Amplifying Untold Stories
Geena Davis Institute Members are changemakers who know that on screen representation matters and are dedicated to creating a more inclusive media landscape. Patrick Hyde “retired” from the corporate world to start his own company, Audio in Motion where he and his team write and produce historical fiction audio dramas. We recently chatted with Patrick Hyde about his work and why being a member of the Geena Davis Institute is meaningful to him.
GDI: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what kind of work you do? I love history and movies and I’ve combined those passions into creating cinematic audio dramas. I’ve been developing them now for about 4-5 years, since the pandemic. I’ve found “Hidden Figures” types of stories about women in American history like Julia Morgan, the first female architect in California who was instrumental in helping to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake, then went on to design Hearst Castle; and Margaret Fuller the first female war correspondent, who in 1848, was assigned to cover the Civil War in Rome for the New York Herald Tribune. My partner, Courtney Reimer, and I are at the casting stage of an exciting new project, “The Golden Age” about Dorothy Arzner who for many years was the only woman working as a director in Hollywood.
GDI: What inspired you to join the Geena Davis Institute and what drew you to our mission of advocating for equity and representation? I first heard about the Geena Davis Institute from the Screen Actors Guild where I am also a member. I attended one of the Institute’s events and responded to the dedication and energy the Institute applies to its mission of breaking barriers and showing the disparity of gender representation. GDI does incredible research. Your studies are eye opening. It just motivates me even more to continue being an ally.
GDI: What personal or professional experiences have shaped your understanding of media representation? Well, I would say even though audio budgets are lower and a less risky investment than say, film or TV, it’s still a challenge to tell stories about women. Male characters are dominating the media. I like audio drama because you’re able to cast without regard to physical appearance or physical ability. It provides opportunities for all actors to work.
GDI: Is there a film or television show that has had a significant impact on your views about representation? I’ve been working on an audio adaptation of the Christine Jorgensen story with Susan Stryker. I think back to the movie that was made about Jorgensen in 1970 when they cast a man in her role. In our project, we won’t cast a man as the first transgender woman in America. So knowing that movie exists, it’s kind of shaped my feelings towards gender representation in the media.
Connect with Patrick Hyde on Linkedin
GDI Member Profiles spotlight the journeys of our members – their inspirations, impact, and commitment to representation. We hope this series inspires you to join the movement!
