The third of four film keynote speakers at SXSW was performed by writer, actress and general voice for a huge portion of Gen X and Y, Lena Dunham. The creator and star of the successful Girls series shared her experiences of entering the film industry with a packed out Vimeo Theater, and held the attention of every single person in that room.
Witty, clever, with that recognisable hint of Hannah Horvath self-deprecation, Dunham’s anecdotes weren’t delivered in an ‘I’m better than you now” way, but her words resonated with many young aspiring filmmakers and artistic types in the crowd.
“It’s far too easy to become passive and accept the narrative other people have created for you.”
Dunham drew on the status of women in the field, relating to her own experience with Girls, and how perhaps she’s trying to effect change in some way.
“The world is ready to see Adam [Driver] as 100 different men, but it’s not ready to see Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet or Jemima [Kirke] stretch their legs in the same way.”
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Season Three of Girls currently screens on HBO in the US and on showcase in Australia. Season Four will commence filming this year.
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