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Hollywood - The Second Step

Name: Hollywood - The Second Step
Director: Felix E. Feist
Released: 1936
Duration: 11 min

Representation Score

1.0/10

Minimal

1936

Approved

Director

Felix E. Feist

Runtime

11 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This 1936 documentary offers a glimpse into the homogeneous professional environment of the early studio era. It follows a linear, traditional narrative of professional advancement, reinforcing the status quo of its time. The film lacks multi-layered complexity, focusing instead on the career path of a white actress. This narrow scope results in a lack of representation across most diversity metrics. Ultimately, the work functions more as an industrial promotion than a nuanced social study, prioritizing the mechanics of the studio system over diverse human experiences.

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Category Breakdown

Does Hollywood - The Second Step have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any visible LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities. It portrays a traditional industry setting focused on a conventional professional journey.

How does Hollywood - The Second Step portray gender?

Limited

Jane Barnes, the female lead, has limited ability to act. She is shown primarily as a stand-in for technical setups rather than as an independent creator.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Hollywood - The Second Step?

Minimal

The documentary centers on a white actress within the mainstream studio system. It does not include any perspectives from non-Anglo-Saxon cultures or diverse casting.

How does Hollywood - The Second Step represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative highlights the Hollywood studio system and the American Dream. It upholds Western institutional structures without critiquing social hierarchies or capitalism.

Does Hollywood - The Second Step include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not mention any individuals with visible or invisible disabilities. Its focus remains on the mechanical aspects of film production.

Present on Screen

Provides visibility for a female protagonist within the historical Hollywood landscape.

Limited or Absent

Lacks racial and ethnic diversity, focusing solely on a white actress.
Does not include any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or disability.
Depicts female labor through a lens of technical utility rather than creative ability to act.

Official Synopsis

This short follows the early career of actress Jane Barnes. She starts by doing extra work. After several months she is offered a studio contract (the "first step"). However, her work consists mostly of fashion shoots and bit parts that end up on the cutting room floor. She is even used as a stand-in for Maureen O'Sullivan on the set of a Tarzan movie when camera angles and lighting must be set up.

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