Experienced writer and director Chas Halpern seeks funds for “Positive: The Movie” featuring a 50–year-old woman in the lead role.
SAN FRANCISCO— Though Hollywood is the birthplace of several movies that have challenged social stigmas, one barrier is proving difficult for even Hollywood to overcome. “Positive: The Movie” from writer and director Chas Halpern is trying to break the barrier of featuring female lead roles for women over age 40, which is extremely rare. Halpern has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $185,000 by July 12 to fund the movie’s production.
The lack of lead roles for mature females has been gaining awareness lately. Perhaps the most notable recognition this trend has received was in Cate Blanchett’s acceptance speech for her 2013 OSCAR for best actress. In the speech, Blanchett said that, contrary to popular belief, films featuring mature women in a lead role earn money and are popular with audiences.
Halpern’s “Positive” features a 50-year-old woman as a lead character who is coming to terms with her brother-in-law who is a loser. The film is thought-provoking and funny, exploring the complexities of family relationships and the human heart. It is also in the extreme minority of Hollywood films featuring a mature female lead.“A leading role for an actress over age 40 is almost non-existent in Hollywood,” said Halpern.“In fact, a recent study of films made in Hollywood reflects that women over 40 have only six percent of speaking roles.”
Actress and producer Rosanna Arquette has endorsed “Positive” saying Hollywood needs more films like it to provide rich leading roles for experienced actresses and to prove that stories about women over 40 are worth telling.
The crowdfunding campaign for “Positive” is seeking to raise funds to produce the film. Contribution levels range from a $25 “shout out” to a $10,000 investment. Starting at the $500 level, contributors will enjoy a phone call with Halpern with an autographed copy of the script. At $1,000, contributors will receive an invitation to the film’s wrap party and a free script analysis. At the $5,000 level, contributors will receive a credit at the end of the film, and at the $7,000 level contributors will be invited to visit the set for a day. Those contributing $10,000 will receive an invitation to the film’s premiere with hotel accommodation.
About Chas Halpern
A writer and director specializing in dialogue and humor, Chas Halpern has won BtoB Magazine’s Viral Video of the Year award for a project he completed for Hewlett-Packard. In addition to the spots he has directed for major corporations – such as Walmart, Cisco, Microsoft XBOX, Pfizer, Proctor and Gamble, Match.com, and Oracle – Halpern also wrote and produced the feature documentary “Special Effects” shown on PBS in the United States and 10 other countries internationally. He has also been recognized for his 20-minute dramatic short “The Bearing Wall.” For more information on Chas Halpern, visit ChasHalpern.com. To contribute to the crowdfunding campaign for “Positive: The Movie,” visit igg.me/at/PositiveTheMovie/x.
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