March is Women’s History Month, but we should be celebrating all year. Women artists’ perceptions and stories offer a valuable contribution to society, but statistics show a lowly percentage of plays and films produced by and about women. Just to make you aware: Only 17 % of plays produced on national non-profit stages are written by women. (Wilner, Jordan, The Dramatist,Sept.-Oct.2009)
It’s not that women aren’t writing plays and trying to get them produced. It’s impossible without an agent, and agents rudely ignore your query or send your letter back with a note scribbled, “Not interested without a professional recommendation.” There are a lot of closed doors.
As a person who believes fervently in equality, I’ve been working with advocacy groups through the Dramatists Guild and with 50/50 in 2020 to improve opportunities for women to have our work produced in theater and in films. We need your support. Here’s how you can help:
- If you are in NY, use this listing of plays by women from NYTheatre.com. It has committed to cover as many plays by women playwrights this year as plays by men. They will team with 50/50 in 2020 to create online profiles of women playwrights and theatre companies that specialize in work by women.
- To show our appreciation for this initiative, please opt in to receive weekly updates via email, and a listing of plays by women in NYC.
- Tell theater party organizers (in any city) that you want to see plays by and about women.
- Mention this on Facebook, tell your friends, tell a theatre manager or board member, write letters to editors, tweet, spread the word.
- When a theatre calls asking you to subscribe, ask,”How many women playwrights? How many women directors? How many roles for women? How many women designers?” Our support should depend on how close they are to gender parity.
- Celebrate SWAN DAY/ Support Women Artists Now Day, Saturday, March 27, at a woman’s art exhibit, concert, film, play, or book reading.
What about women and films?
24% of women work in a key behind-the-scenes role (directors, writers, producers, cinematographers, and editors) on independent festival films, compared with 16% for high budget studio films. YET WE ARE IN THE MAJORITY IN THE POPULATION. The first step to change is awareness. Here are some things you can do:
- Attend opening week-end films by and about women to boost their commercial status.
- Subscribe to this blog’s newsletter that keeps you aware of films by and about women.
- Join your local women’s film organization. In NY, NYWIFT (New York Women in Film and Television) has 2,000 women working in different aspects of filmmaking. Happily, I’ve found a place where I can work with other professionals to improve the pathetic statistics.
- Check out my new online column, Where are the Women? which is aimed at Tracking coverage of women in the media for NYWICI (New York Women in Communications).
Be aware, be indignant, be pro-active. Onward and upward.
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Barbara Sutton Masry is a playwright, screenwriter, producer, and activist whose independent feature film, “A Wake-up Call” is in development.
