Netflix’s ‘Hollywood’ Exposes Decades-Old Power Dynamics In Tinseltown (Watch)

*“We need you as a leader in the room.” – Ryan Murphy

Ryan Murphy’s latest miniseries pulls back the gilded curtain of Hollywood’s Golden Age, spotlighting biases across race, gender and sexuality.

“Hollywood” premieres Friday (05-01-20) on Netflix and EUR correspondent Fahnia Thomas spoke with love interests Laura Harrier and Darren Criss.

Q: Ryan told (writer/director) Janet Mock, as a woman of color, “we need you as a leader in the room.” Tell us about your first time working with Janet.

Laura Harrier: There were people of color then. There were women of color that we don’t see represented in movies during that time. It was really important for me to have Camille’s story be collaborated with another Black woman. Janet is an interesting person because she has been through so much adversity in her life. She was an amazing guide for me. I really loved plotting with her as a director. She was really supportive, nurturing and (she) brought out so much of me. Talking about Camille’s story and the adversities she was going through might have been more difficult with a different director.

Harrier portrays Camille Washington the only black ingénue on contract at Ace Studios, Camille strives to become a movie star, although her opportunities are unfortunately limited because of racism.

Q: Before signing up for the series, did you know there was a service station that was a SERVICE station?

Laura Harrier: Not until the film!

Darren Criss: When I found out that was a thing happening in the 40s I was really fascinated. It’s kind of what got me interested in this entire story which is just the underbelly of a very glossy time…

Criss portrays Raymond Ainsley, a first-time director hoping to make a hit first film. Though he “passes” for white, he’s half-Filipino and aspires to broaden the stories Hollywood tells.

Netflix’s “Hollywood” drops May 1.

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