Clementine Ford’s ‘Fight Like a Girl’ Set as TV Series at Aquarius Films (EXCLUSIVE)
Australian indie producer Aquarius Films is to develop and produce a comedy drama series adapted from the acclaimed feminist manifesto book “Fight Like A Girl.”
The book, a memoir and expose of how unequal the world continues to be for women, was published in 2016 by feminist writer and online sensation Clementine Ford. It earned Ford the Matt Richell Award for new writer of the year, a prize given by Australian Book Industry Awards.
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The story charts the political awakening of 15-year-old future feminist icon on the suburban grounds of her 1990s high school as she attempts to rally those around her to the cause. She soon discovers that her message will be met with opposition every step of the way, and she must choose between fitting in or fighting for a future world she wants to live in.
Aquarius is planning a six-part TV series adaptation with episodes of 30 minutes each, to be created by Ford and Lou Sanz, writer of the upcoming feature film, “Audrey.” No broadcaster or streaming platform has been announced.
The series scripts will be written by Ford, Sanz, Nayuka Gorrie (ABC TV’s sketch show “Black Comedy”) and Nina Oyama (ABC TV’s comedy “Squinters”). Production is by Aquarius principals Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford for Aquarius Films.
“(Ford) is an influencer and a social disrupter who openly speaks of taboo subjects in order to spark conversation and incite change. She is not afraid of controversy and through her writing is able to delve into important issues with satire and grace,” said Fielder and Staniford in a prepared statement.
Following publication of the book — by Allen & Unwin in Australia and by Oneworld Publications in the U.K. and U.S – Ford has become a media sensation. She followed up two years later with another bestseller “Boys Will Be Boys,” which focuses on toxic masculinity and patriarchy. In February 2020, Ford began a podcast called “Big Sister Hotline,” where she explores current feminist issues and questions with guests that have included Florence Given, Gemma Carey and Yassmin Abdel-Magied.
“As an insecure teen growing up in the 1990s, television was such an escape for me. To be able to develop a narrative fiction version of this time for today’s viewers is an absolute dream come true. ‘Fight Like A Girl’ resonated with so many readers because, despite our differences, there are parts of being a girl in the world that are universal. We want to offer the same experience now to a broader audience, reminding everyone how far we’ve come – and how far we still have to go,” said Ford.
Aquarius’ production and development slate includes; feature film “Most Admired Woman,” based on the acclaimed biography “Sister Kenny: The Woman Who Challenged the Doctors,” co-produced with Decade Films; TV series “The Subjugate,” based on the acclaimed novel of the same title written by award-winner Amanda Bridgeman and co-produced with Anonymous Content; and a co-production with Rose Byrne’s Dollhouse Pictures for TV series “The Geography of Friendship,” based on Sally Piper’s best-selling novel of the same title.
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