Entertainment
Scooter Braun's 'JEM' Movie: Six Women Who Should Produce it Instead
So this whole Tumblr-cast #JemTheMovie Scooter Braun joint is a bit...perplexing to say the least. Justin Bieber's manager/professional diaper-changer Scooter Braun is producing a live-action version of the 80's animated classic Jem and the Holograms. And yes, the entire film will be cast via Tumblr submissions. Along with Braun, Paranormal Activity filmmaker Jason Blum and G.I. Joe direction Jon M. Chu are also set to join the project. So by the sounds of things, Jem and the Holograms is weirdly going to be a total sausage-fest (at least behind the camera). Which is sort of a shame because Jem and the Holograms was created by a very talented woman by the name of Christy Marx (who also wrote plenty of other adventure series like Conan:The Adventurer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and it feels more than a bit off that a movie about these iconic female characters is so full of hyper-testosterone.
In fact, we think there are plenty of female filmmakers, showrunners, writers and producers out there who would do greater justice to the neon fantasy world of Jem and the Holograms. Here are our top picks.
Mindy Kaling
Yes, yes, we’d basically say Mindy Kaling should be behind every project ever…but it’s with good reason. We’d love to see Ms. Kaling take on the big screen. Who better to take on a project about female rockstars with an affinity for glitter and kicking ass? Exactly.
Diablo Cody
Diablo Cody sort of re-wrote the book on Female heroes in the 00s. She’s always been punk-rock in her approach to writing and filmmaking and her penchant for dry humor would be a stellar contrast to the flashy universe of JEM and the Holograms.
Jenji Kohan
Jenji Kohan has done A LOT for women in television. Not only is she the woman responsible for Orange is the New Black and Weeds, she’s also written and produced for Gilmore Girls and Sex and the City. Her take on JEM would be such a far cry from whatever Braun has up his sleeve…in fact, we think Kohan is the polar opposite and it’s probably exactly what the project needs.
Amy Poehler
In case you missed it, Amy Poehler is the reason why your new favorite series Broad City is gracing our lives every week with its brutally honest and relatable humor. Poehler’s ‘tude is both no-nonsense (when it comes to the fair treatment of women) and infectiously positive. She is the ultimate Hollywood rockstar in our book, so ya know, she should totally make a movie about female rockstars.
Mira Nair
Nair is one of the most accomplished female filmmakers in Hollywood and her films are simultaneously grandiose and charming. She’s best known for Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake and Salaam Bombay!. Nair’s dedication to Indian representation and arts in her film would bring much-needed diversity and we already know she can take on big-scale productions.