Women pick the films . .
So why don't they pick 'chick flicks'?
Though the woman tends to pick the film, she wants the guy to come along--and might even expect him to buy the tickets. It might be said the whole movie industry depends on this interrelationship. While most women don't see the use in "shoot 'em ups", guys avoid "chick flicks" like the plague, so she will often make the necessary compromise.See what the ladies have to say about chick flicks . .
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What's the trick to appealing to both men and women?
The trick when writing a film centered around girls or women and their needs is simply to consider the male audience. Inner feelings, glamorous outfits, catty interplays, applying make-up, weight concerns, chocolate--these hold little appeal to the average male viewer. In fact they tend to turn him off.What does he go for? Why, action, cars, guns, gizmoes, naked female bodies, fighting, of course.
But maybe these are just the manifestations of fundamental differences in the feminine and masculine essence. A screenwriter wanting to appeal to both sexes needs to consider these first.
What's the difference between guys and gals?
Vive la différence . .| feminine | masculine |
| internal | external |
| compassion | fairness |
| agenda | mission |
| people | things |
| feelings | actions |
| family | tribe |
| social | political |
| "no" | "yes" |
| blame | no excuses |
| security | risk |
| complain | fix |
| etiquette | respect |
| rules | respect |
| relationships | alliances |
| emotions | anger |
| manipulate | command |
| love | protection |
| form | function |
| decoration | design |
| elegance | engineering |
| mystical | mechanical |
| glamour | valor |
| practical | philosophical |
| earth | sky |
| intuitive | logical |
| verbal | mathematical |
| indirect | direct |
| mean | tough |
| home | abroad |
| shopping | cars |
| victimhood | fuggedaboutit |
Isn't that sexist!?!
It may meet your definition of sexism, but even so you as a writer need to be both broad-minded and practical enough to put aside your political views and get real about life.Start with a difference few would argue over: shopping. Women love it--men hate it. Going to a "chick flick" is like that. Wondrous for women--disastrous for men.
You do the math. Producers will.
I still want to tell my truth!
All the great male writers have written from the female perspective. Consider Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, etc. These writers showed remarkable perception and ingenuity to view life and love from the perspective of the opposite sex, wouldn't you say? And the book publishing industry of the day certainly appreciated it: most sales of novels were to women. What if you could reverse the trick and write what appeals to guys as well as gals? Hollywood would be at your feet, and you would have enhanced your skills as a writer tenfold.What about love and war?
Love stories appeal more to women, war appeals more to men. Overlapping the two can make a powerful combination at the box office. The two most popular movies of all time, in terms of box office sales, operate on these two levels (see exercises below).Are there any crossover genres that appeal to men and women?
One crossover genre is the horror film, which the gals seem to go even crazier over than the guys. If you enjoy writing in this genre, have at it. May you be richly rewarded at the box office by droves of men and women, young and old.| See also . . |
