Virgil Williams: What 2017 Films Meant to Me

Awards Circuit reached out to several of this year's awards contenders and asked them to write the answer to the question, "What did 2017 films mean to them?"  Through the lens of actors, writers, filmmakers, and craftsmen and women, we will hear directly from the talent themselves and have them reflect on a year that has proven both successful and challenging.  

"Girl Power"
by Virgil Williams (co-writer and executive producer of "Mudbound")

To explain what movies meant to me in 2017 I really have to give some context and start with the bizarre year that was 2016. In 2016 a bunch of my idols died, my hometown Chicago Cubs actually won a World Series and a racist, misogynist, homophobe won the Presidency of the United States. I am the father of two daughters and I can remember talking to my 10-year-old the morning after the election. And in the same conversation, I told her that 1) Just because someone has power doesn’t make them right. Follow your own heart and never let anything, especially authority, shift what you know to be good and true. And 2) No one is allowed to touch your body, even in a friendly way, unless you decide it’s okay. In other words, I made it clear that if a man ever tried to “grab her by the pu*sy”, she should use that black belt she earned in Tae Kwon Do and kick him in the face. Repeatedly.

But then Christmas came a little early when I found out that my very first feature film, “Mudbound” was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival. It was a dream come
true. And my wife excitedly started planning a kid-free weekend -- moms out there, I know you understand. And happy wife, happy life so I was on board. Until I did the math. For 70% of my 10-year-old’s life and for 100% of my 6-year old's life I had been writing and/or dreaming about that film. And I knew both girls needed to see with their own eyes what you can manifest with hard work, tenacity, and faith. So, instead, my incredible wife got a weekend away with me, the kids and her mom. Not exactly what she had in mind. But it ended up better than she could’ve imagined.

My kids are So Cal born and bred. So snow is a big deal. And the morning we woke up to go to the Women’s March in Park City it was a magical blanket of white and coming down hard. And watching my daughters, eyes wide with wonder, as they marched in that snow alongside legions of strong, creative women was life-changing for me. I can only imagine the impression it must have made on their young minds.

And then there was the premiere. It was the first time I’d seen the movie. And it was transcendent. I was not only overwhelmed with the pure emotion of the film -- but the
standing ovation. I could never have dreamed of that. And all I could do was cry while I hugged my wife and daughter saying, “We did it.” over and over again.

But then, my daughter got to actually meet Dee Rees, the visionary black woman who directed her father’s film. Not a white guy, but a courageous, openly gay, black woman. And that set the tone for my 2017. And we got Wonder Woman. Lady Bird. First They Killed My Father. Detroit. To the Bone. And Mudbound. All powerhouse movies directed by women. And I want more.

Because I’m raising two girls to be the kind of women who break stereotypes and access their true power. And hopefully, in 2018 they keep hearing their stories told by women and seeing themselves represented on the screen, not as victims or objects of desire. But as 3-dimensional heroes, villains and agents and change.

After years of struggle, in 2017 women in cinema found a voice. And I can’t wait to hear what they have to say in the years to come.

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