Who is Sherry Lansing? The story behind how she completely changed the game for women in Hollywood
The power structure in Hollywood is something that is always changing, with market trends and key personnel changing from time to time. However, there are some influential factors that leave a long legacy behind after all is said and done, and Sherry Lansing is undoubtedly such a person.
Changing the game for women in Hollywood, Lansing began her career as an actress and eventually found herself the industry’s first female production president; Which led to an “unprecedented” period of success at a major studio. This is the story of how Ms. Lansing did it, and the successes she achieved along the way.
Sherry Lansing’s Early Careers in Hollywood
Originally, Sherry Lansing worked in Hollywood as an actress; Although her career never started the way she initially hoped. Meanwhile, the Chicago-born mogul felt this turn of fate was for the better in hindsight.
When interviewed for the 2007 book Cosmogirl! Secrets of success: 38 leaders who tell you how to achieve your dreamsSheri summarized her inspiration for making the leap behind the camera as follows:
I always wanted to be in the film business. But I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do in films because I had no idea how to make films. I guess I thought I was going to be an actress, but what I realize now is that what I really wanted to do was create the magic that movies have.
This thirst for movie magic led Sherry Lansing to make some huge career moves in the 1970s. When recounting her leap into the world of screenreading, Stephen Galloway’s 2017 autobiography Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Leading Lady in Hollywood She revealed that it was at the request of producer Ray Wagner, with whom Lansing had worked as an actor in the 1970 film Lovingyou will switch to reading the script.
Ultimately, this path led Sherri Lansing to become executive story editor at MGM in 1975, followed by a move to Columbia Pictures in 1977 as vice president of production. This latest post in particular would give Sherri some historic successes that would help send her to the top level very quickly.
How did Sherri Lansing change the game for women in Hollywood?
As Vice President of Production at Columbia Pictures, Sherry Lansing shepherded two successful films for the studio, both in the same year. 1979 China Syndrome And Kramer v. Kramer Both would be two of the biggest pictures of that year, with the latter winning Best Picture, Director, Actor and Supporting Actress. As stated in Lansing’s biography National Women’s Hall of FameLansing would make history the following year as the first female head of production at 20th Century Fox, home of her studio until 1982.
The production would be the next big step in Cherry’s career, and her partnership with Stanley R. Jaffe built a foundation with Paramount Pictures. Through visits such as Accused, Black rainAnd School relationsMrs. Lansing seems to be at home with the studio; Little did she know that the next phase of her career would see her stay for quite some time.
The Paramount era: an “unprecedented” period of success
Between 1992 and 2005, Sherri Lansing’s “unprecedented tenure” as Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures saw more of her magic touch at work. Looking at the records of those years of work, six of Paramount’s top 10 films came from her era.
The trio of forrest gump, brave heartAnd Titanic Probably the ones that are mentioned most often, as they were all successful at the box office and Oscars. And in the case of Mel Gibson’s Scottish historical epic, that was partly due to the jump from MGM to Paramount, which may have been aided by Ms. Lansing’s history with that studio.
Unfortunately, the end of the Lansing era for Paramount did not bring a rosy step forward. Thanks to the restructuring that took place in the years following Viacom’s acquisition of the studio, many of the people Sheri worked with left the studio.
The weather changed, and Sherry’s feelings about retirement grew. As mentioned in leading lady, It was the following idea that sealed the deal:
If I had waited for the perfect moment, I would never have left. The job became a way of life, and I found a rhythm that worked well over the course of twelve years. But if I don’t start doing the other things that really matter to me, I’ll never be able to do them.
With her decision to move more than a year in advance, Sherrie Lansing and her husband, William Friedkin, celebrated her departure from Paramount on February 16, 2005, in a huge party that celebrated her distinction at the studio. Some might think that “retirement” would be the end of the story, but for Sherri, the next chapter will traverse uncharted and familiar territory.
Sherry Lansing’s third law
As Sherri Lansing comes down the Paramount Pictures mountain, she’s blazing more trails on issues close to her heart. Through organizations such as Sherry Lansing FoundationLansing addressed causes in the fields of education and cancer research that led to the betterment of those within her community, as well as beyond.
Cancer research and raising awareness of the disease were particularly emotional, as Sherri Lansing not only lost her mother to the disease, but also her friend and fellow Hollywood mogul. Spider Man Produced by Laura Ziskin. When describing her motivations for creating the Sherri Lansing Foundation, as well as other organizations and benefits like Stand Up to Cancer, Sherri’s official bio on the foundation’s website says it best:
She left Paramount at the age of sixty. A generation ago, this was retirement age. But my generation has more energy, more motivation, and a greater life expectancy than any group of retirees before us. We will be here for a couple of decades or more past “retirement” age and want to do something relevant to what is called the third chapter of our lives.
“Stand Up Against Cancer” continues to work, The late Alex Trebek was recently honored With the establishment of a special fund in his name. Back in 2007, Sherry Lansing won the prestigious honor of the Jean Hersholdt Humanitarian Award, celebrating all of her philanthropic accomplishments. It is fitting that this award was presented to her only Mission: Impossible Star Tom Cruise, whom she worked with during her time at Paramount.
By redefining the playing field to make room for female executives, as well as peers of her generation who may have wondered what came after “retirement,” Sherri changed the rules of the game for women, while also making room for many others to live up to her example. By service.
