Zoe Kravitz is stepping into the world of directing with her new movie Blink Twice, but this film originally had a much bolder and more provocative title. The 35-year-old actress and budding filmmaker recently shared the reasons behind the title change, and it’s quite an interesting journey.
Initially, the movie was called Pussy Island, a title that certainly grabs attention. However, Zoe encountered several hurdles in keeping this daring name. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she explained, “It was made very clear to me that ‘p—y’ is a word that we, our society, are not ready to embrace yet.” The bold title faced numerous obstacles, ranging from the MPAA’s reluctance to feature it on posters, billboards, and kiosks to movie theaters’ hesitance to print it on tickets.
Zoe was also surprised by the reaction from women, who did not feel empowered by the title as she had hoped. She said, “Interestingly enough, after researching it, women were offended by the word, and women seeing the title were saying, ‘I don’t want to see that movie,’ which is part of the reason I wanted to try and use the word, which is trying to reclaim the word, and not make it something that we’re so uncomfortable using. But we’re not there yet. And I think that’s something I have the responsibility as a filmmaker to listen to. I care about people seeing the film, and I care about how it makes people feel.”
For Zoe, the title Pussy Island was meant to be a statement, an attempt to reclaim and destigmatize the word. She believed it could serve as a provocative way to challenge societal norms and start a conversation about language and empowerment. But the feedback she received made her realize that the timing wasn’t right for such a bold move.
As a filmmaker, Zoe felt it was crucial to listen to her audience. “I think that’s something I have the responsibility as a filmmaker to listen to. I care about people seeing the film, and I care about how it makes people feel,” she said. This sensitivity to her audience’s feelings and perceptions ultimately led her to change the title to Blink Twice.
The new title, Blink Twice, still carries intrigue and mystery, fitting the film’s narrative while avoiding the controversy the original name stirred. Zoe’s decision reflects her adaptability and awareness as a filmmaker, showing that she values her audience’s comfort and openness to seeing her work.
