Alright, lets start generating some ideas, introducing ourselves (along with our ideas), and possibly getting some projects going. I'll start: I'm Karen, I have been studying the Martial Arts since age six. I worked in live stunts throughout my childhood and have recently turned to on-screen stunt work and fight choreography. I love action movies but would like to see more that feature female characters I can truly relate to and I am not the only woman who has expressed this. In the future I would like to see more female characters who are treated with dignity in regards to their sexuality rather than constantly putting it on display. I believe that all heroes regardless of their gender/race/orientation, etc... should be treated as someone to look up to, to emulate, and to respect. With my preference for Martial Arts movies I tend to look for characters with a strong sense of duty, self sacrifice, comraderie and a drive to better the self both physically and mentally. I would very much like to see a female character who deals with questions of morality, loyalty, violence, cowardice/bravery than say trying to get a date. These are just my ideas, I would like to hear what other people would like to see in a female oriented action genre. Who knows, maybe we might make something together. :)
Anything Goes : Creating a new Genre: Action movies for women! by Karen Fei
Other topics in Anything Goes:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
thanks for the tip but I'm actually more interested in coming up with original characters/stories rather than adapting a comic book. I have some ideas of my own but am looking for like minded people interested in collaborating.Also Most of the comic book characters I have seen are far too sexualized for what I have intended.
" In the future I would like to see more female characters who are treated with dignity in regards to their sexuality rather than constantly putting it on display." Most action heroines are treated with respect in the world of the film--in fact they will kick the shit out of anybody who doesn't respect them. Perhaps what you mean is you don't like seeing actresses looking sexy?
How about Ripley in the 'Alien' movies? She was a good example of someone who could take and deal out the hard stuff, yet was a very real woman--not a Barbie doll. I think Jennifer Lawrence has the potential to become a very good action actress. She tends to play her own strong person and not just eye candy. You might call 'The Hunger Games' an action film. Noomi Rapace in the original Swedish version of 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' was a great action heroine who absolutely and totally was sexy on her own terms.
Yes. Its definitely a great idea. I heard, that in places like Thailand, Russia, and similar places, many women folk work in all areas and men begin to sit at home. I was enamored when saw heavy duty truck drivers driven by women in Germany.
Amen Karen! I did do an adaptation. I adapted Shakespeare's mini epic poem Venus and Adonis. I chose it as my first film because Venus is a strong minded woman and knows what she wants. She does spend a great deal of time trying to seduce Adonis, but I love the role reversal. I'm dying to learn how to fence! My future projects are all drama oriented, examining female roles, but I love that you're out there exploring some real kick ass adventures!
Depending on your feelings about horror, I have a script right now for an action-oriented horror movie in which the plot-driving characters are all female, both protagonists and antagonists/monsters. If you're interested in discussing this further, feel free to message me directly.
Thanks for the suggestion Gemma but I'm actually a bit of a weeny when it comes to horror. I prefer my action movies exciting but not in the way that makes you scream or want to throw up. More "crouching tiger hidden dragon" and less "Friday the 13th". I guess I'm no fun at slumber parties :( But good luck with your script! sounds interesting all the same! I don't mind gothic horror though, I did grow up watching Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Just can't sit through the gross/disturbing stuff.
Yeah, I modeled it somewhat on classic Cronenberg, so I certainly can't claim there isn't a fair deal of gooshy stuff. I'd draw a pretty strict distinction between body horror and Friday the 13th, though.;) Think about Alien, Aliens or even Prometheus--that's the sort of vibe I'm going for.
yeah, theres no way I would go for that. eeek! But good luck with your scary movie.
I'm currently in the outlining stage of an action/thriller with a female FBI agent who has to protect a male murder witness, who may be a killer himself. There's a romance subplot, but it's a relationship of equals - in fact, she has more power in the relationship than he does, because he'll literally die without her. If he's innocent, she could see herself loving him; if not, they're both doomed. Either way, she does most of the butt-kicking.
A nice post / topic. With regard to female driven action, this has been pretty much my world for nearing 20 years. When I was 19, when I was working in a supermarket, I created a female gaming character whose name sky-rocketed around the world. I wanted to see a female Indiana Jones to be honest. Why can't women have action heroes. Like Krystyna said above, Ripley from Aliens. Sure, but it had been years since her last venture and why not feature more? Years later, I wrote a script for Sharon Stone called Radical Extremes. It centered around a female FBI Agent who had to train in extreme sports in order to catch a serial killer. Point Break meets Seven if you prefer. The producer hated the idea I'd sent it to Stone's people, let alone had the notion of a female action hero. He got me to change the character to a man as he said female action, unless it's a women in jeopardy thriller, doesn't sell. He also said "I don't like the title, it sounds like a Muslim movie! Extremes, Radical.. C'mon!" - As much as I tried to explain it. "I'll think of a title, although I like the 'ex' sound." Well, I took what I had left, which wasn't much and turned it into a female James Bond. Make what you will of what they had left! Of course, we have Salt and every other Angelina Jolie film. She's predictable. I'd like to see someone else do action. We have Milla Jovovich who is awesome and I'm currently making http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2234201/ - my female martial arts movie Knockout, but I'm still very much aware of a struggle to get female driven movies out there. I'll finish by saying there is an audience for female led action, parts of Europe, India, far East and what's more is that there are so many outlets now to showcase them. Write it. Get it out there, don't hold back.
cool. you guys keep up the good work too!
I've also been in martial arts since I was six. I started because I wanted to learn how to break boards like they did in Shaw Brothers movies. Imagine my surprise when I found out people couldn't actually jump up a tree! But I digress.. I wrote a script called "Seeker" that featured a female lead who taught self defense classes. Through a series of events she ends up in prison and escapes to prove her innocence before she's executed. She's not ex-special forces, rather an every-woman with training. In the script she advocates non-violence but teaches women to be ready in case escape isn't an immediate option. She also tells women in her class not to stand toe to toe with a man as (on average) men are larger and stronger and hurting him may only intensify the damage he'd do to her. Over the course of the script she does have fights - it's an action script, duh! - but she also outwits her opponents. I've written two other scripts that feature women in strong roles rather than being eye candy. One is under my projects called "Crimson Creek" and scheduled to begin filming early next year. It's a horror/thriller with emphasis on thriller. Even a self-proclaimed weeny could sit through it. ;-)
Cool! Good luck with your projects! There have been people out there telling me that there is no audience for an "every-woman" action hero and that I shouldn't bother trying. good to know there are others who agree with me and are trying. :)
I could get behind that. I look forward to tracking this one.
Anime provides lots of inspiration for this. "I love a girl who can kick my ass." -- dubscript of "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie." Funny thing how the feminist conversation hasn't really happened in Japan, there is still so much sexism in the culture, yet there are so many awesome, dimensional warrior woman characters in Anime. I'm Michelle Klein-Hass, wannabe editor and do-it-all documentarian. Grew up thoroughly marinated in geek culture.