LIVE: Susan Sarandon speaks ahead of Goya Awards ceremony
TL;DR
Susan Sarandon reveals she was fired by her agency and blacklisted from Hollywood for speaking out on Gaza, discusses the inherent political nature of all cinema, and praises Spain's moral leadership while reflecting on the loneliness and professional costs of activism.
🚫 Hollywood Blacklisting & Professional Consequences 3 insights
Fired for Gaza activism
Sarandon states she was fired by her agency in November specifically for marching and speaking out about Gaza, demanding a ceasefire, which made it impossible for her to work in television or major Hollywood films.
Working in European exile
After losing U.S. representation, she found agents in England and Italy, recently completing a film in Italy and a play at London's Old Vic, noting that an Italian director was explicitly told not to hire her.
Specializing in independent cinema
She now focuses on tiny independent films with first-time directors, accepting that she cannot work within the major studio system due to her political outspokenness.
🎭 The Politics of Art and Cinema 2 insights
All films are political
Sarandon argues that every film is inherently political, either reinforcing or challenging the status quo, using 'The Nutty Professor' as an example of a comedy that makes audiences root for the outsider.
Hollywood's silence is dangerous
She criticizes the current reluctance of artists to speak on politics, drawing parallels to the McCarthy era blacklisting and asserting that Hollywood has never been truly progressive, caring only about box office returns.
🌍 Geopolitical Views and Moral Leadership 3 insights
Pro-Palestinian advocacy
She describes herself as 'very pro-Palestinian' and an 'artist for peace and justice,' calling the situation in Gaza a 'horrible crime' and 'genocide' while expressing shame at U.S. complicity.
Criticism of ICE and U.S. regression
She denounces ICE as unconstitutional for targeting black and brown people, and notes that the U.S. is moving backwards on women's rights with bans on contraception and abortion.
Praise for Spain's stance
She thanks Spain and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for their 'moral clarity' and strong voice regarding Gaza, stating that seeing such leadership makes American activists 'feel less alone' and provides hope.
🎬 Industry Challenges and Future Work 2 insights
Why she doesn't direct
Sarandon explains she avoids directing because she cannot work within the studio system with 'suits' monitoring monitors, and lacks interest in logistics like truck parking or poster distribution battles.
Distribution crisis for indie films
She highlights that while more women are producing independent films, the major challenge is finding platforms to exhibit them, as conglomerates have replaced small cinemas and studios won't promote films they don't own.
Bottom Line
Authentic artistic expression requires acknowledging cinema's inherent political impact, and while speaking out against injustice carries significant professional risks including blacklisting, remaining silent in the face of moral crises is not an option.
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