Left, Viola Davis currently starring in How To Get Away Hith Murder. Right, Maggie Q now leading in new series Stalker after 4 seasons of Nikita.
You have to think of the Dire Straits' Money For Nothing lyric (Money for nothin' and chicks for free) when you say the headline - though these ladies are not doing anything for free. They are in fact ruling the TV airwaves and putting the youth obsessed, cinematic casting couch to shame.
There has been an unprecedented rise in roles for women in TV over the last 3 years. It's almost as if there has been a sudden realisation that women can actually headline successful shows, though bizarre not to think so especially in the case of veteran actresses. And though not all the positions are as the lead, supporting roles and anything under are still being given the proper time and energy in the writing and the casting. It is wholly satisfying to a TV junkie such as myself, to see the writing (for the most part) actually match the female 'truth' of a character. I'm never going to say that a man can't write for a women because of Aaron Sorkin's adept skill to write for anyone. But it is refreshing, as a man, to see conversations, insights and reactions from female characters that you don't see coming or fully understand in terms of the route to the particular emotion - just like real life. Furthermore it is just as important to have women writing behind the scenes, delivering the authentic voice as it is to have the actress saying the words. And let's face it, men still don't know the depths to how women's mind work, so let the expert have the reigns instead.
"...Even with a film such as Scarlett Johasson's Lucy, the budget was only $40 million, which on some sci-fi actioners I imagine is just the catering bill".
If this upsurge in interesting roles could just be transferred to the realm of film too, on a more regular basis, then cinema would be the next medium to richly swell in artistic kudos and ticket sales. But alas, big budgeted female lead roles are not common or likely to be for a long time and it is quite obvious as to why so many women we considered big screen actresses, have now defected to the small box. Even with a film such as Scarlett Johasson's Lucy, the budget was only $40 million, which on some sci-fi actioners I imagine is just the catering bill. Every so often we get a Gone Girl, Fatal Attraction or whatever Meryl Streep film to feed the masses, but they are far and few between. As for a black female lead in an action film, will that even compute in Hollywood? It seems cliche to say, but I will take delight in uttering it anyway, that the revolution will be televised, in fact the revolution is the television itself.
SOME QUEENS OF THE BOX
"...Even with a film such as Scarlett Johasson's Lucy, the budget was only $40 million, which on some sci-fi actioners I imagine is just the catering bill".
If this upsurge in interesting roles could just be transferred to the realm of film too, on a more regular basis, then cinema would be the next medium to richly swell in artistic kudos and ticket sales. But alas, big budgeted female lead roles are not common or likely to be for a long time and it is quite obvious as to why so many women we considered big screen actresses, have now defected to the small box. Even with a film such as Scarlett Johasson's Lucy, the budget was only $40 million, which on some sci-fi actioners I imagine is just the catering bill. Every so often we get a Gone Girl, Fatal Attraction or whatever Meryl Streep film to feed the masses, but they are far and few between. As for a black female lead in an action film, will that even compute in Hollywood? It seems cliche to say, but I will take delight in uttering it anyway, that the revolution will be televised, in fact the revolution is the television itself.
SOME QUEENS OF THE BOX
Left to Right - Working Down: Gabrielle Union (Being Mary Jane), Jessica Lange (American Horror Story), Claire Danes (Homeland), Kerry Washington (Scandal), Dania Ramirez (Devious Maids), Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), Megan Boone (The Blacklist) and Lena Headey (Game of Thrones). Big Picture Anna Silk (Lost Girl)
The Kerry Washington Effect
RSS Feed
