Writer/Director Starts Social Funding Campaign After Hollywood Demands Sex Change for Lead Character

Los Angeles, CA, September 18, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Los Angeles based director, Renji Philip, has turned to social funding for his latest film, GLIMMER – a female-driven psychological thriller after being told by Hollywood financiers that “audiences don’t care about films with women in them.”

“The sad reality is there are very few exceptional film roles for women over forty in Hollywood,” says Philip. “But we believe women can carry films as much as men and there are smart audiences out there that want to see them.”

"The sad reality is there are very few exceptional film roles for women over forty in Hollywood, but we believe women can carry films as much as men and there are smart audiences out there that want to see them."

Renji Philip, Director/Writer

GLIMMER follows a female psychiatrist who gives up her career to rehabilitate her younger sister after a near fatal car accident.  Upon arrival at a remote vacation home, disturbing events start to occur.  The type of events Philip believes will serve well at the box office.

"Our lead character is female and over forty, which seems to have made her a pariah to financiers," Philip states. "I personally believe there are so many talented actresses over forty that audiences want to see and I'm incredibly excited about the distribution shifts that have brought filmmakers closer to delivering their films directly to their audiences.  I want to engage with my audience for the long haul.  I want our audience to consider "my" films "our" films. If we have to raise our own money through social funding to make these films then that's what we need to do. Our audiences deserve that." 

Gender disparity is commonplace in the movie industry. A comprehensive study by San Diego State's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film determined that women represented only 15 percent of protagonists in the 100 top-grossing films of 2013, 29 percent of major characters, and 30 percent of all speaking characters. Further, only 13 percent of those films had either an equal number of major female and male characters, or more major female characters than male characters.  Furthermore, according to a 2014 study published by the Journal of Management Inquiry, a national journal provided by the University of Alberta, women actresses’ salaries decreased by the age of 35 while their male counterparts at 51. The journal followed the careers of 265 actors and actresses who have been in film from the past 50 years.

"Traditionally, male actors have enabled Hollywood companies to finance their films based on bank financing secured by foreign pre-sales,” explains Philip.  “Many companies are unwilling to put their own money into a film unless the presale amount covers the production budget.  But when that happens, the same kind of films get financed over and over and audiences tire of them and turn to other forms of entertainment, like excellent television. Unless film companies are willing to step out of the old business model, the stereotypical male lead will remain in place and box office revenue will decline from audience apathy.  I believe the ground is fertile for change.”

GLIMMER has already raised over $11,000 in under two weeks and has another 6 weeks to raise the rest of their $75,000 goal. People interested in supporting Philip and donating to the film can make donations by visiting: www.glimmermovie.com.  

ABOUT RENJI PHILIP

Renji Philip has been a director in Hollywood for over fifteen years and has written and directed five short films and one feature film, CHEESECAKE CASSEROLE, the story of four college best friends (female) who escape to a vacation house to celebrate their last weekend together before they graduate and go their separate ways. The film was released digitally on iTunes, Netflix and over one hundred Video On Demand television channels. GLIMMER is his second feature film and is about a female psychiatrist who gives up her career to rehabilitate her younger sister after a car accident and disturbing things start to happen. Philip is passionate about films that challenge stereotypes and often suggest connections between chance, destiny and coincidence.  For more information please visit: www.glimmermovie.com.