Comments on: State of Women Writers in LA http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/ Life at the intersection of television and digital Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:40:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Matt http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16786 Matt Sun, 30 May 2010 21:12:28 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16786 Burn Notice also had a female writer on the show first season, Mere Smith. Lisa Joy was on the show in seasons three and four. So the only year in which the show had no female writers was season two. Not ideal, certainly, but it's far from true that the show has never had a female writer. Burn Notice also had a female writer on the show first season, Mere Smith. Lisa Joy was on the show in seasons three and four. So the only year in which the show had no female writers was season two. Not ideal, certainly, but it’s far from true that the show has never had a female writer.

]]> By: Running With My Eyes Closed › Update on Women Writing in LA http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16735 Running With My Eyes Closed › Update on Women Writing in LA Tue, 25 May 2010 22:15:20 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16735 [...] in March I posted a piece about women screenwriters in LA mostly cribbed from Where Have All the Women Writers Gone? a post [...] […] in March I posted a piece about women screenwriters in LA mostly cribbed from Where Have All the Women Writers Gone? a post […]

]]> By: Neely Swanson http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16720 Neely Swanson Tue, 25 May 2010 01:54:33 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16720 When I wrote the article for Studio System from which the list and the quote are taken, the point wasn't really that there should be any specific percentage of women hired on these or any other shows; but that women (and minorities) bring perspective and that there is no reason to believe that only women can write for women or men can write for men. When I wrote the article for Studio System from which the list and the quote are taken, the point wasn’t really that there should be any specific percentage of women hired on these or any other shows; but that women (and minorities) bring perspective and that there is no reason to believe that only women can write for women or men can write for men.

]]> By: Ashley Nunya http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16714 Ashley Nunya Mon, 24 May 2010 06:39:34 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16714 Sorry, that should say four writers. I added Breen at the last second and forgot to edit... Sorry, that should say four writers. I added Breen at the last second and forgot to edit…

]]> By: Ashley Nunya http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16713 Ashley Nunya Mon, 24 May 2010 06:38:55 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16713 Not entirely sure when this was written, but I must point out an error here. In actuality, Criminal Minds has at least three female writers. Erica Messer, Breen Frazier, Oanh Ly, and Holly Harold are all full-timers on the show, last I read. And there were a few other scripts by women this year as well. And hell, if NCIS really has no female writers than I really don't think they need one. I like their female characters a lot as is. Never would have guessed men and men alone were behind them. Makes me think a bit of As Good As it Gets ("I think of a man and I take away reason and accountability...") Not entirely sure when this was written, but I must point out an error here. In actuality, Criminal Minds has at least three female writers. Erica Messer, Breen Frazier, Oanh Ly, and Holly Harold are all full-timers on the show, last I read. And there were a few other scripts by women this year as well.

And hell, if NCIS really has no female writers than I really don’t think they need one. I like their female characters a lot as is. Never would have guessed men and men alone were behind them. Makes me think a bit of As Good As it Gets (”I think of a man and I take away reason and accountability…”)

]]> By: Cassie http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16709 Cassie Sun, 23 May 2010 23:45:57 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16709 I can't believe two and half men has a woman writer while NCIS has none. I'm not trying to make a point, I'm just saying, i thought it would be reverse. I can’t believe two and half men has a woman writer while NCIS has none. I’m not trying to make a point, I’m just saying, i thought it would be reverse.

]]> By: Flashman http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16703 Flashman Sun, 23 May 2010 09:13:34 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16703 I'm not sure whether it's more a chicken or an egg scenario, but I would think a big part of why there's a gender imbalance in those shows has to do with the focus they have. Most of those shows have a male central character, and the two that have a female lead are female dominated writing rooms. Two and a Half Men is by design mostly about male experience, and many of those shows are also about industries with a male-centric gender imbalance, like policing. I don't know the kind of biographical details that would confirm whether the gender imbalance is thus an attempt to hire people qualified to write about that material, though given how awful most of those shows are I suppose it's mostly irrelevant. It's possible that those shows have mostly male casts because of most male writers, but it's also possible that they have mostly male writers because they have mostly male casts. There's obviously not a direct correlation where each gender can only write characters of the same gender, but these numbers suggest that's either a conscious or unconscious belief within the industry. Another question that comes to mind in examining the hiring decisions leading to male-dominated staffing is the proportion of male and female writers actually seeking those positions. It would be very interesting to see the numbers on that, as well as the quality level of the writers of both genders (I'm referring strictly to whether some of the issue is a lack of quality applicants, this is not to imply some kind of inherent gender based quality gap at all, especially given that Mad Men's female-dominated room is producing essentially the best written show on TV). I’m not sure whether it’s more a chicken or an egg scenario, but I would think a big part of why there’s a gender imbalance in those shows has to do with the focus they have. Most of those shows have a male central character, and the two that have a female lead are female dominated writing rooms. Two and a Half Men is by design mostly about male experience, and many of those shows are also about industries with a male-centric gender imbalance, like policing. I don’t know the kind of biographical details that would confirm whether the gender imbalance is thus an attempt to hire people qualified to write about that material, though given how awful most of those shows are I suppose it’s mostly irrelevant. It’s possible that those shows have mostly male casts because of most male writers, but it’s also possible that they have mostly male writers because they have mostly male casts. There’s obviously not a direct correlation where each gender can only write characters of the same gender, but these numbers suggest that’s either a conscious or unconscious belief within the industry.

Another question that comes to mind in examining the hiring decisions leading to male-dominated staffing is the proportion of male and female writers actually seeking those positions. It would be very interesting to see the numbers on that, as well as the quality level of the writers of both genders (I’m referring strictly to whether some of the issue is a lack of quality applicants, this is not to imply some kind of inherent gender based quality gap at all, especially given that Mad Men’s female-dominated room is producing essentially the best written show on TV).

]]> By: Carine http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16702 Carine Sun, 23 May 2010 08:21:49 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16702 Burn Notice has one female writer on staff now. Lisa joy - according to the White Collar Writers http://twitter.com/WCwriters/status/14542869430 Hart hanson is complaining Bones is not featured on this list http://twitter.com/HartHanson/status/14540829864 Drop Dead diva has at least 5 women on staff or had for season 1 at least. Burn Notice has one female writer on staff now. Lisa joy - according to the White Collar Writers

http://twitter.com/WCwriters/status/14542869430

Hart hanson is complaining Bones is not featured on this list

http://twitter.com/HartHanson/status/14540829864

Drop Dead diva has at least 5 women on staff or had for season 1 at least.

]]> By: Athena http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16701 Athena Sun, 23 May 2010 07:05:11 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16701 Take note, everybody! Grey's Anatomy leads the pack in percentage of women writers and in ratings!!! Take note, everybody! Grey’s Anatomy leads the pack in percentage of women writers and in ratings!!!

]]> By: Alex http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16405 Alex Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:03:15 +0000 http://www.jillgolick.com/2010/03/state-of-women-writers-in-la/#comment-16405 The Wall Street Journal wrote an article a while back about 'The Women Behind Mad Men.' Seven of the nine members of the writing team are women. The Wall Street Journal wrote an article a while back about ‘The Women Behind Mad Men.’ Seven of the nine members of the writing team are women.

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