Gender as Represented in Spec Script Deals: 1991–2015
In 2013, I posted some analysis of spec script deals from 1991–2012:
Recently we have seen quite a few studies and analysis pointing out gender inequity in the entertainment business including independent films, television, even the theater. Now we can add spec scripts to the mix.
The post included an infographic of spec script deals by gender from 1991–2012, based on the database of deals aggregated and archived on this site here.
The numbers showed that during the last two decades, only 1 out of 8 spec scripts that sold were written by a woman. We have updated the numbers to include 2014 and 2015 results and here is a revised infographic:
In 2014 of the 78 writers who were involved with reported spec script deals, 12 of them were women (15%).
In 2015 of the 69 writers, 10 of them were women (14%).
Thus the questions persist: What is the deal here? Does this mean there are fewer women interested in screenwriting? For example, only 28.6% of applicants for the 2013 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting (my most recent information) were women, but female writers involved in only one out of eight spec script sales translates to 13%.
Given the consistency of that percentage over the years (13–14%), clearly we are looking at a systemic issue.
The Black List is trying to do something about this inequity. For example in October, I participated as a mentor in a Black List Screenwriting Mini-Lab in New York City in association with the Athena Film Festival. There I and three other mentors worked with four women writers on their feature script projects. In addition, a Women In Film/The Black List Episodic Lab was recently announced, an eight week program beginning in August 2016 with eight women writers to be selected.
There’s much to be done. What are your thoughts on the matter?
Note: It is impossible to track every single spec spec transaction. The numbers here are based on the best information available.
For a PDF of the infographic, click here.
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