In the ScriptJournal (a publication of scriptshark.com),
Lee Zahavi Jessup writes about ageism in Hollywood: “The reality of the industry is that the cards begin
to stack against you the moment you hit your twenty fifth birthday. This does
not mean that many writers past their “Hollywood prime” don’t make a career of
it. They do every day. However, it is important to be aware of these unpleasant
perceptions so that you can come prepared to battle them. So why does Hollywood, and specifically
the young agents and managers working out there, seem so eager to find young
talent to work for them? The answer is a simple one, and has much to do with
maturity and mentality: A young person, just out of college and with a
dedicated focus to their screenwriting career, will have an easier time working
harder, sleeping less, and sacrificing everything in the name of screenwriting
than a person who is more set in their years… To put it simply, an older person
who is married, has children, and has already established themselves a career
is likely not going to give all of themselves to screenwriting, simply because
they’ve realized that a person’s entire identity does not lie in the failure or
success of a screenwriter’s career.” I’m sure that’s true, but I think an even
bigger factor is that so many development executives are in their twenties and
early thirties, and they feel awkward bossing around people old enough to be
their parents. Why are the execs so young? Because the youth audience is still
the holy grail, especially in the film business. That’s a bit less true in TV,
where at least the dramatic shows are more receptive to mature writers, Sitcoms
usually are staffed by young writers—and on those, with the constant rewriting
and late nights, the factors Jessup cites probably are a bigger issue. My intent is not to discourage mature
writers (I’m one, at least chronologically) but it’s good to know what we’re up
against. (For tips on how to be more creative & productive, subscribe to my free monthly Brainstorm e-bulletin. Just send an email request now to [email protected])