Hollywood and Women Over Fifty—Strange Bedfellows? Maybe Not!
I just visited one of my all time favorite blogs, In the Trenches Productions. If you recall, I interviewed the founder of the site, Debbie Zipp, and wrote a post about her valiant efforts to change the ageism and sexism so rampant in Hollywood. According to that über youth-obsessed culture, just like Elvis, the Golden Girls have left the building—or, more accurately, the soundstage.
Like Debbie, I want to see a woman with a wrinkle or two grace the silver screen. Let’s watch our heroine search around and wonder where she left her bifocals. Let’s hear her grunt when she gets up, moan about her aching back, and then go on to conquer the world as only those blessed with menopausal zest and old broad chutzpah can do!
Thankfully, Debbie isn’t waiting around for those wet-behind-the-ears producers to realize we boomers are a huge audience (they don’t call us the population bulge for nothing) who’ve been underserved for years. She and her friends have created a slew of short films that will have you laughing in recognition at the fun and foibles of growing older. One of my favorites is their “Dirty Little Secret.” Watch it and see if you if you relate!
And for a great read that also covers the land of movies and moguls, be sure and check out Jane Adams’ fabulous new novel, Sugar Time. The heroine, Sugar Kane, epitomizes the feisty side of fifty in all her aging glory. After an absence of 20 years, she’s about to bring in a hit TV show but has to battle the Hollywood machine that’s alive and well behind the camera, too. Aside from that, Sugar deals with issues we all face as older women and does it with humor, sass, and a decidedly sexy side we never see in novels about women our age. Listen to our interview and you’ll hear Jane tell you all about her saucy heroine and her amazing story.
Through the creative efforts of Debbie, Jane, and others, the word is finally getting out. At long last, Hollywood, take notice! We gals over fifty are flashing hot, more outspoken than ever before, and we want our due. And we’re more than 38 million strong. So, you sleepy heads in La La Land—the alarm is ringing and it’s about time you wake up and smell the Geritol!
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November 14th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Yes, I can totally relate to the video. Thank God my husband works out of town!
November 12th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Yep! That’s what I did for 10 years with my cleaning lady. I sure didn’t want her to see the pigsty I lived in before she got there to clean! hehe
November 12th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
You bet the senior bunch oft times have more time to go to the movies and watch TV programming. We’re a mighty force and our opinions should be heeded. I enjoy the seasoned actor…look at those faces with all the life personality wrinkles…like I always say, I’m thankful wrinkles don’t hurt!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
This film short is so great Eileen. I was not familiar with these gals but will hop over to their site when I have a minute.
I do love seeing women like us in films, magazines, television. Why not for heavens sake, we exist in a big way! I’m happy for the full spectrum of humanity–all ages, sizes, colors, and what have you–and older men still get more work than their female counterparts. What’s up with that?
I’d like to think things are changing, slowly but surely. And women like Debbie and friends can keep us laughing in the meantime.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I saw myself in this film, LOL! I love ITTP and have been excited since viewing the first film I saw on their site of women talking candidly–and with pride–about the power of being in their “real” prime! Debbie and friends rock! I just watched the Meryl Streep version of “The Manchurian Candidate” recently. I was thinking what a great role model she is, a boomer woman playing such varied roles from the calculating Senator Ellie in this flick to the soft and sweet Donna in “Mama Mia.” Another of my favorite, flowering boomers is Sally Field as Nora in “Brothers and Sisters.” I just got my first Social Security check, and I’m having the time of my life. About time we let the rest of the world in on another dirty little secret–it’s true that women with attitude do age like fine wine! Thanks, Eileen.