Lena Dunham, Mindy Kaling, Kristen Wiig, Jenji Kohan say TV ahead of film in opportunities for female creative voices
By Sandy Cohen, Entertainment Writer
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) --Lena Dunham dreams of the day when a man might say, "It's impossible to get into Hollywood. It's an old women's network."
The creative force behind HBO's "Girls" shared the stage with "The Mindy Project" creator Mindy Kaling, "Bridesmaids" star and co-writer Kristen Wiig and "Orange Is the New Black" show-runner Jenji Kohan for a discussion on women in Hollywood Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival.
The four women weighed in how they broke into the entertainment industry and the challenges they face as its minority gender.
All said they realized early on that if they wanted to tell the stories they cared most about, they'd have to take the reins and do it themselves. And they found TV a far friendlier environment for female voices than film.
"There's just a lot more opportunity," Kohan said. "It seems like film is really behind."
Even with the success of "Weeds" and "Orange Is the New Black," Kohan said the only scripts she's been offered to write involve "weddings and moms."
Dunham, too, said after earning acclaim for her first film, "Tiny Furniture," she was given opportunities to pen such scripts as "Strawberry Shortcake." She wasn't interested, so she created "Girls."
They hope their current successes help pave the way for other women with Hollywood dreams. All four rely on writing teams populated by mostly women, but they don't count men out.
"You shouldn't have to just limit yourself to one gender," Kohan said. "You want to work with whoever is the best at what they're doing."
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More