An important bill was passed in California (click for details) requesting sites like IMDb Pro to remove an actor's age from the sites pull down menu if the actor desires to remove it. I believe age discrimination is a massive issue in Hollywood. This is directly toward actors/actresses and screenwriters whose job opportunities and wages begin to dwindle even in their early career.
I am 44 years old and I am a screenwriter. I am going to say this “FUCK AGEISM!” Yes, say that loud and proud. I should make a badge that says it. Ageism in Hollywood is a travesty. I have many screenwriter friends that are talented and in their 60’s. I am friends with actors and actresses in their late 50 and 60s.
Across the minefield of Hollywood, Joe Eszterhas at age 72 is an established screenwriter (click for Wikipedia), and is well known for Basic Instinct. I feel he is someone who is a pioneer in the script game. I feel he holds outstanding ethics and practices. I could careless about his age. I care about his quality. His quality stands out! His quality has stood the test of time. That is timeless, and very different from ageism.
Related Blog Post: One Oar in The Boat
This man stood up to a giant and took an ethical stand against the agencies president Michael Ovitz. Creative Artists Agency (CAA Website) is considered one the most powerful talent agencies in Hollywood. I give Joe credit as he is a prolific writer who has been up against the titans of Hollywood. I also give him credit for writing into his 70’s. The stance Joe took has nothing to do with age, and all to do with ethics. I applaud him for that. I am ethical in nature, so I can relate.
There is a mounting pressure in Hollywood to be ageless. There is pressure to defy gravity (plastic surgery), and age. There is a pressure to fall into the Hollywood arrogance that will no longer last going forward. These societal attitudes will change! They must change! It will happen, and by demand. There is a strong prejudicial bias about what older actresses can, and can not do. These amazing Women often feel forced to constantly improve upon themselves so they can be seen with different perception. I feel ageism is damaging to those good quality female actresses. If you have read my last article on inclusion then you understand why I feel strongly about this topic. Click here for the last article.
Ethics are making there way to Hollywood by way of corporate America. Take a good look America. Take a good look at actresses like Jane Fonda, Sophia Loren, and Lily Tomlin. Time is running out because corporate America is influencing Hollywood. They are all beautiful in their own right, and in their own nature. Yes, I'll say it again, I am 44, but I’m tired. I’m tired of the Bullcrap. I think the Bull is even tired… Now, let’s get something straight. Anyone! I mean anyone can forge their way to success. The beauty of age lends itself to experience. People of all ages can break into Hollywood with their knowledge, and experience that may benefit a particular project.
At 44, I can and will break down the doors of Hollywood. Allow me to tell you a little story. It is a true story about my friend, and we will call him “John.” John lived in California and was in his late 60’s. John had a screenplay, and came to me for business advice. It was a horror script. It was his only script. I asked John if it was copyrighted and protected. The answer was “Yes.” I told him “Get your work out there then!”
John was always nervous about his writing, and it never made sense to me why. It really is a damn numbers game! You must have an arsenal of screenplays, not the fly-by-night-one-off script that you think might get you a million bucks. People do get lucky; however, I personally believe in the law of averages and hard work. So a few weeks went by, and I hadn’t heard from John.
Then one day I got a call from my friend “Doug.” Doug asked “Have you heard from John?” I replied “No.” Weeks went by and we finally got worried, then made some calls to Los Angeles. We called his landlord, and we called a few other people. We discovered that John passed away in his apartment of a bad stroke. His dream never saw the light of day, not due to lack of talent, but because he was afraid. I sensed his feeling of nervousness that he had of putting himself out there.
I felt as if John’s dreams were all standing around his bed asking him for the life they deserve. The life of a dream come true! Don’t let your dreams die. Oh, and the script John put together? It came into my hands. Ethically, I feel that the script should never see the light of day. It was his work. Instead, I decided to write another script and dedicate it to John.
Related Blog Post: A Secret To Abolish Writer's Block
Don’t let age stop you! Ageism is prejudicial, nonsensical, and will be gone very soon. Keep fighting for 100% inclusion in Hollywood.
Support organizations that celebrate people for who they are. Don’t let age hold you back. Don’t let any one executive, agent, producer or casting director, make you feel like you are washed up. You are an actor/actress or screenwriter with pride. Play the damn parts! Keep pushing your script! Keep on going and fight the good fight!
One last thing… FUCK Ageism!
See you next week! Until then find me on Twitter @screenwriterml
I am 44 years old and I am a screenwriter. I am going to say this “FUCK AGEISM!” Yes, say that loud and proud. I should make a badge that says it. Ageism in Hollywood is a travesty. I have many screenwriter friends that are talented and in their 60’s. I am friends with actors and actresses in their late 50 and 60s.
Across the minefield of Hollywood, Joe Eszterhas at age 72 is an established screenwriter (click for Wikipedia), and is well known for Basic Instinct. I feel he is someone who is a pioneer in the script game. I feel he holds outstanding ethics and practices. I could careless about his age. I care about his quality. His quality stands out! His quality has stood the test of time. That is timeless, and very different from ageism.
Related Blog Post: One Oar in The Boat
This man stood up to a giant and took an ethical stand against the agencies president Michael Ovitz. Creative Artists Agency (CAA Website) is considered one the most powerful talent agencies in Hollywood. I give Joe credit as he is a prolific writer who has been up against the titans of Hollywood. I also give him credit for writing into his 70’s. The stance Joe took has nothing to do with age, and all to do with ethics. I applaud him for that. I am ethical in nature, so I can relate.
There is a mounting pressure in Hollywood to be ageless. There is pressure to defy gravity (plastic surgery), and age. There is a pressure to fall into the Hollywood arrogance that will no longer last going forward. These societal attitudes will change! They must change! It will happen, and by demand. There is a strong prejudicial bias about what older actresses can, and can not do. These amazing Women often feel forced to constantly improve upon themselves so they can be seen with different perception. I feel ageism is damaging to those good quality female actresses. If you have read my last article on inclusion then you understand why I feel strongly about this topic. Click here for the last article.
Ethics are making there way to Hollywood by way of corporate America. Take a good look America. Take a good look at actresses like Jane Fonda, Sophia Loren, and Lily Tomlin. Time is running out because corporate America is influencing Hollywood. They are all beautiful in their own right, and in their own nature. Yes, I'll say it again, I am 44, but I’m tired. I’m tired of the Bullcrap. I think the Bull is even tired… Now, let’s get something straight. Anyone! I mean anyone can forge their way to success. The beauty of age lends itself to experience. People of all ages can break into Hollywood with their knowledge, and experience that may benefit a particular project.
At 44, I can and will break down the doors of Hollywood. Allow me to tell you a little story. It is a true story about my friend, and we will call him “John.” John lived in California and was in his late 60’s. John had a screenplay, and came to me for business advice. It was a horror script. It was his only script. I asked John if it was copyrighted and protected. The answer was “Yes.” I told him “Get your work out there then!”
John was always nervous about his writing, and it never made sense to me why. It really is a damn numbers game! You must have an arsenal of screenplays, not the fly-by-night-one-off script that you think might get you a million bucks. People do get lucky; however, I personally believe in the law of averages and hard work. So a few weeks went by, and I hadn’t heard from John.
Then one day I got a call from my friend “Doug.” Doug asked “Have you heard from John?” I replied “No.” Weeks went by and we finally got worried, then made some calls to Los Angeles. We called his landlord, and we called a few other people. We discovered that John passed away in his apartment of a bad stroke. His dream never saw the light of day, not due to lack of talent, but because he was afraid. I sensed his feeling of nervousness that he had of putting himself out there.
I felt as if John’s dreams were all standing around his bed asking him for the life they deserve. The life of a dream come true! Don’t let your dreams die. Oh, and the script John put together? It came into my hands. Ethically, I feel that the script should never see the light of day. It was his work. Instead, I decided to write another script and dedicate it to John.
Related Blog Post: A Secret To Abolish Writer's Block
Don’t let age stop you! Ageism is prejudicial, nonsensical, and will be gone very soon. Keep fighting for 100% inclusion in Hollywood.
Support organizations that celebrate people for who they are. Don’t let age hold you back. Don’t let any one executive, agent, producer or casting director, make you feel like you are washed up. You are an actor/actress or screenwriter with pride. Play the damn parts! Keep pushing your script! Keep on going and fight the good fight!
One last thing… FUCK Ageism!
See you next week! Until then find me on Twitter @screenwriterml
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