Don’t call me grandma: how to write formidable country women over the age of 65 as lead protagonists in an Australian feature film

ABSTRACT

In recognition of the lack of female representation on screen, in 2015 Screen Australia launched the Gender Matters Program. However, it did not address the lack of representation of older women (defined as over 40 or ‘a woman of a certain age’). The research question addressed by this article is how to write older female characters over the age of 65 who are tough, capable, and complex. The research methodology combined Schon’s reflective practice theory, and Denscombe’s action research model with Batty and Baker’s practice-led research principle to create a feature film screenplay as the research artefact. The research strategy encompassed a broad approach comprising a field excursion to Winton to interrogate place and theme and a comprehensive review of literature in the field of gender, screenwriting, and female representation. The investigation revealed that in feature films there are a lack of complex female characters who are leaders in their community, who determine their own destiny and are still considered young at 40 years of age. A set of 10 guiding principles were identified which shaped the writing of the older characters in the research artefact, the feature film screenplay Myrtle and Ivy. Myrtle and Ivy seeks to redress this lack of older female representation to depict complex, tough, and capable characters.

KEYWORDS:

• Screenwriting
• reflective creative practice
• women in film
• aging
• invisibility
• gender
• underrepresentation
• older female lead protagonists
• Australian feature films

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr Margaret McVeigh, Griffith Film School for her advice and guidance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joanne Tindale

Joanne Tindale is an emerging writer, and producer who draws on her diverse background as a nurse, a manager in the not-for-profit sector and Commonwealth public service. Joanne's research interests encompass gender, screenwriting, and the underrepresentation of older women on screen. Joanne holds a Bachelor of Asian and International Studies (1990) and a Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production with First Class Honours (2020) from Griffith Film School. Joanne was the recipient of the Griffith University Award for Academic Excellence in 2015, 2018 and 2020. Joanne was selected as a 2020 Australian International Documentary Conference Leading Light Program awardee and presented her Honours research at the 2021 Australian Screen Production Educators Research Association (ASPERA) Conference.