Women Genre Writers in Television and Film
Disciplines
Screenwriting | Technical and Professional Writing | Television | Women's Studies
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Screenwriters are the backbone of the film industry; without them a good movie never becomes great. However, when screenwriters are referenced names such as Eric Roth, Billy Wilder, and Robert Town are the ones receiving notoriety while female writers slip through the cracks. Yet, female screenwriters have been a part of history since the early 1920’s with writers such as Francis Marion and Dorothy Parker who wrote pieces about women and family issues seen during these times. Recently, female directors have begun to receive more recognition for their work, but female screenwriters are still rarely referenced for there's. I will be highlighting three female writers who have written prominent films focusing on high conflict and the fragility of their characters. I will be starting with Sonya Levien who is known for her thriller Four Men and a Prayer (1938) which focuses on a white male protagonist, then Lynne Ramsey who is most well-known for We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) in which she focuses on a white female mother who is the main protagonist of the film, and finally Dee Rees who is known for Pariah (2011) which focuses on a lesbian, African American, female protagonist. Not only will I speak about these screenwriters, but I will also speak about how the representation of the main protagonists in stories have changed throughout the centuries.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Anna Weinstein
Women Genre Writers in Television and Film
Screenwriters are the backbone of the film industry; without them a good movie never becomes great. However, when screenwriters are referenced names such as Eric Roth, Billy Wilder, and Robert Town are the ones receiving notoriety while female writers slip through the cracks. Yet, female screenwriters have been a part of history since the early 1920’s with writers such as Francis Marion and Dorothy Parker who wrote pieces about women and family issues seen during these times. Recently, female directors have begun to receive more recognition for their work, but female screenwriters are still rarely referenced for there's. I will be highlighting three female writers who have written prominent films focusing on high conflict and the fragility of their characters. I will be starting with Sonya Levien who is known for her thriller Four Men and a Prayer (1938) which focuses on a white male protagonist, then Lynne Ramsey who is most well-known for We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) in which she focuses on a white female mother who is the main protagonist of the film, and finally Dee Rees who is known for Pariah (2011) which focuses on a lesbian, African American, female protagonist. Not only will I speak about these screenwriters, but I will also speak about how the representation of the main protagonists in stories have changed throughout the centuries.