For a long time, the overweight people in Hollywood have been good enough for a little comedy. This has changed in recent years. Director Carlota Pereda also contributes her new horror film. In Piggy focuses on the struggles of an overweight woman. For a change, the main character is not sidelined for a joke.
Fatshaming is a form of bullying, Spanish director Pereda tells NU.nl. When people are ridiculed about their body, weight, or eating habits, they are fat shamed.
Filmmakers who engage in this form of bullying are often criticized these days. But that wasn’t always the case. Thirty years ago, fat shaming was ridiculous material. A well-known example is The crazy professor (1996). Sherman (Eddie Murphy in een fat suit) lies on an operating table in a dream. She continues to swell. “He’s gaining weight. We can’t stop him,” the panicked doctors respond.
Sherman escapes the hospital and runs through the city. There he is called “Fatzilla” and “King Kong with boobs”. “He’s going to explode,” shouts a passerby. Then, Sherman lets out a fart that wipes out half the city.
‘The film industry only sees us as an object’
Pereda is clear: Piggy it’s not about fat shame. The story revolves around Sara (Laura Galán), an accomplice in the kidnapping and murder of her bullies. The film shows what happens when someone doesn’t feel seen or heard because of her weight. “It’s actually a superhero movie,” explains the director. “It’s about the resurrection of innocent Sara. It’s a coming-of-age story.”
Fat shaming is a touchy subject. This is also evident when NU.nl contacts various Dutch actresses to talk about their experiences. While these actresses have been candid in previous interviews, they regret that the discussion is still about weight. And therefore they do not want to talk to NU.nl.
“Fat actresses aren’t hired because producers want famous names,” Shannon Purser previously said AND! News. According to Stranger thingsactress, there are few well-known overweight actors, because they simply don’t stand a chance. “Because the film industry only sees us as an object.” The 25-year-old actress felt lonely because she didn’t feel understood and she saw few examples.
Surrender if you don’t wear a nice straitjacket
The shortage of overweight people in Hollywood is no coincidence. “It’s all about profit in the movie business,” says Pereda. Attractive people bring in money. And if you don’t fit into that thin and beautiful straitjacket, it’s suffering. Especially for women, says the director.
A good example is the story of Kate Winslet. Her road to success was not easy. Early in her career, she nearly landed the role of Rose Titanic (1997) because he feared criticism of his appearance. The actress was bullied a lot in high school. Her peers said she would never make it in Hollywood because she was “too fat.”
After the release of Titanic Winslet remembered it painfully; gossip magazines covered his body and even bet how much he weighed. Comedian Joan Rivers made a joke about the famous scene where Rose and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) fail to fit on the floating door and Jack drowns. “If Kate had lost some weight, he would have just adjusted.”
According to director Pereda, the film industry has turned 30 since then Titanic change, but that’s not enough. Movies like The crazy professor see them made. “It’s just that the conversations within traditional television are now more about people than about money. But that’s not enough.”
Pereda doesn’t want to hear words, but to see actions. During castings for her films, therefore, she doesn’t look at someone’s size. “It just has to be about someone’s talent, right?”
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