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Gender Roles

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I know I’m not the only one to bring this up, but it seems to have been a hot topic this week for some of the writers I follow on twitter and it seems irresponsible to not address it and voice my own opinion on the matter.

I read a lot of scripts. However, out of all the scripts that I have read, 1% of them have had a female lead. I’m not even exaggerating this. Why is this a problem? Because women already have a hard enough time getting recognition in the work place and an industry with such widespread influence only continues to back and support those old beliefs.

There has been so much discussion regarding this topic over the past few months, Mystery Executive  and Mystery Cre8tive, have been more than vocal about their feelings regarding women in Hollywood and the (pun intended) shaft that the industry gives them. Both have made a call for change. That change though can be jumpstarted by you, the writer. You are placed in a pivotal role; you have the opportunity to provide said material for women.

Let’s look at the most popular movie of the year, FROZEN. Strong female characters are the core of the film, so the last thing I want to hear is that strong female characters can’t sell movie tickets. While the movie is animated, that might be a good thing. We need to influence and change perspective and in if the current generations are unwilling to budge, let’s teach the generations that are coming of age to look beyond gender lines. Let’s teach kids that women have just as much power and influence over the world as men. Let’s break those lines down and create something great: true, genuine equality for the women working in the world.

Olivia Wilde has also recently spoken out about the inequalities of the roles for women, noting that in a table read the women read the parts that were written for the men and vice versa. The conclusion: the men were bored. And why were they bored? Because women get some of the most boring roles and some of the weakest comedic lines and they aren’t given the opportunity to really show that they can do everything that men can do. Let’s give women the chance. Let’s give them the opportunity to shine on the screen, TV or Film. Let’s give women the opportunity to produce, to direct… Women can offer so much more than they have been allowed and the time has come.

I know I can’t expect to change the world or the opinions of everyone. But I do hope that I start getting more scripts with women that I would want to be, or if I had children, would want my children to aspire to be like. 

About the Author


I read scripts and provide coverage and notes. This is my chance to hopefully offer some helpful advice, and relay some war stories as we go as well. 

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I agree with "Djdlad's" comment that the "best way

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warrenrhull
» 3983 days ago (Jun 5th, 2014 2:08 PM)
I agree with "Djdlad's" comment that the "best way to promote a female lead is to write a true story." My screenplay Family Secret has a very, very strong, and exceptionally unique, female lead. It has taken top honors at a number of film festivals while male reviewers give the story high marks, female reviewer are the stories strongest advocates. My issue for getting the story made is it is a period piece (1930's and 1940's Los Angeles) so the cost of doing the project keeps many from giving it consideration. The next step for all stories with a female lead is to keep doing what you can do to see the story move from concept to produced film.

Role model for women of today young and old! If t

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Djdlad
» 3994 days ago (May 25th, 2014 5:16 AM)
Role model for women of today young and old! If the film industry is serious about promoting strong female leads and gender parity, my screenplay Helen Highwater would be a great place to start! if anyone has realistic suggestions, please contact me at ddoherty9@yahoo.com. Thank you.

Movies 1913-1929,, she was firs to entertain troop

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Djdlad
» 3994 days ago (May 25th, 2014 5:10 AM)
Movies 1913-1929,, she was firs to entertain troops at fort Devens and Chelsea naval 1917-1918, she became a wife and mother at 35! it's an amazing story, Helen's achievements started over a hundred years ago. They would be impressive by today's standards. she would be a tremendous

Best way to promote female lead is to write a true

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Djdlad
» 3994 days ago (May 25th, 2014 5:01 AM)
Best way to promote female lead is to write a true story. I have one! Just finished screenplay about my grandmother Helen M. Roche. She was a pilot, musician, mother, pioneer and trailblazer! Helen was first licensed aviatrix in M***achusetts 1928, first female to play organ at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall 1921, first to play organ on radio 1914, worked in Vaudeville and silent

I have a very strong female lead character. When I

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mpyefinch
» 4032 days ago (Apr 17th, 2014 11:17 PM)
I have a very strong female lead character. When I pitched it to a production company, the suggestion they had - make it a male lead character. A screenwriter can't even get up to bat lately with a strong female lead. Is it because the strong female lead doesn't sell well to the foreign markets?