Greta Gerwig, The Journey of the Master Storyteller

Greta Gerwig has set record after record in the history of world cinema. He is a dream filmmaker in Hollywood.

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American director and actress, Greta Gerwig, attended the Vanity Fair Oscars Party at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, on March 10, 2024.

Greta Gerwig (40) was once discouraged because she was rejected by well-known universities to get her master's degree. However, this director, writer and actress has not stopped doing what she loves: making films. After working for so many years, people started calling him a master storyteller in Hollywood.

2023 is Gerwig's year. Through the film Barbie, she became female the first director to achieve box office 1 billion US dollars. This film also received eight nominations for the 2024 Oscars, although in the end it had to be satisfied with only bringing home one trophy. At least, Barbie has become an extraordinary phenomenon that is being discussed worldwide.

Barbie is Gerwig's third film as sole director after Little Women (2019) and Lady Bird (2017). If Barbie tells the human version of a plastic doll produced by Mattel, Little Women is an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel. Meanwhile, Lady Bird discusses the perspective of teenage girls, which is Gerwig's personal work.

Also read: Atom Egoyan Never Tires of Loving Films

Gerwig is the only director whose first three films received best picture nominations at the Academy Awards. The key to it all, according to Gerwig, was the decision to take on an ambitious project. Currently he is working on an adaptation of the legendary book by C S Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia.

”I knew the right thing for me was to continue making films. Whatever happens, good or bad, you have to keep going," said Gerwig, quoted from Time in Jakarta, Thursday (11/4/2024).

Gerwig is a dream filmmaker in Hollywood. She is able to balance art and commercial aspects. Her films feel humane, emotional, and enjoyable. Her work touches the hearts of viewers, leading to reflection, discussion, and debate.

I knew the right thing for me was to keep making films.

At the same time, Gerwig's films were making big profits at the box office. Lady Bird grossed 79 million US dollars from a budget of 10 million US dollars, Little Women earned 231 million US dollars from a budget of 40 million US dollars. Meanwhile, Barbie was successful with revenues of 1.4 billion US dollars.

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Scene of Barbie and the Kens dancing at a party at the Dreamhouse.

With a brilliant career, Gerwig was not immune to failure. After graduating from Barnard College, New York, majoring in English with a focus on theater in 2006, she applied for a graduate program to become a playwright at Yale University, Juilliard School, and New York University. All campuses rejected her.

Also read: Mary Stephens, Stories from the Margins of French Cinema

This rejection made Gerwig study film on the practical route. He began acting in indie films of the mumblecore genre, including LOL (2006) and Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007) which were co-directed by Gerwig Joe Swanberg. In 2010, Gerwig began to be considered after appearing in Greenberg (2010) directed by Noah Baumbach, who would later become her collaborator and husband.

This study habit has become Gerwig's strength to this day. He regularly consults with seniors. When he was about to work on Barbie, he called Peter Weir, the director who made The Truman Show (1998). Gerwig sought advice on creating artificial worlds with an authentic emotional feel.

He also had discussions with Steven Spielberg about Lincoln (2012) before working on Little Women. “There are many smart people who can guide you and make your film the best it can be, although in the end, you are the one who makes the choice,” said Gerwig.

Three entities

In the world of film, Gerwig is a combination of director, writer, and actress. As an actress, she brought a new comedic naturalism to the screen, seen in Frances Ha (2012) and Mistress America (2015). As a director and writer, Gerwig has a special ability to make a film completely her own.

These three entities are important because they support Gerwig's abilities as a filmmaker. Even though he is now popular as a director who likes to write, he is committed to continuing to act. For him, citing Vanity Fair, acting and writing are training for directors.

Gerwig's works have a characteristic way of speaking. He touches the audience from human experiences, such as how to love or lose someone. Apart from that, there is also a "DNA" of rebellion in her work, including Barbie which openly questions patriarchal society's expectations of women.

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The film Little Women

As a result, Gerwig's works have resonated with many women. He often discusses the emotional side, ambitions and self-actualization challenges faced by women. Because of Lady Bird, for example, there have been many stories online about girls calling their mothers to apologize for their teenage misbehavior.

"With any project, I am fully involved. I think I am interested in the joyful chaos of life and humanity. And, I am interested in women, women who speak to each other from generation to generation," said this Enya fan.

In late February 2024, Gerwig was named one of 12 2024 Women of the Year by Time magazine. He is alongside accomplished figures in many fields, including economist Claudia Goldin, tennis player Coco Gauff, activist Nadia Murad, and geneticist Marlena Fejzo.

Time considers them as people who are breaking new ground and fighting for a more just future. These twelve women dedicated themselves to supporting others as they rose.

Gerwig wants her works to transcend gender boundaries. "You don't think you have to like it because it's done by a woman, for women. (But) You like it because it's good," she said.

You don't think you have to like it because it's done by women, for women. (But) you like it because it's good.

Even though she is already good at big budget films, Gerwig is still open to the option of working on small scale films. Because, some films require a large "canvas" to tell the story, some don't. A number of directors have proven this, such as Chloé Zhao, Steven Soderbergh, including his friend, Christopher Nolan.

Also read: Chloé Zhao, New History of Women Filmmakers

"Becoming a filmmaker is an extraordinary thing because making a film is difficult and you will never truly reach its peak. It's challenging, and that's part of its appeal. I really want to make films until my 60s and 70s, and maybe I'll make some very strange films in my 80s," said Gerwig to The Atlantic.

What is certain is that Gerwig's messages in her films are always universal. “The power is always within you,” says Gerwig. (AP)

AFP PHOTO/VALERIE MACON

American director Greta Gerwig arrives at the 90th Annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California.

Greta Celeste Gerwig

Born: Sacramento, California, United States, August 4, 1983

Awards include:

• Best Original Screenplay for Barbie with Noah Baumbach, 2024 Critics' Choice Movie Awards
• Global Icon & Creator Tribute for Barbie, 2023 Gotham Independent Film Awards
• Best Woman Storyteller for Little Women, Women Film Critics Circle Awards 2019
• Best Screenplay for Lady Bird, Independent Spirit Awards 2018