Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

We came within two scenes of finishing our latest screenplay this week, so we’ve given ourselves permission to go out and play. There’s a neighborhood Halloween party, so at least one of us will be dancing in the streets tonight. We sent our current script, COYOTE out to a few trusted industry pals and got some tres enthusiastic responses. To be honest, we’re eager to get started on the next script, an updating of sorts of THELMA AND LOUISE with a nod to the current oppressive political climate. The story is so rich and exciting, it’s practically writing itself.

When it comes to powerful women in a compelling role, of course I always think of Debra Winger. She’s done so many amazing films … URBAN COWBOY, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN and BLACK WIDOW. Certainly one of my favorites is LEAP OF FAITH from first-time writer Janus Cercone. At Sundance the year after it was released, I had the chance to talk with Lolita Davidovitch about the character arcs in that film. Winger’s character had a nice evolution.

Why does Winger always come to mind as a lead in women’s script? For starters, she served in the Israeli Army. (Holy cow!) When she was 17, she was working at Six Flags Amusement Park. A freak accident put her in a coma for three days. When she came to, she was partially paralyzed and was told she’d be blind for life. To everyone’s surprise, over the next year, she healed completely. She’s such an iconic figure, a documentary about the challenges faced by actresses over 40 was entitled SEARCHING FOR DEBRA WINGER. I’d love for her to play Major Pauline or one of the characters in our new script.