For Women Scotland TV Drama / Mumsnet the Movie - Official Discussion thread

[fromorbit]

Attention TV and film Producers/Directors/Writers.

This is the Mumsnet thread in which Mumsnetters explain the best way of dramatising the way Mumsnet saved Scotland, the UK and the world. Please play careful attention. You will be tested on this.

You can send the Film/TV money to the usual bank accounts where the Big Oil/ Christian Right cash goes.

It is only a matter of time till the series/film is made as this Mail article reveals:

Could gender law victory by Scots mothers be the next Mr Bates hit drama?
When three Scottish mothers met on Mumsnet eight years ago, they could never have imagined their late-night forum posts would lead to the Supreme Court.

Still less could they have predicted their fight with the Scottish Government over the legal meaning of ‘woman’ would catch the attention of TV producers – and the journalist behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

Nick Wallis, the investigative reporter who exposed the scandal and was a consultant on the award-winning drama, believes the story of For Women Scotland (FWS) ‘lends itself’ to a TV drama...

Ms Calder acknowledged there has been some interest shown in putting their story on television.
She said: ‘Who would play us? It would have to be Meryl Streep for me and I know Susan loves Margot Robbie. Trina, well, she’d like Holly Hunter.’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15202865/Could-gender-law-victory-Scots-mothers-Mr-Bates-hit-drama.html

Please discuss vital ideas like:

What should the drama be called?

How much budget needs to be set aside for teacakes ?

How does the plot unfold? Please give script outlines.

We have casting for the trio of heroes sorted, but lots of other questions? Who plays Nichola Sturgeon ? JKR? The Lawyers? Who plays the Rozzers in the action sequence?

And most importantly of all.

Who do you want your character to be played by in the Mumsnet Movie?

Not Olivia Colman for JKR. I think she should be allowed to pick her own actress.

Love it !😂

Love it! And all the photos could keep multiplying and it slowly becomes obvious that they're arranged together to make an image - the suffragette flag or the letters XX or something.

I sort of imagine Jackie Bird as Arabella (though I think you're a bit younger Arabella).

I mean this as a compliment btw! She's always struck me as articulate and straight forward.

I can see Eileen McCallum in it. She'd be brilliant at having no fucks left to give and calling a spade a gardening imp£ement.

Alex Kingston for Maya. Obviously with dyed hair.

Dare I ask would someone have to play Isla Bryson?

ChatGPT, but I'm redacting suggested names:

'In a hypothetical dramatization of "Mumsnet Saves the World", casting someone to play Isla Bryson — a real-life and highly controversial figure — would be a bold and delicate move. Given the real-world sensitivity surrounding Isla Bryson (a convicted rapist whose gender identity raised legal and media debate in the UK), the portrayal would likely spark debate regardless of approach.

If the dramatization aimed for a serious, nuanced treatment (as opposed to satire), the actor would need to balance complexity with careful representation.

Potential Casting Approaches:

1. Satirical/Dark Comedy Version

If the dramatization were in the vein of The Thick of It or Black Mirror, the role might be cast with someone known for sharp, edgy performances:

– skilled in morally ambiguous roles.
– known for transformative, unsettling characters and gender-fluid portrayals.

2. Serious Legal/Political Drama

If the tone were more akin to Line of Duty or Bodyguard:

– for her ability to portray morally grey characters with psychological depth.
– known for portraying complex characters with sensitivity (though casting a cis man in a trans role would be controversial today).

3. Realistic Political Drama with Trans Representation

For authenticity, a trans actor might be cast — though few trans actors currently have mainstream recognition in UK drama, that is changing:

* could play a character inspired by, but not named as, Bryson — to avoid legal/ethical complications.

Important Note:

Due to the real and disturbing criminal context of Isla Bryson’s story, dramatizing it (especially naming the character directly) would almost certainly provoke ethical and legal challenges, especially if presented without fictionalization or anonymization.'

It would be much wiser not to name the character, or to detail their background.

otoh, at least one person in brightly coloured leggings with a lumpy bit would be visually useful.

Or just take clips of the real news footage.

Shauny Boy of course should play Patrick Harvie, Ross Greer and Lorna Slater. I wonder if he could take on Isla Bryson.

Nobody has mentioned Madelaine Berns, surely she'll appear?

If Beetle and I appeared we'd surely be invisible.

If the polycule appear anywhere in the story, I’m thinking Nigel Planer as one of the members?

Sparkles could be played by a broom with a bad wig balanced on the handle. Nigel could be Herbert pretending the broom can talk in the manner of Mr Flibble from Red Dwarf.

Sparkles played by a broom is genius.

Puppets could play all the men in dresses.

I'm thinking Morgan Freeman as Lord Hodge (that voice reading out 'The unanimous decision of this court is that the words woman and sex in the equality act refer to biological woman and biological sex')

Or possibly a left field Oscar run from Jason Statham in the role?

Obviously need someone really unhinged to play Maggie Chapman. Is Kathy Bates available at all?

FWIW I have never received my Christian Right cheque. Who do I write to?

Maggie Chapman, Ross Greer, and any other Scottish Greens will be played by the relevant Muppet characters.

The ‘relevant muppets’

😂

Can I put in an early request to be played by Tilda Swinton? I mean, I know she is willowy and ethereally beautiful and I am not, particularly since my Northern farming stock roots tend towards the, ahem, "dumpy peasant" end of things but still. A girl can dream.

Anyway, given that we are all allegedly sock puppets, surely the whole thing could be expressed in the medium of a Punch & Judy show or similar?

Either way, I hope there is sufficient budget for Tunnocks. Teacakes obvs, I find the wafers a bit dry.

A very important question: who will be playing The Fox Botherer?

Tom Hollander.

Even more importantly, isn't there a role for Toby Jones?

Oh yes. I could see him reprising a role similar to The Fucker from The Thick Of It. Opinionated, loud, whiny and quite irritating.

On the subject of TTOI, I hope there will be an appropriate level of swearing, i.e. plenty of it.

And can we have a cameo from the wonderful James Dreyfus?