actingstruggles-blog

[actingstruggles-blog]

Women in Film

I really enjoyed watching the Golden Globes tonight and hearing all of those wonderful female actors talking about how Hollywood seems to be turning a leaf in terms of the presence of strong female roles.

Feeling invigorated and inspired by these beautiful and charming women who are presenting or accepting awards, I decide to peruse the popular website www.mandy.com which I use to do (mostly free) work in order to grow my portfolio and gain experience  until I can land an agent.

Doing all the legwork is exhausting, but I do it because I know it’s what it takes to be able to work on my craft.

There is nothing more infuriating than setting the ‘’gender’’ filter to FEMALE and seeing more than half of the postings disappear. 

Why, even in the world of indie films, small student productions, and low budget commercials are their so little opportunities for women? It’s difficult enough to get roles as a woman, but if you aren’t considered “good looking” - almost impossible.

And when you do finally come across a female role, why is it that 75% of the time the words tall, slim, beautiful, girl next door, model type looks, good looking are always included in the description?

Why is it that when there is a post for a couple, the man’s age ranges from 35-45 while the female component of the couple is from 24-30?

How can it be that people casting these projects that they describe as ‘’relatable’’ and ‘’every day’’ are only interested in models? Why are we casting these gorgeous specimens to play opposite ‘’average Joe’’ guys? 

There is a reason I enjoy British TV and Film far more than it’s American counter parts - realism. The characters are real - both physically and psychologically. 

Because believe it or not, people who don’t look like models are also capable of falling in love, of going on hilarious adventures, of getting their hearts broken, of being extremely charismatic, of making changes in the world. And if you don’t believe me, take a look around you. How many ‘’ tall, slim, beautiful, girl next door, model type, good looking’’ people do you see in the world around you living their lives? I’m willing to bet everything I own that they are the minority. They are coveted because they are rare.

Why then, are they representing the majority?