Few actors have remained as relevant as Reece Witherspoon. From her film debut in 1991 to her upcoming Hollywood projects, Witherspoon’s career has just officially spanned a quarter of a century. Without a doubt this varied body of work is one of the most impressive in the industry. But her satisfaction levels have not always been as high as you might think.
Only managing a single voiceover job in the year of 2009 could have been seen as the death rattle of Witherspoon’s career and a far cry from her twenty million dollar pay cheques for the Legally Blonde films and her Oscar winning performance in Walk The Line. Reece’s frustrations with the industry reached boiling point as she realised that her struggles were not unique to her. Witnessing six of her favourite actresses fight over the same “crappy role” in a movie was enough to rouse her to action, so in protest Witherspoon started her own production company.
What has followed could only be described as a dream run for her young company named Pacific Standard. The box office success of last year’s ‘Gone Girl’ and the critical acclaim of ‘Wild’ – starring Witherspoon in the leading role and earning her an academy award nomination for best actress – has launched the Pacific Standard into the industry in the most dominant of ways. It would appear that this momentum is being capitalised on by Witherspoon and long-time friend and producer (now business partner) Bruna Papandrea with no less than ten films in pre-production including three which are scheduled for release in 2015/2016.
When asked what drives her passion for the industry Witherspoon said “I set out with the idea that I wanted to develop material that has strong female leads. I just wanted to make movies about what I want to put into the world – put some good into the world,” according to The Huffington Post’s ‘Entertainment’.
It would appear that the story of Pacific Standard is not unique with many new production companies entering the market, each with niche views on the film industry. In the case of Witherspoon it was her frustration with seeing women have disproportionately fewer choices of acting roles in Hollywood than their male counterparts.
“We deserve better,” she said. “It’s great to speak up, but what I really think is you’ve got to do something.
Pacific Standard’s first two successes in the above mentioned ‘Gone Girl’ and ‘Wild’ came from novel and memoir adaptations; projects which Withspoon and Papandrea identified as high quality material and optioned the movie rights before the books were even released. This forethought and early action is evidence that Pacific Standard is not a company working from the fringe but rather an outfit with a finger on the cultural pulse of the industry.
Partnering an established actor with an experienced producer appears to have created the perfect mix and one which has both parties feeling appreciative for the chance to work with the other.
“I’ve always been impressed by Bruna’s taste and her skills as a producer. I’m very excited to be working with her,” Witherspoon stated. “It’s a pleasure to collaborate with someone so smart, fun and formidable.”
Said Papandrea: “In Reese I have found a like-minded and incredibly passionate partner who genuinely shares the same goals. I’ve had a wonderful time producing movies independently but I couldn’t be more excited about the company and brand we will create together,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Witherspoon and Papandrea’s fresh approach and ideology of equal opportunity for women in Hollywood is quickly elevating Pacific Standard from start up company to heavy hitter in the ever diversifying world of Hollywood. It will be exciting to see if the young venture can continue its trend of success with projects yet to come.