The women blowing up action movies

Margot Robbie and screenwriter Christina Hodson speak for the first time on their female-driven action-movie script programme that could shake up the industry

MARGOT ROBBIE IS fed up of “strong female characters”. A longtime action-movie fan, she wants something even bigger for the women in front of and behind the camera — and so with her Birds Of Prey screenwriter Christina Hodson, the actor has started a new initiative for budding female action writers to get a crucial first foot in the door. Speaking with Empire, Robbie and Hodson explain how the six-week ‘Lucky Exports Pitch Program’ could give the action-movie industry a long overdue shake-up.

Where did your scriptwriting initiative originate from?

Christina Hodson: It was born out of looking for more balance in the system. In order to shift the specifics, Margot and I felt it made sense to start getting women experience and exposure in the first place. We wanted to set up this programme with an achievable goal, which is to get six female writers hired in a feature space. The more ambitious goal is to get these writers those big franchise action jobs that are often reserved for experienced white men.

What does the programme actually entail? Hodson: Each week is slightly different. We’ve been brainstorming ideas, and breaking story together. The thing that’s been magical is the way that all of the women are helping each other to break story. Everyone is so engaged.

Margot Robbie: We’ve had a number of people in the industry come in and speak to our candidates. I came in and spoke from my position as an actor when I’m reading a script, particularly as a woman reading an action script.

Hodson: I think there is so much mystery to the studio system — particularly to big-budget action movies. What we wanted to do was get producers, directors and writers in the room to remove some of that mystery and then allow the ideas and talent to really shine.

How do you write a fully-formed female action hero?

Robbie: I’ve read so many scripts that turned “strong female characters” into robotic, boring characters. I think there has been a lack of authenticity because people are too focused on this quick phrase, as opposed to just trying to tell a human story.

Hodson: I totally agree. I think the way to write a fully rounded female action hero is the same as the way you write any great character — it’s about the nuance, the complication, the stickiness. It should be kind of irrelevant whether they’re male or female.

What’s been your relationship with action movies over the years?

Hodson: Terminator 2 was such a formative movie for me. It had the big, fun, huge spectacle, but it was also such a great character-driven story. That felt like such a great sandbox to be able to play in — to tell personal stories but on a huge scale. Robbie: I’ve always loved action films. I love doing stunt work. I love that world so much. And I’ve never understood the preconception that it’s male territory. But there are specific tools and a specific format to an action film that’s differentiated from other kinds of scripts. The whole point of this programme is we want more of them out there. It’s just a great opportunity try to attack those statistics. We’ve had the great joy of working for the last four years on Birds Of Prey. We weren’t ready to be done!