Adam Scott Thompson at 2014-02-13 22:34:19:

Interesting article I read yesterday on IndieWire about why the Bechdel Test isn't enough: http://www.indiewire.com/article/beyond-the-bechdel-test-why-its-not-enough I try to brainstorm projects now that allow me to populate the story with strong female lead and supporting characters. Part of that is filling a void, creating properties that studios will see as viable female-driven hits (which could help me get a foot in the door). But I also think about a world in which my mother, a Type-A professional, gets 77 cents for every dollar a man makes in the same position -- and as a double minority she can't half-ass and stay in the game, even if they can. I don't know -- what is that, man-guilt? lol I'd just like to think that having more women -- more diversity -- in any industry, especially the arts, can only make it stronger, better in the long run.

Shaula Evans at 2014-02-13 23:38:58:

Email on the way! I've also put out the call on the women writer / diversity grapevine, Scott, and I'll let you know what it shakes out. Thank you for taking such a proactive, productive approach to this issue. Highlighting and amplifying the voices of marginalized writers is fantastic. I can't thank or applaud you enough. Thanks for being a truly awesome ally, Scott.

plinytheelder_t at 2014-02-14 03:33:51:

From http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl/faqs.html Q: How many women have won Academy Nicholl Fellowships? A: Thirty-nine of the 144 fellowship winners have been women. Q: How does that compare with the percentage of female entrants? A: Since the beginning of the competition, about 29.7 percent of the entries have been submitted by women. Respectfully, collectively we need to strongly encourage women and minorities to participate, because, imho, none of the other problems are going to be fixed without addressing this one first.

14Shari at 2014-02-14 05:51:21:

I would like to make a distinction in the sexes discussion. It reads like women are the victims and I question that. Are there less women directors because women don't ambition being a director or because they have less access and support of the existing media and financing world? The same question for women writers. Are there less women writers being hired because there are less women available who wants to write or are they less hired? If it's the latter, what are those reasons? Do they write only relationship material scripts which are obviously not the most opted scripts in Hollywood? Last year, I read an UK article on the representation of theatre directors in the UK. Obviously, there were less to none women directors in the working field. It's not because women were treated different, no, it was because women didn't want to make the long working hours needed to survive in the business and they wanted a secure paycheck. The men who were active and employed were making crazy working hours, didn't expect to get everything handed to them and didn't complain that their future was uncertain. The women who were working as a director and quit, complained they couldn't combine their responsibility to raise a family with the crazy working hours. I know a lot of women who wants to be director, CEO or something else, but don't want to put in the amount of hours and prioritize their career above raising a family. So, stop blaming men and do the work if you want to succeed.

Faron Reed at 2014-02-14 10:15:50:

Emerging screenwriter Caitlin McCarthy (www.caitlinmccarthy.com) is inspiring. Her as-yet-unproduced Sloan script WONDER DRUG received a live staged reading at the Hamptons Film Festival, and has won a number of screenwriting awards. She has also co-written a spec TV series pilot "Pass/Fail" with Jim Forbes (multiple Emmy, ALMA, AP, and Golden Mic award-winning writer, producer, correspondent, and narrator of VH1's "Behind the Music"); that spec was a finalist in the New York Television Festival (NYTVF)'s first annual "Voice and Vision: The NBC Drama Challenge." She has written other feature and TV scripts. Her website has links to numerous articles written about her. Caitlin's on the brink -- she just needs a break from Hollywood.

Faron Reed at 2014-02-14 10:17:57:

Yes, more women and minorities need to submit. But there may also be an issue with the "eye" of the readers -- meaning, the men and women have been conditioned to favor a certain type of storytelling. They may be unknowingly discounting stories told through a female lens. Just a thought.

SorgiGirl at 2014-02-14 11:49:25:

"...if anyone reading this is or knows a woman writer or writer of color actively working in Hollywood who has had movies or TV series produced, sold notable spec scripts, made the Black List or won a Nicholl Fellowship, please contact me ..." She's in Austin now, but what about Max Adams?

plinytheelder_t at 2014-02-14 12:34:19:

Regardless of whether a script wins or not, only ~30% of all Nicholl entries are from women. That's the number we should be most concerned about. About 27% of all fellows are female, so while not perfect, over the years the Nicholl seems to have done a pretty good job of awarding fellowships strictly according to merit.