Some say “the future is female.”
Wait, before I get into this, I have to apologize for the title of this piece. Apology accepted? Cool. Okay, let me start over.
Some say “the future is female.” After watching this week’s featured videos, I’d have to agree. Not because I like the t-shirts (they’re fine, I just prefer tees sans text), but because when I started working in comedy six years ago, and taking classes in comedy before that, the ladies were often supporting players.
In discussions, in writers’ rooms, in performances, they were made to feel like they weren’t “as funny.” Not intentionally, most times, and never explicitly (that I saw or heard). It was just a kind of expected energy shift they always found themselves on the wrong end of.
Guys spoke the loudest when their ideas were bad, and women felt nervous about speaking up, even when their ideas were great. It’s an unfortunate patriarchal dynamic that I’ve been lucky enough to see change because of my specific work experience in the past five years, but probably hasn’t evolved a ton in a broad sense.
Comedy remains a boy’s club by and large. Women are still cut far less slack than men in the community as they hone their craft, and so those who put themselves out there are taking a huge risk. Who knows when one faulty punchline might awake the volcano of “girls aren’t funny” proselytizers who always seem to be lying in wait, their keyboarding fingers at the ready.
With all that said, the future is female because, more and more, female creators are feeling empowered enough to step forth from the back of the classroom and show us what they’ve got. It’s only a matter of time before they take the keys to the school.
This week, we’re honored to highlight two lady-helmed projects by new filmmakers embarking on the quest to be heard, respected, and laughed at.
“A Game with Gamma Delta” by Lauren Bridges
Living up to a clever premise, Bridges demonstrates a deft touch for dialogue.
“Garbage” by Tayler Vee Robinson and Arne Gjelten
Garbage is very ambitious. Produced on a shoestring, the end result is impressive for its polished, decisive aesthetic (h/t to Alyssa Brocato) and its endearing treatment of two lead characters who are, well, you see the title.
Luke is an executive producer at CollegeHumor/Big Breakfast and a watcher of many web videos. Send him yours @LKellyClyne.
