‘Twilight’ Director Reflects on Gender Bias After the Film’s Success

When “Twilight” was released in 2008, it made $69 million on its opening weekend. For a film that cost $37 million to make, everyone was amazed by the public’s response, including Director Catherine Hardwicke.

“Every studio in town turned this down,” Hardwicke said on the “Happy Sad Confused” Watchalong podcast. “MTV and Paramount, they put it in turnaround. Everyone said we weren’t making this. Even when I started on the job, they said, ‘You know, “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” was a popular book for girls. It made $29 million. That’s probably all this movie can ever make.’ Of course our opening weekend was $69 million and we made $400 million overall. Nobody could predict it!”

Unsurprisingly, when presents were handed out celebrating its success, Hardwicke was expecting something more than a mini cupcake.

Hardwicke Recalls Receiving a Cupcake While Male Directors Get ‘Whatever You Want’

In an interview with The Guardian, Hardwicke discussed visiting the offices of Summit Entertainment, the studio that produced “Twilight.” It was clear at this point that “Twilight” was a success. She said that she knew some male directors had received extravagant gifts when films did well. “A car, or a three-picture deal, or [getting] to do basically whatever you want,” she said.

Hardwicke didn’t receive any of those things. “I walked into a room with all these gifts, and everybody was congratulating the studio, and they gave me a box. I opened it up, and it was a mini cupcake.”

Even more frustrating was not being invited back for the sequels. Instead, they were directed by Chris Weitz, David Slade, and Bill Condon. Her follow-up was the fantasy film, “Red Riding Hood,” starring Amanda Seyfried. But Hardwicke is proud of one aspect of her career: she got her way with casting on most of her films. She fought for Robert Pattinson, and Evan Rachel Wood’s career was launched after starring in Hardwicke’s “Thirteen.” Jeremy Renner’s got his start in her movie, “Lords of Dogtown.”

“I gave him an early shot,” Hardwicke said of “The Avengers” star. “I thought Jeremy and Shea Whigham would be funny brothers who sell [cocaine].

“I love all of my kids,” she added.

Hardwicke Sneaks Her ‘Good Values’ Into Her Films

Hardwicke is also proud of her ability to subtly incorporate her ethics into her movies.

“One of the reasons I made it [‘Twilight’] is to help people love the planet, and love trees and nature,” she told A Rabbit’s Foot. “It was my idea to have Bella be a vegetarian and we go to the greenhouse where you see the recycling compost. I was just kind of putting in messages about loving our planet.”

And she continues to do so, as she explains with her most recent film, “Street Smart.”

“We shot on my street, so it’s very close to my heart,” she told The Guardian. “It’s a love letter to Venice, because we have so many eccentric, strange characters of all economic levels.

“Everybody’s going through so much, and [there’s] such high rent in LA,” she continued. “Even if you have a job, you still might be homeless, crashing here [and] there, because a job doesn’t pay that much. The kids in our movie have jobs – how do you make ends meet?”

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