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shadowkatAfter reading Theresa Rebeck's bio on wiki, it occurred to me that online we go on about male television and film writers a lot, but seldom mention female writers.
So here's a challenge to anyone who comes across this post - see if you can name at least five female television and film writers, also playwrites count. But include at least one favorite female writer for television. And name the tv show or film that she wrote. [ETC: Wrote this too quickly last night. Should have stated "Name your FAVORITE female television writer or film writer - the one you have followed who sticks in your memory that you are "fannish about"].
Here's my list and why I admire them and love them :
1. Diane English - Murphy Brown (sitcom)
2. Jane Espenson - Once Upon a Time (four episodes, most recent - the episode about Beauty and the Beast), Dollhouse (Spy in the House of Love), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Intervention, Afterlife),
Angel (the episode about the Haunted House and Cordelia in Season 1 of the series), Caprica (Show-runner of the series), Tru-Calling (co-show-runner)
3. Lillian Hellman - The Children's Hour (play)
4. Theresa Rebeck (Smash, Canterbury Wife, and LA LAW, as well as the play Seminare)
5. Doris Egan (alsotightropegirl) House (until last year, she was show-runner the year before House jumped the shark, which was the best year of the series), Smallville, Dark Angel, Tru Calling, Homicide Life on the Streets.
6. Shondra Rhimes - Grey's Anatomy
Each of these women have fought hard for their place in a male run and male dominated industry.
One in which misogyny and sexism is often the rule. They are my heroes. Providing a definitive voice and an ability to break gender rules, write about men and women in different ways.
Diane English wrote about a single, ballsy, news-woman who had a kid out of wedlock in her 40s.
Jane Espenson wrote episodes about nerdy boys who felt like losers and were unseen - notably Earshot, Superstar, Storyteller...and Intervention as well as I Was Made To Love You.
Lillian Hellman wrote about being a lesbian in a period in which it was dangerous to be one.
Theresa Rebeck writes about the gender politics of the film and theater industries stating in her novel on writing - specifically in the television and film - female writers should go back and read Machiavelli first. Doris Egan a science fiction novelist - started writing scripts for Homicide then jumped to her favorite genres - and wrote for House. Shondra Rhimes wrote the first multi-ethnic tv show focusing mainly on women, and has managed to create a strong lesbian relationship in the center of it. Ms. Rhimes is also amongst the few black women television show-runners.
I came up with six. Can you come up with more?
So here's a challenge to anyone who comes across this post - see if you can name at least five female television and film writers, also playwrites count. But include at least one favorite female writer for television. And name the tv show or film that she wrote. [ETC: Wrote this too quickly last night. Should have stated "Name your FAVORITE female television writer or film writer - the one you have followed who sticks in your memory that you are "fannish about"].
Here's my list and why I admire them and love them :
1. Diane English - Murphy Brown (sitcom)
2. Jane Espenson - Once Upon a Time (four episodes, most recent - the episode about Beauty and the Beast), Dollhouse (Spy in the House of Love), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Intervention, Afterlife),
Angel (the episode about the Haunted House and Cordelia in Season 1 of the series), Caprica (Show-runner of the series), Tru-Calling (co-show-runner)
3. Lillian Hellman - The Children's Hour (play)
4. Theresa Rebeck (Smash, Canterbury Wife, and LA LAW, as well as the play Seminare)
5. Doris Egan (also
tightropegirl) House (until last year, she was show-runner the year before House jumped the shark, which was the best year of the series), Smallville, Dark Angel, Tru Calling, Homicide Life on the Streets.6. Shondra Rhimes - Grey's Anatomy
Each of these women have fought hard for their place in a male run and male dominated industry.
One in which misogyny and sexism is often the rule. They are my heroes. Providing a definitive voice and an ability to break gender rules, write about men and women in different ways.
Diane English wrote about a single, ballsy, news-woman who had a kid out of wedlock in her 40s.
Jane Espenson wrote episodes about nerdy boys who felt like losers and were unseen - notably Earshot, Superstar, Storyteller...and Intervention as well as I Was Made To Love You.
Lillian Hellman wrote about being a lesbian in a period in which it was dangerous to be one.
Theresa Rebeck writes about the gender politics of the film and theater industries stating in her novel on writing - specifically in the television and film - female writers should go back and read Machiavelli first. Doris Egan a science fiction novelist - started writing scripts for Homicide then jumped to her favorite genres - and wrote for House. Shondra Rhimes wrote the first multi-ethnic tv show focusing mainly on women, and has managed to create a strong lesbian relationship in the center of it. Ms. Rhimes is also amongst the few black women television show-runners.
I came up with six. Can you come up with more?