Author Information
Women's Words
I have begun to chronicle films that do not give women lines of merit. Often, way too often, they are used to carry the emotion of the scene through action and expressions and business only. Give them some lines. This is also a problem with foreign looking characters as if they are not white and male and can not carry the action. Wrong. They can. Serving as filler of background in the interest of diversity is not enough. Give em some lines!
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Women need to write lines for women. Directors, Producers, take note: women have a dramatic place in a movie beyond weeping or fearing. It is bad to only show weakness to young girls and older women do not need to be exposed nearly exclusively to actresses being quiet and comlacent. Action heroines have lines. This is a trend that needs to transcend to adventure movies, love stories, and the entire range of film genres. Horror movies especially. Women scared and men saving the day and defeating the monster is passe. In real life, women defeat monsters daily. If a thief comes in with a knife or gun, she looks for a blunt trauma inducing counter weapon or, if gunless, runs while diling 911 on the way to the room where the gun and amunition is stored. It would be nice to see that reflected in one of the most powerful educational and visually ethos conditioning media, the movies. The idea of a female as the heroine is often forgotten. If she is given lines and action, she won't be. Needs work.
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Let women have a go at it. Those who write and publish books with strong female characters should be hired as script consultants to bolster up 50 percent of the cast (imagine an all female movie like Lawrence of Arabia is an all male movie with a blockbuster budget). It would be different and difficult because no one uplifts or supports strong female roles, getting one is almost impossible, finding one even less probable. If a male can fill a role, women get shut-out. That should change. It is an offshoot of male power plays against sex and self-gender promotion. Europe is way out front on gender equality in publically viewed cinema. Movies need to be made great again. I miss the super female film stars like Hepburn and well nobody shut down or limited on film Lizzy Taylor's mouth. Barring sci-fi and fantasy, and soap operas, a lot more effort for equality would be courageous on the parts of those who "make" movies. The credits also are usually male heavy. It is getting better for women as those who create visual artforms, but it's not where it should be yet. More apprenticeships in movie making would be a good way to proceed. Looking for new female talent instead of depending on old school buddies and associates might be a start.
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That is not to say that women have not make enormous inroads in directing (all four of them) and producing (ten or so). Get my drift? I read the credits on British films (which I adore by the way) and there are tons of female names on the credits; off screen working, making money, contributing and being recognized. In the USA those barriers need to fall and those who erect and promote them, need to be corrected and redirected to acknowledge this identified and desperately in need of balance problem of inequality. Ask any professional script writer how often they have changed a female role to a male role because it was considered to strong and forceful for a female. It's an old story. Time to write a new one.
If the percentage of lines split between males and female actors are skewed in favor of males, fix it! Verbal substance and not just one word or no word frames any longer for female actors . It's a waste of money, one, and two, it is unfair. Actually, it's a mark of bad film making and poor writers. Take a look at the historical injustice of film making in sharing the media with women at all levels from acting to promoting, and earning shares in the project. Alter the course please. Pay equity - think it over. We will be watching.
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I'm jus sayin'.
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Stella L. Crews
12-19-17
946a
