Ep 24. 'Feud' Director Ryan Murphy on Working With Women Over 40

Popcorn with Peter Travers Season 10 Episode 24 titled 'Feud' brings in the celebrated Director Ryan Murphy to talk about his experiences working with women over 40 years of age. The episode delves into how Murphy has been breaking barriers in Hollywood for quite some time by telling the stories of older women as the protagonists.

Murphy begins by talking about his early inspirations from the Golden Age of Hollywood, specifically the legends like Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, who were still working despite being over 40. He confesses how their stories have always inspired him, and how the two Oscar-winning actresses who perpetually detested each other, inspired him to create his successful anthology show 'Feud: Bette & Joan.'

Murphy talks about how Hollywood is heavily criticized for its age bias for women, and he took it upon himself to showcase the stories of these older women through the series. He speaks of how he believed that he could change the industry's perceptions by presenting the stories that were relatable to an older demographic.

Throughout the episode, Murphy reveals how he balances his storytelling between old Hollywood and the new age generation and how it is important to him that he doesn't alienate either demographic. He explains how he makes a conscious effort to ensure his shows cater to everyone and how he tries not to create any generational gap in his storytelling.

Peter Travers asks Murphy about the challenges that arise from portraying older female characters on the screen. Murphy reveals how some of the Hollywood execs wanted him to cast younger actresses for certain roles, but he refused to do so and took a stand to cast actors closer to the characters' respective ages. He also talks about how some of the actresses refused to be a part of the show, as they didn't want to play older roles.

The conversation then shifts towards the unspoken bond between the actresses, which is portrayed in some of Murphy's work. He reveals how his mother and grandmother were his emotional inspiration for this, as he saw how they depended on one another as they aged. He explains how women need each other as they age, and how the importance of having female support in one's life increases tenfold with age.

Murphy also talks about the challenges of writing for women over 40 and how it differs from writing for younger women. He reveals how there's a lot more nuance and complexity attached to writing older women characters, and it is imperative to recognize that all women have their own unique stories to tell. He emphasizes that women over 40 aren't written solely for the purpose of showing off their wrinkles but to delve into the complexities of aging.

Towards the end, Murphy talks about his upcoming project 'Ratched,' a Netflix series that explores the backstory of the infamous character Nurse Ratched from 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.' He talks about how he believes his approach to aging characters in Hollywood will continue to inspire a change in the industry, and how it's essential to tell the story of aging women as they’re relatable to everyone.

Popcorn with Peter Travers Season 10 Episode 24: 'Feud' Director Ryan Murphy on Working With Women Over 40' is an hour-long show where Murphy talks about his experiences working with women of a certain age and how important it is to represent these women on the big and small screens. Murphy shares some of his insights into creating and exploring aging characters and how it's crucial to tell their stories.