Hollywood Sexism Exposed! Scripts Routinely Intro Female Characters as ‘Model Pretty,’ ‘Leggy’

Ross Putman’s Twitter feed shows how Hollywood writers introduce women in screenplays

women in screenplays

A Hollywood producer is sharing the introductions of female characters in the scripts that cross his desk, and the resulting portraits of women aren’t pretty.

Ross Putman, a producer of indie films and streaming TV, is the author of the Twitter account @Femscriptintros — where he uploads the language used to describe women in screenplays he’s vetting. To protect the individual writers, he’s changed all character names to “Jane.”

“Jane pours her gorgeous figure into a tight dress, slips into her stiletto-heeled fuck-me shoes, and checks herself in the dresser mirror,” one script said.

“His wife Jane is making dinner and watching CNN on a small TV. She was model pretty once, but living an actual life has taken its toll,” another reads.

Response has been a mix of horror and amusement over the antiquated descriptions.

“Laughing/sobbing as I read this feed tweeting ways women are introduced,” said Cheryl Strayed, author of “Wild,” the big-screen adaptation of which earned Reese Witherspoon an Oscar nomination.

“So frustratingly real. Been reading so many writing samples lately,” said screenwriter Max Landis.

What’s more interesting is the talk the account has inspired among writers.

Gary Whitta, screenwriter of “The Book of Eli” and a member of the story team on the “Star Wars” spinoff “Rogue One,” said the account has him reflecting on his own work.

“I’ve been going through my old scripts to see if my female characters would pass the @femscriptintros test. May post results soon,” he said.

Putman’s credits include the films “First Girl I Ever Loved” and “The Young Kieslowski.” He was also a co-producer on the pilot for the Netflix pick-up “Bad Samaritans.”

The producer did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on the account.

Read on for a smattering Hollywood scripts’ sexist intros, and the reactions:

https://twitter.com/garywhitta/status/697505811514306560

https://twitter.com/tyburr/status/697509449360154624

Comments