It seems, maybe I'm wrong, but it seems, most screenwriters are men. I've read numerous screenplays, both produced and unproduced, and the one thing they have in common is that, for the most part, they're authored by men.

That said, where are the women?

I know, as a kid, a teenager, (not too long ago - I'm 22) most of the girls I knew (or know), even now, write all the time -- Stories, poems, notes...whetever... they write, and their good at it! Which begs the question, where are they?  

If I'm I wrong, where are they? If I'm right, why don't  they contribute?

Seth

There are several females writer here.  I couldn't tell you about Hollywood.


Phil

I just read an article in the tribune that was similair to this topic.  It's name escapes me but it was basically about how well movies for woman by woman do (mean girls, the devil wears prada, there were some more but they've escaped me) and how when they all do well, which they tend to, everyone acts surprised.

Anyway, I don't think it has anything to do with girls not writing, but rather guy's not buying, because they (producers) think that girl writers are risky.

And I actualy find that surprising.  There are even less female directors in Hollywood.  I would think women would be much better writers because they have a much better "sixth sense" when it comes to emotion and human behavior as compared to men.

But maybe that's why they become novelists.  They are more into the personal thoughts of a character rather than visual.  And men are much more visual creatures than womena are.

But some of my favorite writers and mentors are women.  Sophia Coppola (Lost in Translation) and Karyn Kusama (Girlfight) are two of my biggest influences.  So I think they are good, but as Higg says, it seems when female writers or directors movie does even decent, it's looked as a surprise and as an underdog story.  I don't really get surprised by it though.  If the story is good, I could care less if it were a woman or a man.  

Well, let us not discount the Ephron's who are behind Sleepless in Seattle and any number of well know chick flicks. I watched Take the Lead last night and both the screenwriter and director were women.

It may be sexist, but I would trust a love story would be better in the hands of a woman than a man just because of the emotional aspects of it.

I think with Take the Lead, the only reason Liz Friedlander was given the directorial job is because she is a choreographer.  I looked at IMDB and all her other credits are film documentaries or tv specials of singers and dancers.  The same went for Step Up, and Stick It.  Those were all female directors too, but they were choreographers.

It also seems that a lot of women become producers.  I mean damn near every film I see, there is at least one female producer.  If they are trusted with that, why not directing?  

And I agree with George on the love story being written by a female.  The love story in Girlfight written by Karyn Kusama was so real and genuine that it made the characters that much stronger.  There was nothing trvial or sterotypical about it.  Even the kisses were awkward and spontaneous.  That's how it usually is when your a teenager.  Everyone isn't a perfect kisser at 17.  Women just seem to know those little intracacies that make a romance a romance.  Not just some fuck romp that many of those late 90's love stories had.  

Quoted from guyjackson Not just some fuck romp that many of those late 90's love stories had.

No, those are written by guys.

I think I read somewhere that 80-85% of screenwriters are men, although no reason was given.

On a statistical side note, although not related to gender, only 11% of screenwriters are able to make their living solely from screenwriting.

Quoted from George Willson No, those are written by guys.

Myself included, haha.