Presenters

Haley HuntFollow

Disciplines

English Language and Literature | Film and Media Studies | Screenwriting

Abstract (300 words maximum)

After spending the summer immersed in archival, literary, and online research, I am proud to report my findings on the history of women in screenwriting. With the help of Anna Weinstein, I have compiled original statistics, overviews, and biographies that will be published with the launch of our website, Women Writers of Film & Television (WWFTV). At its core, this site aims to empower young girls with the knowledge and resources they need to get started in the screenwriting field. However, the site is intentionally layered by reading level; it is accessible to all ages on the surface, while also providing deeper, novel details that appeal to scholars and industry professionals alike. The upcoming launch will include an accessible, searchable archive dedicated entirely to female screenwriters- something that has never existed before. In this presentation, I will present original statistics, introduce the history of women screenwriters, and provide an example biography. This biography will show a small glimpse of what our database offers by focusing on the Wachowski sisters, best known for The Matrix (1999) and Cloud Atlas (2012). Our hope is that this site will expand indefinitely as forgotten icons are discovered and modern screenwriters make new accomplishments. It’s an honor to have the chance to offer these resources to creative minds of all levels.

Academic department under which the project should be listed

English

Primary Investigator (PI) Name

Anna Weinstein

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Women Writers of Film & Television

After spending the summer immersed in archival, literary, and online research, I am proud to report my findings on the history of women in screenwriting. With the help of Anna Weinstein, I have compiled original statistics, overviews, and biographies that will be published with the launch of our website, Women Writers of Film & Television (WWFTV). At its core, this site aims to empower young girls with the knowledge and resources they need to get started in the screenwriting field. However, the site is intentionally layered by reading level; it is accessible to all ages on the surface, while also providing deeper, novel details that appeal to scholars and industry professionals alike. The upcoming launch will include an accessible, searchable archive dedicated entirely to female screenwriters- something that has never existed before. In this presentation, I will present original statistics, introduce the history of women screenwriters, and provide an example biography. This biography will show a small glimpse of what our database offers by focusing on the Wachowski sisters, best known for The Matrix (1999) and Cloud Atlas (2012). Our hope is that this site will expand indefinitely as forgotten icons are discovered and modern screenwriters make new accomplishments. It’s an honor to have the chance to offer these resources to creative minds of all levels.