Overview
- Stewart says it has become too hard to make films that are not franchise-driven or built on proven equations.
- She praises unions’ necessity but argues some terms and structures now pose unbelievable barriers to artistic expression.
- She proposes radical workarounds, saying creators should "start stealing our movies," and says she intends to make her next feature for nothing.
- Outlets contextualize her remarks with UCLA’s Hollywood Diversity Report, which found 2024 saw reversals for women and people of color in key roles.
- Her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, is in limited theatrical release, and she has criticized test screenings and executive interference for diluting filmmakers’ specific voices.