust=1568225636056056
I like that you including a picture of Reese playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. This movie to me even shows girls that the typically idea of blondes in not true. Women can do whatever they set their minds to. I also love the quote from her speech about women's classic line about being helpless and needing a man to step in and save the day. Women are anything but helpless and do not need a man to save the day.
ReplyDeleteI learned something new from this because I knew Reese from some of her movies but did not know that she had created her own production company. And I haven't actually watched the movies that have come out so far from the company, so now I have a watch list of movies to get on! Her speech at the Woman of the Year event was pretty inspiring. I, also, find it funny because when bad things happen in my family, I know I'm the first one to step up and figure out a plan of action.
ReplyDeleteI love Reese so much and I believed that legally blonde did her very well. While she played that part she helped build against the young dumb blonde stigma. Elle Woods will forever be a legend. I was also not aware of her other accomplishments outside of her movie productions. She is a beautiful soul and deserves all the accomplishments she received.
ReplyDeleteI love how you chose Reese as your feminist. I think that her character in Legally Blond pushed many boundaries for women. She's feminine yet fierce. She also pushes boundaries with how capable women are. I like how you addressed that subject in your blog.
ReplyDeleteI love Reese Witherspoon so I really enjoyed this blog and how you picked her. I love all the movies that she acts in but especially legally blonde. It was awesome that you included her photo from that role because her Character Elle was so important. She really shut down the "dumb blonde" stigma and should definitely get the recognition she deserves
ReplyDeleteLoved your blog! Reese Witherspoon is such an icon for women. In real life and in movies. Her role in 'Legally Blonde' was personally my favorite. I loved how she broke the social norms for women in the work force. Successful women need more recognition and appreciation.
ReplyDeleteI have never been one to go out of my way to watch a Reese Withersoon film; however, after reading this blog she is most definitely going to stay on my radar.
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