Home » Industry News » Nora Ephron – Trailblazer in Male-Dominated Industry

Nora Ephron – Trailblazer in Male-Dominated Industry

The film industry, like the technology industry is still a male dominated world. Young female directors like Nancy Meyers and Sofia Coppola can thank Nora Ephron for blazing the trail. Ms. Ephron died yesterday at the age of 71.

Not only was Ms. Ephron a pioneer, but she created a distinct and popular genre of work which includes “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” some of the most often quoted films of our time. The memorable, I’ll have what she’s having” from When Harry Met Sally is a line that is oft repeated, evoking a smile as we recall the funny scene between Meg Ryan and Billy Christal. While Ephron’s films were mostly in the romantic comedy genre, they had a broad appeal because her characters were smart, witty women; and her films had a gravity because she didn’t sugar coat things and give everyone a Hollywood happy.

Ms. Ephron was born into a family of journalists, and followed in their footsteps to enter the then male-dominated world of journalism. She enjoyed a successful career in journalism, including publishing a number of books. Her journey into filmmaking began with “Silkwood”, a screenplay that she wrote for Mike Nichols.

For the dynamic Ms. Ephron, writing screenplays was only the beginning – she began writing and directing many of her subsequent films, even when she was one of a small handful of women in Hollywood in roles other than acting. Mid career she  had a series of less than stellar films, however her final film in 2009 – “Julia & Julia” ended her career on a high, garnering an Academy award nomination for Meryl Streep

Ms. Ephron’s unique voice was a magnet for talent- both actors and filmmakers were drawn to work with her. Her work and her vision will remain an inspiration for future generations of filmmakers, both male and female.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *