Trailblazing Women Screenwriters of Color
Disciplines
Screenwriting
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Women have made significant progress in the writing, directing, and other fields of the film and television industries over the past few decades. However, despite these advancements, there are still many obstacles for female writers, especially women screenwriters of color. Through the Women Writers of Film and Television (WWFTV) digital humanities project, I have been collecting data on a variety of women screenwriters, including their contributions to the film and television industry, their struggles and victories, and the difference they have made in the representation of women in media. In this presentation, I will share details about the contributions of three significant female writers of color, including their accomplishments, the difficulties they overcame, and the ways in which they opened doors for those who followed. Lorraine Hansberry, Cheryl Duyne, and Channing Godfrey Peoples are groundbreaking women screenwriters who leaned into their own experiences to create complex female characters of color. Researching their work has encouraged me to someday create a film based on my own experiences.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Anna Weinstein
Trailblazing Women Screenwriters of Color
Women have made significant progress in the writing, directing, and other fields of the film and television industries over the past few decades. However, despite these advancements, there are still many obstacles for female writers, especially women screenwriters of color. Through the Women Writers of Film and Television (WWFTV) digital humanities project, I have been collecting data on a variety of women screenwriters, including their contributions to the film and television industry, their struggles and victories, and the difference they have made in the representation of women in media. In this presentation, I will share details about the contributions of three significant female writers of color, including their accomplishments, the difficulties they overcame, and the ways in which they opened doors for those who followed. Lorraine Hansberry, Cheryl Duyne, and Channing Godfrey Peoples are groundbreaking women screenwriters who leaned into their own experiences to create complex female characters of color. Researching their work has encouraged me to someday create a film based on my own experiences.