Stacy Dymalski

In 2026 those born in the first year of the Baby Boomer generation turn 80 years old, and those born the last year turn 62. Which means the most populous generation will officially be senior citizens. Add to that, almost half the Gen X generation will be 50 or older by then as well.

Yet, when we go to the movies, turn on TV, or scroll through social media we see a parade of young people, particularly young women, in stories that don’t represent or relate to the experiences of a large chunk of the population. Although Hollywood has taken a few steps toward releasing stories that focus on the lives of older people Hacks, Grace and Frankie, The Kominsky Method, Last Tango in Halifax, and Only Murders in the Building, are a just few), these efforts are mere drops in the ocean, when you consider the tens of thousands of hours of programming that need to be filled, versus the demographics of the people watching content.

Producer, screenwriter, and comedian Stacy Dymalski takes a deep dive into the Hollywood storytelling machine to reveal why studios are slow to produce stories that cater to people over 50, and what we can do about it.

Peppered with her signature humor, Stacy addresses the following topics:

• The theories behind Hollywood’s deep-seeded problem with aging
• The aging double-standard in the media between men and women
• Who should be telling our stories?
• What older writers can do to get their stories told and distributed.

As the Vice-Chair of the Career Longevity Committee of the Writers Guild of America (WGA—the union for professional screenwriters), Stacy works with her fellow CLC members and the committee Chair to encourage studios, content distributors, and producers to hire older writers for their wisdom, knowledge, and life experience (which naturally adds layered texture to stories based in authenticity and firsthand truth).