Women Who Run the Show: How a Brilliant and Creative New Generation of Women Stormed Hollywoodby Mollie Gregory (Cover via Amazon)

I am saddened.
Hollywood Producer Laura Ziskin succumbs to cancer today.
She was one of the women i have long looked up to in this business, since i worked with her on PRETTY WOMAN for the late Steve Reuther.
She was partners with writer/producer Bob Garland,
one of the uncredited writers brought in by her on the film, and i was brought in by Reuther as the writer’s assistant during filming. 

Laura’s comments in the book WOMEN WHO RUN THE SHOW: “Movies are arguably the most influential, important medium in the world. They have a tremendous cultural impact. Because women are now making movies, then women’s ideas, philosophy, point of view will seep into that culture. And that’s never happened in history. Ever, ever, ever. We can’t even see the impact of that yet.”
are a brilliant foreshadowing of what is already starting to occur; i think sooner, rather than later, her prophetic statement will become an actuality… i’ve been aiming toward it for a long time, and i’m beginning to feel it. 

Thanks Laura Ziskin, Your Promising Words are Forever Etched on Women Filmmakers’ Dreams, Hopes & Heartfelt Truths~snb

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/06/laura-ziskin-spider-man-died-obituary-stand-up-to-cancer.html

Laura Ziskin, ‘Spider-Man’ producer and Hollywood trailblazer, dies at 61
June 12, 2011 | 10:55 pm

Outside the film world she was best known for her efforts in helping to found Stand Up to Cancer, a research initiative she founded with Katie Couric, former Paramount chief Sherry Lansing and others. The organization, which held a high-profile Hollywood telethon (her comments to The Times from the red carpet at last summer’s event can be seen here) that drew on the star power of the media and entertainment world to raise money for cancer research. (Please see The Times’ official obituary shortly for more on her life and legacy.)

At the Producers Guild Awards this past January, Ziskin’s voice was weak when she received the group’s visionary award. She spoke about cancer’s destruction on families and the importance of encouraging cancer researchers to collaborate on their work. “In my world the hero always defeats the villain, the boy always gets the girl, and cancer is no more,” she said.

But perhaps her most lasting impact will lie in how she was able to penetrate the inner circle of A-list producers, for decades considered an all-boys club. In Mollie Gregory’s 2002 book about women and Hollywood, “Women Who Run the Show,” Ziskin had one of the most memorable quotes.

“Men have built the cities, made and defined the culture, interpreted the world. At no time in recorded history have women been culture-makers,” she said.

“Movies are arguably the most influential, important medium in the world. They have a tremendous cultural impact. Because women are now making movies, then women’s ideas, philosophy, point of view will seep into that culture. And that’s never happened in history. Ever, ever, ever. We can’t even see the impact of that yet.”

Related articles

• Laura Ziskin: Standing Up To Cancer: Celeb Survivors Speak Out (huffingtonpost.com)
• ‘Spider-Man’ movie franchise producer Laura Ziskin dies at 61 (news-briefs.ew.com)