Wow, I'm surprised she chose to treat you that way - in front of people, too! I'm going to give her a huge benefit of the doubt and assume she took particular issue with your using the word "masculine" to describe characters she'd written. And while I personally agree with that usage, maybe Gale is of the mind that the things we'd call "masculine" about Ripley and Sarah shouldn't be exclusively masculine
Wow, that did seem kinda rude to cut you off and dismiss your question in a condescending way, limiting the topic with you but allowing others to inquire beyond Terminator. Your interpretation, even if she disagrees, should be given validation since you are a fan. People say never meet your heroes, cuz this kind of interaction and misunderstanding can happen. You’d think they would be on their most pleasant behavior during Q&As. Sorry you had this experience.
I've never met her, but I've heard similar stories about both Hurd and Cameron in how they talk about Sarah (and Ripley), and I think there's a couple of things at play.
Hurd has definitely had men in the business try to pull stuff over on her and she maintains a sharp and pragmatic approach to the dealings of Hollywood. She's easily one of the smartest and most respected producers in the business. I'm sorry your experience with her was less than kind.
With regards to the characters, first, I think the way the character is interpreted vs. how she was written and played is the biggest factor. You led with the character being considered masculine and, in your piece, ask who the creator is to tell you about the character. Respectfully, why, then, would you ask anything at all about her?
While you may not care what the intentions of the creators were for the character, there is in fact an way Sarah was supposed to come off as existing in the world. She was written as a highly complex character, built on not only the minds of James Cameron (and eventually Bill Wisher), but the experiences of Linda Hamilton, who specifically asked Cameron to write her as crazy in T2 because of the knowledge Sarah would have had to deal with, and who in real life had had horrific nightmares for about 9 months about being chased by the T-800 following the wrap of the first film and was dealing with a terrible divorce after the birth of her son, Dalton (who played toddler John). Sarah was supposed to be a ferocious mother, who in her obsession with the horror to come and reaching for any way to stop it, lost some of her humanity and connection to her son--exemplified perfectly by the expectation of a hug turned into a wound check--until she came back into the presence of her son, whose interactions recalibrated her. Hamilton herself talked about putting her rage around her divorce and her love of her son into the role.
Second, there are different interpretations of masculine and feminine, and Hurd may not have been in tune with your personal interpretation. From how you led the question, it seems like you may have been talking about a perceived outward projection of masculine energy based on the presentation of Sarah's actions and, possibly, her physicality. But to Hurd, this is a superficial interpretation that does not reach down to the depth of character motivation. Instead, the character of the "Mama Bear" is an extension of the power of the feminine--in spite of the use of typically masculine heroic journeys and actions in the various scenarios of the films.
Anyone who has seen a woman give birth can testify to the difference in feminine power and ferocity and determination. It's, frankly, awe-inspiring. And it's absolutely not a masculine thing in either its presentation or energy. It's hard to articulate, and I don't want to come off here as anything but respectful of and humbled by that energy, nor as mansplaining an energy or experience you have experience with (and I apologize if I got anywhere near that in this discussion). But that energy is what Sarah, and Ripley, for that matter, were in. It's key to their main motivations. So Hurd stopping you there makes sense in that context, however rude it was.
I couldn’t care less about views, just wanted to know if anyone else has met Gale and had a similar experience, since I was quite hurt by the whole thing
If you do not care about views then post the damn thing here and not a link.
As a general rule i personally find interactions with any celebrity or person as a experience which could have been different any given day. Maybe she was having a bad day, maybe she took the question wrong, maybe it struck a cord with her, maybe it as one she has answered million times before, i do not know, but i would not read too much into it beyond it just did not work out and i am sorry you had an unpleasant experience but since the question appears to be about writing, and you posted a picture from T2 which Gale DID NOT write.... perhaps that was the issue.
Cant say I've met Hurd. With that kind of question, I can understand why she would have nothing to say. Sarah and Ripley were not masculine. That was sort of the whole big thing about having these female heroes, is that they are much different. Its what paved the way for the later generation to have female action stars. Vasquez in Aliens had some masculinity to her but that was intentional. Can't say the same about Sarah Connor in T2 or Ripley in Aliens. The big element in these two heroic characters is that they have a vulnerability. Thats where , at least in Cameron's movies, transforms the female into the survivor/warrior/hero.
>I was thinking, “who is the creator to tell me what is the correct interpretation of their work”
Well, every creator. The creator presents it a very specific way. Theres only one correct way to interpret it. And several other ways to interpret it either by mistake or by choice for your own enjoyment.
Its not like a song and lyrics , where the listener can interpret and mold the song to be whatever they want or what moves them. You can't really do that with a movie unless its intent is to allow the viewer to have various vague interpretations.
Wow, I'm surprised she chose to treat you that way - in front of people, too! I'm going to give her a huge benefit of the doubt and assume she took particular issue with your using the word "masculine" to describe characters she'd written. And while I personally agree with that usage, maybe Gale is of the mind that the things we'd call "masculine" about Ripley and Sarah shouldn't be exclusively masculine
I agree!
Wow, that did seem kinda rude to cut you off and dismiss your question in a condescending way, limiting the topic with you but allowing others to inquire beyond Terminator. Your interpretation, even if she disagrees, should be given validation since you are a fan. People say never meet your heroes, cuz this kind of interaction and misunderstanding can happen. You’d think they would be on their most pleasant behavior during Q&As. Sorry you had this experience.
Thanks man, yeah never meet your heroes
Wow what a rude person! I can see why she wouldn’t agree but her dismissiveness was unfair and ridiculous.
I've never met her, but I've heard similar stories about both Hurd and Cameron in how they talk about Sarah (and Ripley), and I think there's a couple of things at play. Hurd has definitely had men in the business try to pull stuff over on her and she maintains a sharp and pragmatic approach to the dealings of Hollywood. She's easily one of the smartest and most respected producers in the business. I'm sorry your experience with her was less than kind. With regards to the characters, first, I think the way the character is interpreted vs. how she was written and played is the biggest factor. You led with the character being considered masculine and, in your piece, ask who the creator is to tell you about the character. Respectfully, why, then, would you ask anything at all about her? While you may not care what the intentions of the creators were for the character, there is in fact an way Sarah was supposed to come off as existing in the world. She was written as a highly complex character, built on not only the minds of James Cameron (and eventually Bill Wisher), but the experiences of Linda Hamilton, who specifically asked Cameron to write her as crazy in T2 because of the knowledge Sarah would have had to deal with, and who in real life had had horrific nightmares for about 9 months about being chased by the T-800 following the wrap of the first film and was dealing with a terrible divorce after the birth of her son, Dalton (who played toddler John). Sarah was supposed to be a ferocious mother, who in her obsession with the horror to come and reaching for any way to stop it, lost some of her humanity and connection to her son--exemplified perfectly by the expectation of a hug turned into a wound check--until she came back into the presence of her son, whose interactions recalibrated her. Hamilton herself talked about putting her rage around her divorce and her love of her son into the role. Second, there are different interpretations of masculine and feminine, and Hurd may not have been in tune with your personal interpretation. From how you led the question, it seems like you may have been talking about a perceived outward projection of masculine energy based on the presentation of Sarah's actions and, possibly, her physicality. But to Hurd, this is a superficial interpretation that does not reach down to the depth of character motivation. Instead, the character of the "Mama Bear" is an extension of the power of the feminine--in spite of the use of typically masculine heroic journeys and actions in the various scenarios of the films. Anyone who has seen a woman give birth can testify to the difference in feminine power and ferocity and determination. It's, frankly, awe-inspiring. And it's absolutely not a masculine thing in either its presentation or energy. It's hard to articulate, and I don't want to come off here as anything but respectful of and humbled by that energy, nor as mansplaining an energy or experience you have experience with (and I apologize if I got anywhere near that in this discussion). But that energy is what Sarah, and Ripley, for that matter, were in. It's key to their main motivations. So Hurd stopping you there makes sense in that context, however rude it was.
I once asked a question at a celeb Q&A where the attendee misinterpreted my question...it was not my favorite moment, I'll be honest.
In interviews on DVD extras, she's always come across to me as somewhat off-putting.
So are we just funneling views to your article? or are we having a discussion about something we can not do unless we funnel views to your article?
I couldn’t care less about views, just wanted to know if anyone else has met Gale and had a similar experience, since I was quite hurt by the whole thing
If you do not care about views then post the damn thing here and not a link. As a general rule i personally find interactions with any celebrity or person as a experience which could have been different any given day. Maybe she was having a bad day, maybe she took the question wrong, maybe it struck a cord with her, maybe it as one she has answered million times before, i do not know, but i would not read too much into it beyond it just did not work out and i am sorry you had an unpleasant experience but since the question appears to be about writing, and you posted a picture from T2 which Gale DID NOT write.... perhaps that was the issue.
Cant say I've met Hurd. With that kind of question, I can understand why she would have nothing to say. Sarah and Ripley were not masculine. That was sort of the whole big thing about having these female heroes, is that they are much different. Its what paved the way for the later generation to have female action stars. Vasquez in Aliens had some masculinity to her but that was intentional. Can't say the same about Sarah Connor in T2 or Ripley in Aliens. The big element in these two heroic characters is that they have a vulnerability. Thats where , at least in Cameron's movies, transforms the female into the survivor/warrior/hero. >I was thinking, “who is the creator to tell me what is the correct interpretation of their work” Well, every creator. The creator presents it a very specific way. Theres only one correct way to interpret it. And several other ways to interpret it either by mistake or by choice for your own enjoyment. Its not like a song and lyrics , where the listener can interpret and mold the song to be whatever they want or what moves them. You can't really do that with a movie unless its intent is to allow the viewer to have various vague interpretations.
A "flame thrower that launches grenades"?
Def not gonna bother given that url