When it comes to gender equality, it’s safe to say that, at present, Hollywood falls short. Though this industry is somewhat of a self-proclaimed end-all be-all, it is important to recognize alternative and grassroots initiatives that strive to lead the way to progressive change. Thanks to #GreenlightHer, New York City’s inaugural female screenwriting competition, local audiences will have a chance to do just that.
Per its official press release, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment’s (MOME) #GreenlightHer is one of five initiatives dedicated to improving female representation throughout film, television, and theater. This includes a $5 million women filmmakers fund.
Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen stressed that “making sure women get the behind-the-camera experience they need to compete for good jobs brings talent and diversity to what has traditionally been a male dominated field.”
“Before Harvey Weinstein and #MeToo, we knew there was a problem with women being underrepresented both on and off the camera,” added Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin. “#GreenlightHer is about empowering emerging women storytellers and getting a wider array of stories in front of people.”
Two female-centric scripts were chosen from a pool of over 300 submissions. Each respective piece was then produced by diverse, women-led crews from Brooklyn’s Feirstein School. Patty Carey’s “Half-Life” focuses on a woman balancing motherhood and her delayed ambitions as a writer. “Maturity,” written by Robin Rose Singer, follows a Midwestern woman who attempts to escape her past by moving to the Bronx.
Both finalists recognize the vital importance of a competition like #GreenlightHer. “Diversity on screen starts in the writing room,” said Singer. “I’m very proud to be a part of the movement to bring new points-of-view to a wide audience. We are creating a new normal every day, and I’m incredibly grateful to live in a city that stands with us in that effort.”
Carey realized just how much the “industry has changed dramatically over the last decade” — and how much it hasn’t. She stated, “Despite this supposed glut of opportunity in the industry, we have not seen a substantial rise in the number of key, creative positions held by women… [But,] what’s happening now is not merely a change to our industry; it’s a tectonic shift in our culture.”
Though vastly distinct narratives, each #GreenlightHer project plays its part in showing New York audiences — and others, by extension — what female-driven stories and women-led crews bring to the table. As Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo explained, “Women who pursue careers as screenwriters, actresses, and directors are uniquely positioned to shape the narrative by elevating our voices and addressing the issues that not only affect women and families, but everyday people.”
Both pilots will air on NYC’s official broadcast network, NYC Media, this Friday and Saturday. They will also be available on the contest website, where New Yorkers can also vote for their favorite project. The winning show will receive four additional episodes. Voting ends January 28.
Check out the official synopses below. Visit the #GreenlightHer official website for more information.
Robin Rose Singer’s MATURITY
Brian Petersen, Producer; Rose Haag, Director; Alexandra Brown, Director of Photography
Nurse Jessica Applegate of Merrittville, Kansas (population 5,137) is one week into her brand new job at Shady Breeze, a senior housing facility in the Bronx. But if she expected anyone to lay out the welcome mat, she expected very, very wrong. Her supervisor Lynnetta is tough as nails, the only person she seems to connect with in New York is aged 76, and the other senior residents are not above a little good-natured hazing. As Jessica struggles to acclimate to life in the Bronx, she starts to realize that the life she imagined for herself might be an impossible dream in the modern world.
Patty Carey’s HALF-LIFE
Mary McCune, Producer; Amanda Nicole Reyes, Director; Antonia Colodro, Director of Photography; Kaitlyn Cortes, Editor
Torn between the demanding worlds of family and film production, Patty is a working mom from Manhattan who wants to have it all and needs to do it all. She’s just not certain she can. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, a mom needs to bring her A game, but Patty’s feeling like a C. Her kids just want a hug and maybe a slice of bacon, but who’s got time to grocery shop? Her director needs his cinematic vision brought to life on the streets of New York, and it is Patty’s job to make that happen, if she can win his trust. And what about her own creative self that’s been simmering on the back burner? Can she turn up the heat and break through the celluloid ceiling, or is it time to call it quits? Moms can have a mid-life crisis too.
