Screenwriting : Beyond the Bechdel Test by Johnnie Mazzocco

Spot on. The Bechdel test is a bit of a joke imo.

If you liked this article, check out mine on Writing Female Characters. It also touches on Bechdel.

I poked fun at it in one of my scripts by having a female character ask another "Have you heard of the Bechdel test?"...thereby passing the Bechdel test.

CJ, it's a bit of a joke, in what way? Are you saying you agree with the article? Danny, I'll look for yours! Tony, you poked fun at it because you agree with the article?

Yes I agree with the article. The Bechdel is a woefully weak gauge in my opinion, although it does highlight just how misogynistic movies have been. We need to move on, we can't have writers thinking that by simply passing the Bechdel test they giving women fair representation.

@Johnnie Mazzocco Pretty much. The Bechdel test oversimplifies the qualifications for developed female characters. A movie like Alien struggles to pass the criteria despite Ripley's inner strength and vital role in the film. Alien 3 fails the test because no women appear in the film other than Sigourney Weaver's character. That's my beef with the test.

Hi, Lyse. Yes, I have read Danny's article, and I agree with you that it hits the nail on the head. And I'll give some serious thought to your challenge to find three rules for the current times. (And I'll ask around, too...) I think you're right that the original Bechdel test raised awareness, and that was a good thing. It does seem, though, that it's time for a revision...

@Danny Manus Thanks for your article on female protags. Great insight and valuable advice. I'm sharing it with my connections...

thanks guys! glad you liked it! appreciate it!