Quote of the Day: Megan Ellison Urges Hollywood to Spread the Wealth
Accepting the Visionary Award at the Producers Guild of America Awards, Annapurna Pictures’ founder Megan Ellison referred to herself as an outsider, albeit one who has received a lot of support and guidance from the insiders. The wunderkind producer recalled how her friend and mentor Amy Pascal told Ellison she could never let herself be run out of Hollywood.
“When I asked why, [Pascal] told me it was because women don’t own anything — they have climbed the corporate ladder, but until they own, nothing can really change,” Ellison said in her speech. “He who has the gold makes the rules.” Keeping Pascal’s words in mind, Ellison used her PGA Awards platform to remind her audience of their responsibility to check their privilege and share with outsiders. Share opportunities; share power; share financial support; share stories.
“There is so much power within these walls, and the ability to effect real change. The scariest thing we could do now, or ever, is shut up. We may not be curing cancer, as I often hear, but we do have the power of voice, visibility, and communication to a global audience,” Ellison emphasized in her speech. “We are extremely privileged and therefore have the opportunity as well as a responsibility. Few, if any, in this room, in our black ties and tuxedos, are directly affected by, for example, a ban on Muslim immigrants. But we are some of ones who have the power to share stories of meaning. We need to share that power with those [who] will be most silenced and vulnerable.”
Closing her speech with a call to action, Ellison reiterated that she and her peers are in an incredible position and can truly make a difference. “A lot of people in this room control the gold, so let’s make new rules,” she commented. “The only way I know of to safely handle power is to spread it around. So please share it.”
Ellison has served as producer on films such as “20th Century Women,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Her,” and “Joy.” She is set to produce a new iteration of “A Christmas Carol,” “Downsizing,” Kathryn Bigelow’s as-yet-untitled film about the Detroit Riots, as well as future projects from David O. Russell and Paul Thomas Anderson. Annapurna Pictures recently announced that they are launching a full-service distribution and marketing operation.
You can read Ellison’s PGA speech in its entirety below.
This is an incredible honor to receive from people I’m fortunate enough to now call my peers. Hollywood is a community of insiders that rarely let my kind, an outsider, in. Don’t get me wrong, people were happy enough to take my money from the beginning but to have earned your respect for my work in this way is truly meaningful and moving. Artists and their art brought me back in from the fringes. An extraordinarily talented artist and dear friend of mine, Angela Robinson told me one day I’d find my people and I did. I found them here.
I want to thank the PGA, especially Donald De Line and Amy Pascal. Amy — you’re more important to me than I think you’ll ever realize. I met Amy on my 25th birthday at Sony, we were discussing “The Great Gatsby” with the two producers, Lucy Fisher and Doug Wick, who would later welcome me to the club after we finished “Lawless” together. Amy took me under her wing in many ways but I’ll never forget when early on in my career she sat me down because she was worried about me. She told me I was working with a lot of the most difficult people in the business, and she didn’t want to see me run out of town. She said I was too important. When I asked why, she told me it was because women don’t own anything, they have climbed the corporate ladder but until they own nothing can really change. When she told me this it really struck a chord, reminding me of the golden rule my father taught me. He who has the gold makes the rules.
This is my first job and I have had more than a few moments where I’ve wondered why I do this, but I never wonder for very long because I quickly rediscover my answers. I’m so fortunate that I get to spend my life telling stories, constantly learning how to run an evolving company, and attempting to effect real and positive change.
I have dedicated the last 10 years to art. I made my first film when I was 21 and I turn 31 on Tuesday. This will be a lifelong crusade for me, I feel like I’m just getting started.
My father wanted me to go into politics but when I was told I’d have to cover my tattoos and take out my eyebrow piercing I was out. In fact, when both my brother and I decided to go into this business my father asked what he did wrong.
I mean this is a business that is not known for being a good investment- why on earth would a smart person do this? But then I think of someone who built the most financially successful entertainment company in the world, Walt Disney, who said — “We don’t make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies.”
I want to thank the filmmakers I’ve had the opportunity to work with. Kathryn Bigelow is a hero of mine, a real-life badass. She started her journey as an artist, as a painter, but she realized fine arts are often only available to elites. She wanted to reach more people and have more of an impact. She’s one of the most talented people in this business, and she chooses to spend her time telling stories that are fiercely relevant. Her own story is inspiring as well — We talk about how difficult it is to be a woman in this industry now — and it is — but she’s been directing for 39 years, her first film was a study of male violence, and she doesn’t complain. Perhaps she never had that luxury. I mean Kathryn posted 2 million feet of footage through delivery in 5 months. I’m not naming any names, but most of the fellows take a little longer… She’s a sheer force of nature, and I’m honored to be standing up here next to her.
Movies are a portrait of the people who make them. Artists reveal themselves in their work in a such an intimate way, and I get to see behind the veil — See that the magic isn’t supernatural. It’s human. And everyone who works on a movie leaves their DNA all over it.
I want to thank my people at Annapurna. Please know that I wouldn’t be here without you. You are my friends, my family, not only do you make me look good so I can win an award like this one but you make the hard times bearable. Your love holds me up, we all need that in our lives, and I’m fortunate enough to have found you, or that you found me.
I’m proud that my team is comprised of top tier talent from the multi-billion dollar institutions of this industry as well as a kid from a punk band in the Valley, a military brat who majored in science, and a Canadian or two — in other words, outsiders. I think the combination of the best of what’s come before and the innovative perspective of fresh eyes is what has allowed us to make so many films that I’m so proud of in such a short period of time. And as we grow, our family is becoming more diverse — and the content we’re making reflects that evolution.
I do this because it’s the best way I know how to affect change. Annapurna is a company founded on otherness. A voice coming out of the dark — inspired by the artists who spoke to me when I felt most alone. We aspire to be a safe environment for artists and dreamers so that the voices that need to be heard are there for everyone and anyone who needs them.
I’m in awe when I look around this room. There is so much power within these walls, and the ability to effect real change. The scariest thing we could do now, or ever, is shut up. We may not be curing cancer, as I often hear, but we do have the power of voice, visibility, and communication to a global audience. We are extremely privileged and therefore have the opportunity as well as a responsibility. Few, if any, in this room, in our black ties and tuxedos, are directly affected by, for example, a ban on Muslim immigrants. But we are some of ones who have the power to share stories of meaning. We need to share that power with those will be most silenced and vulnerable.
A lot of people in this room control the gold, so let’s make new rules. I know it’s annoying to be criticized, but for others it’s deadly. The only way I know of to safely handle power is to spread it around. So please share it.
Thank you.
