BWW Special Report: The Importance of Amazon's GOOD GIRLS REVOLT

In light of the many cases of harassment and unjust treatment of women rapidly surfacing in the past few weeks (e.g. Harvey Weinstein), the Amazon series GGOOD GIRLS REVOLT, which premiered in October 2016, is finding itself suddenly in the spotlight of the conversation. The historical drama based on real events was canceled last year after one season. It explores the mistreatment of women in the workplace and women's fight for equal rights in the years 1969 and 1970. The feminist show follows a group of female researchers at the magazine "News of the Week" as they file a lawsuit to be treated as equals to the males and for the opportunity to become reporters.

The female researchers at "News of the Week" research and do write ups that the male reporters include, word-for-word, in their stories, yet are not credited and are paid way less for their work. On top of being paid appalling lower than their male counterparts, the women are not allowed to be reporters. Ever. Throughout the first season of Good Girls REVOLT the women researchers secretly prepare to file a lawsuit against "News of the Week" to be treated as equals to the men, all the while dealing with sexual harassment daily. The first season ended on a cliffhanger, with the women filing the lawsuit against the magazine. The way the women were condescendingly spoken to by the men was maddening and is still very much relevant today.

Good Girls REVOLT received great reviews. The show received a score of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. So it came as a shock to creator Dana Calvo, the cast, and fans of the show, when (now ex) Amazon Studios head Roy Price announced in early December of 2016 that the show had been canceled after just one season. Except it's not that shocking once you learn who Roy Price is-it's just extremely infuriating.

According to Calvo, Price had little involvement or interest in the development of the show. In an interview from December 2016, she told the Hollywood Reporter that in the season two pitch, Price asked them "to refer to the characters by the actors' names because he didn't know the characters' names." The article also reports that insiders said that Price didn't attend the premiere of the series and didn't think it was an awards-season contender. Calvo has publicly stated that no women were in the leadership team that decided to cancel the show. To make this point clear, a group of men, headed by Price, made a decision to cancel a show that shed light on the mistreatment of women in the workplace by men. Not a single woman was involved in this decision.

To add fuel to the fire, Price recently became another name on the rapidly surfacing long list of men who have sexually harassed or assaulted women in the film industry. He resigned as head of Amazon Studios on October 17th of this year after accusations that he had sexually harassed the executive producer of Man in the High Castle, Isa Hackett Dick.

With Price gone, fans of Good Girls REVOLT are hoping for a second season. While no official decision has been made yet, fans have started petitions for a renewal and have been contacting Amazon Studios over social media seeking justice for the show.

Unfortunately, the mistreatment of women in the film industry is not uncommon and is an issue that's rightfully gaining traction and attention recently. As a female filmmaker myself, the treatment of women in my industry is extremely important to me. We shouldn't have to worry about potential Harvey Weinsteins or Roy Prices. We should be able to tell our stories without being harassed. More stories about women, being created by women need to be told. Good Girls REVOLT is one of those stories and deserves to have a voice and be renewed.

Image courtesy of Amazon

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