Guest Post by Rebecca Norris
Are you a female screenwriter who is depressed by the latest Hollywood statistics that seem to suggest women are becoming more marginalized in Tinseltown, rather than less? Well, don’t worry, all is not lost!
Before I talk about why there’s still room for optimism in Hollywood when it comes to female writing talent, let’s take a look at what the latest report on women in Hollywood says.
The WGA Report On Female Screenwriters
According to a new study by the Writers Guild of America, the gender pay gap has widened when it comes to screenwriting. It seems a female screenwriters’ pay has dropped roughly 13 percent. The WGA’s 2016 Hollywood Writers Report examined trends between 2012 and 2014 when it comes to hiring and compensating women. It found that women made 78 cents on the dollar in 2012, but this fell to 68 cents on the dollar by 2014 — a 13 percent drop.
The report also found that female screenwriters make up roughly 15 percent of WGA employed writers — this a fall from 2009’s 17 percent. Needless to say, these latest figures have sparked much debate online. And even Hollywood actresses have gotten involved, such as Meryl Streep who has funded a mentorship program to support female screenwriters of 40+. It appears female directors haven’t been doing much better, with the American Civil Liberties Union reporting recently that female directors are less likely to be hired now than they were 20 years ago.
What’s All The Fuss?
“Minority” writers, such as women, LGBT writers, and writers of color have always found it tough going in Hollywood, so why all the commotion of late? I believe the answer lies in the fact that, while there’s been some slow progress in other areas such as LGBTQ rights, women’s rights in Hollywood seem to be going in reverse.
In recent years, female screenwriters have penned blockbusters such as “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “The Heat,” and “Kick-Ass.” They’ve also been behind some great indie movies such as “Maggie’s Plan,” “Juno,” and “Admission.” Despite this, however, a view persists for some reason that women “aren’t as funny as men,” “can’t write action,” and tend to write niche “women’s interest” movies which don’t have a broad appeal.
There is some good news to come out of the WGA report, though. While female screenwriters’ pay has dropped 13 percent, female TV writers’ pay has risen.
What Next For Female Screenwriters?
So what can female writers do about these stereotypes? The simple answer is, don’t buy into them. All you need to do is take a cursory look around Hollywood to see female writers achieving great success in all genres, including comedy and action. Female comedy screenwriters such as Kristen Wiig, Amy Schumer, and Amy Poehler, as well as legends like Nora Ephron, Carol Burnett, and Elaine May, have all shown for decades that women are indeed funny. And writers such as Jane Goldman, Nicole Perlman, and Katie Dippold have shown that women can indeed write blockbuster action movies.
Let’s also remember that the original novels which gave rise to many of the biggest movie franchises in recent history, such as “Harry Potter,” “The Hunger Games,” and “Twilight,” were all written by women. These are all stories with mass appeal and yet, Hollywood seems to forget this.
Indeed, sexism is often combined with ageism in Hollywood. It’s almost a given that women are “over the hill” once they move into their 40s. Don’t buy into this unfair stereotype either. Storytelling has no age limit. Hollywood has always been a boys’ club, but despite the slow progress women seem to be making, if you’re a female screenwriter continue what you’re doing. Put your work out there and let it speak for itself. And keep on disproving as many false stereotypes as you can along the way.
Rebecca Norris is a reader at Script Reader Pro, a screenplay consultancy made up of working screenwriters. Their actionable script coverage and step-by-step screenwriting course, aims to de-mystify theory and help writers move toward a draft they’re confident of sending out into the marketplace.
