Are You a Writer Over 40 & Worried about Ageism? Watch this!

During our recent round of free 30-minute phone calls, age seems to have been a concern for a number of you. Is there ageism in Hollywood? If you’re over 40, are people going to look at you differently?

So we had a lovely chat with Brad Johnson, screenwriter, filmmaker, and founder of The Gray List, who is also now moving into literary management. Johnson shares his perspectives on ageism and explains how he created the Grey List to discover exceptional writers over 40.

Perhaps incredibly, The Grey List is gaining traction in youth-obsessed Hollywood. Could it be that execs are finally waking up to the fact that they need to start making good movies again — before the industry dies a cold, penniless death?

Naaah.

Johnson also explains how the connections afforded to him by The Grey List have forded a path for him into writer management, and indeed, he’s one of the reps on our Get Repped Now manager list. So this is your chance to get in on the ground floor with a new rep with something to prove – who also advocates for undiscovered writers over 40.

FAQs

1. Is ageism a real issue for writers in Hollywood?

Ageism absolutely exists in Hollywood. Studies show that hiring probability drops significantly as writers age from forty to fifty-five. However, exceptional writing talent and commercial viability often outweigh age concerns when projects demonstrate clear market potential.

2. Do writers over 40 face disadvantages in the film and TV industry?

Writers over forty encounter hiring challenges, particularly in television writers’ rooms favoring younger talent. However, mature writers bring valuable life experience, sophisticated storytelling perspectives, and professional reliability that increasingly attract producers seeking quality material.

3. Why are many writers concerned about age when seeking representation?

Agents and managers sometimes assume writers unproven by forty lack potential for success. This outdated mindset creates barriers despite evidence showing mature writers often produce more commercially viable, emotionally resonant work than their younger counterparts.

4. Who is Brad Johnson, and what is The Grey List?

Brad Johnson is a screenwriter and filmmaker who founded The Grey List in 2022. The initiative combats ageism by curating production-ready features and pilot scripts exclusively from writers over forty, proving creativity has no expiration date.

5. What is the purpose of The Grey List?

The Grey List spotlights exceptional scripts from writers over forty to demonstrate their commercial viability and unique storytelling perspectives. The initiative provides industry exposure, challenges ageist assumptions, and connects mature writers with managers seeking fresh talent.