Bold, Brave Women

Academy Award–winning filmmaker Cynthia Wade ’89 had the experience of a lifetime directing three episodes of Gutsy, Apple TV+’s celebration of brave women. Here, she shares things she learned about gutsiness when directing Hillary and Chelsea Clinton in the series.

“Never stop asking questions. Hillary Clinton is the most curious person I have ever met. Whether crafting rings with Gloria Steinem ’56, as she did in Episode 4, or forging into nature, as she did with Chelsea in Episode 5, Secretary Clinton kept asking questions. Gutsiness isn’t having every answer and showing off the things you know. Gutsiness is stepping out of your comfort zone and learning new things.

“Say yes to what scares you. Especially when it scares you. Every gutsy woman featured on this series—women from all backgrounds and from every corner of the country—experienced trepidation. They went ahead anyway. It’s tempting to shrink into the self-doubt that has been imposed upon us by a world that wants us to stand still. Gutsiness requires refusing this stillness.

“Some people want gutsy women to go away. We mustn’t. Smart, ambitious women are told—implicitly and explicitly—that they are too loud, too ambitious, too opinionated, too difficult. Stay visible and use your voice: This is the single most gutsy thing you can do.”

GUTSY
Episodes 4, 5, 7 directed by Cynthia Wade ’89

This story appears as part of the Smithies Create column in the Fall 2022 issue of the Smith Alumnae Quarterly.

Cynthia Wade ’89 directs Hillary Clinton and Gloria Steinem ’56 in Episode 4 of Apple TV+’s Gutsy. Photograph by Heidi Gutman. Courtesy of Apple.