MovieChat Forums > Paul Schrader Discussion > Wrote a script about a female lead but s...

Wrote a script about a female lead but says he can’t direct it?


He said he wrote a script for a movie called R.N. that features his first female protagonist because he wanted to “do a film about female sexual irresponsibility, mainly behavior that just causes trouble.” It includes explicit sex and masterbation scenes.

He likes his script but now thinks he shouldn’t direct it because he’s “an old male” out of his depth. He wants Elisabeth Moss to star and direct instead.

Is he fucking serious?

First off, if he can write the screenplay— which is the foundation of the entire film and it’s characters — he can damn well direct it.

Second, if Moss directs, she’s still a woman directing something about a woman written by a man. Having a woman direct it won’t magically make the script more “understanding” of women everywhere.

Finally, no one — I mean NO ONE — wants to see Moss playing a character involved in explicit sex and masterbation scenes. No one!

Look, I can see having Moss directing in today’s hyper sensitive social landmine of a world may be good marketing, but cast an attractive young woman as the lead. Otherwise you’ve immediately lost your massive potential male audience.


reply

He is such a master. I wish he could do what he wants but he’s not that off not wanting to do it. Not sure about Moss tho. She’s a good actress but it sounds like a femme fatale role and I don’t see her as that. I love his “man alone” trilogy. Taxi Driver. American Gigolo. My favorite, Light Sleeper. When will we be able to see good movies again.

reply

IN HEAVEN I SUPPOSE.

reply

Not sure about Moss tho. She’s a good actress but it sounds like a femme fatale role and I don’t see her as that.

Exactly! I also thought she was totally miscast in The Invisible Man. No way in hell some billionaire would waste his time on her, not with all the attractive women out there who are easy to manipulate.

reply

🤣

reply

I didn’t even get that far. I tried watching Handmaid’s Tale - everybody loved it - she got awards. Good actress but I felt she was miscast. She was perfect however in Mad Men. Moss was in a Jane Campion Australian series. Top of the Lake. So maybe she learned from this very good director. In any case, I would love to see anything by Paul Schrader.

reply

YOU OBVIOUSLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT A DIRECTOR IS OR WHAT THEY DO...AT ALL.

reply

I’ve been involved in writing and producing for years. I fully understand. I also know that without the script, there is no movie.

reply

🤣

reply

🤣🤣

Wow. You’re right. Laughing emojis do work. 😳 I posted twice as many as you and completely proved your single laughing emoji response wrong. Amazing.

reply

I LAUGH WHEN PEOPLE SAY FUNNY SHIT...SUE ME.😘

reply

Point out what’s funny.

reply

DO YOU OWN A MIRROR?🫤

reply

What a weird OP.

Perhaps Schrader wants a woman's perspective on his material, so that she can balance his male POV about women's 'sexual irresponsibilty'. I'd say that a collaboration between women and men, and thus two moderating perspectives can make the overall film more understanding of women. A film is more than simply its script, and camera angles/set-ups and the way actors are directed, can affect the tone and mood of a film *even if* the script is intact (and most scripts undergo vast changes from page to screen).

Also, are men so pathetic that we'll only go to see a film featuring a female lead, if she's nude and 'hot'? Maybe Schrader is not interested in titillating his audience. Maybe he's aiming for something deeper and more substantial in his exploration of sexuality.

reply

Then have a woman give feedback on the script and direct it himself.

My point is, if he felt being an old man disqualifies him to be the director, then why didn’t he feel that way about writing the script? The script is what needs a female perspective because it’s telling the actual story from a woman’s perspective.

His comments are just stupid. Maybe he’s just too old and senile to function period.

reply

He’s ill and old! He’s not coming back. Broke as well. Poor guy.

reply