$HARE Reimagines How Women 50+ Show Up In Front of and Behind the Screen
Katja Meier's bold new series is a "Succession"-fueled drama, that puts women at the center of their story and the results are thrilling. Read on for my interview with her.
In January, I discovered
on Substack. Call it a serendipitous algorithmic delight. I was instantly intrigued by Zenka Films founder Katja Meier’s latest vehicle, $HARE [Trailer], which is now streaming on OLYN, and its emphasis on HOW the series got made - sustainably and with a strong social mission. Shortly after, I left a comment on [her post] stating I needed to interview her and shine a light on her work. In a welcome harkening back to how media got done online in the year 2000 (personally and grassroots-style), she responded. Even more than the show’s gripping premise of the patriarch/baron of a Swiss-British mining company passing away and his children fighting over the spoils, with each taking decidedly different approaches to the opportunity, I was drawn to $HARE’s ethos and the way in which it was positioned:Switzerland’s Freshest TV Export: Sustainable, Bold & Female-Powered!
Then, I read about Zenka Films’ mission: “We create and produce female-driven stories with a focus on diverse and inspiring heroes from the 45+ age group.”
What did this all mean? I was about to find out.
Quick Links:
Interview with Katja Meier, Creator of $HARE and Zenka Films Founder (Themes: Keeping the series tight, Creating with Sustainability & Inclusivity Principles, Female 50+ Representation, Industry & Icons Inspiration)
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
In fact, It’s the only thing that ever has.
— Margaret Mead
Series Premise (per the website): When LENA CORBYN (59) inherits a third of a British-Swiss mining empire, she aims to revolutionize Corbyn Commodities by closing a harmful coal mine in South Africa and granting employees shares of the family business. But her ambitious plan provokes existential angst in Lena's sister and niece, who will stop at nothing to preserve their privilege and the status quo.
The Backdrop: The combination of the Swiss Alps and Wintertime creates breathtaking cinematography, with compelling camera shots and wide angles of mountainscapes.
In Her Own Words: Katja’s description of $HARE per her Substack:
Swiss “Succession,” money, and family intrigue are all set on a winter campsite near St. Moritz.
Production Notes: Per the website, their manifesto calls out the series' keen attention to principles of transparent and equitable pay, sustainable production standards, and cultural normalization of women over 50 as the main characters in a cinematic story.
One interesting industry note on that front is that women mostly appear as protagonists when they are younger than 30. Interested producers for this series implored the production team to lower the protagonist's age to at max 39 so the series could be sold more quickly. Thankfully, Katja's team remained committed to having women over 50 cast in lead, compelling roles. And the results are emphatically positive.
Championing Authentic Portrayals of Women Over 50
Interview with $HARE series creator and showrunner Katja Meier. Katja’s pilot screenplay for the $HARE pilot won The Writers Lab Europe & UK.* [Press release: ScreenDaily.]
Beth: First off, Katja, thank you for being here today to discuss this series. In our email exchange, I mentioned that I had lost sight of the fact that the pilot wasn't already on Amazon or another international film/series-friendly streamer, and I couldn't just queue up the second episode. This series lends itself to binging as you're so engrossed in the story from the get-go. Can you talk briefly about how you arrived at such a tight pilot that packs so much of a punch in the <30 minutes on screen?
Katja: It’s been a long process, and I’m happy to hear you got hooked! When I decided to produce $HARE independently, I had to strip away everything non-essential. During the [Writers Lab], I discovered that limiting our resources actually strengthened the story. I cut expensive locations and streamlined the cast, which forced me to focus on what mattered most, the relationships between the various characters, family and not. It's like making a good vegetable broth - simple, quality ingredients that reduce and concentrate until they reach their most powerful essence. Sometimes, constraints can be surprisingly empowering.
Beth: It's refreshing to see real-looking women over 50 in a film. This doesn't mean they aren't gorgeous and fierce by default (because they all are), but more so that their lived experience enhances and augments their physical being. It signals to female viewers a realistic depiction of beauty and age, which is very limited in today's cinematic world, where everything deemed an asset is enhanced. Lines, like those in between your eyes and brow, for example, are erased. I find this incredibly scary as a 47-year-old woman on the precipice of middle age. Do I become less relevant and invisible? If people don't want to see me, do they want to hear from me? What advice or thoughts do you have on this subject for filmmakers, the industry, and filmgoers?
Katja: Oh, the test screening feedback was eye-opening! Women loved recognizing themselves in the women portrayed on screen. We didn't have a makeup department, and our lighting was often minimal. Part of this was budget, sure, but it also aligned with our sustainable approach. Instead of driving huge equipment trucks up into the Swiss Alps, our cast and crew took trains, and we managed everything with just two standard cars for gear. Tiny carbon footprint, authentic results.
I've been watching a couple of Nordic series lately. While murder mysteries aren't really my thing, I'm fascinated by how they present women - just wonderfully, naturally themselves. There seems to be less pressure in Scandinavia for actresses to get "work done" after a certain age. It's refreshing. But it’s not just about looks; it’s just as much about having female characters that aren’t reduced to stereotypes.
I always remember seeing Anna Magnani on screen for the first time. She didn't fit any of the cookie-cutter beauty standards Italian actresses were supposed to meet back then, but damn, she was beautiful. And the characters she played were complex and intriguing. She could be tough and caring, annoying and inspiring at once. To this day, she is a huge inspiration for how women are portrayed in film and TV.
Beth: Who are your inspirations for female showrunners or filmmakers, and why?
Katja: I'm always inspired by filmmakers who roll up their sleeves and dive into the business side of things. Reese Witherspoon is a great example - she's basically rewritten the playbook in Hollywood. And just the other day at the Grammys, Alicia Keys talked about how she had to fight for respect as a songwriter, composer, and even producer. [Listen here - go to 1:40] Whether in music or film, women producers still face the same battles because the industry prefers to keep the final control with men.
At the same time, the creative industries desperately need fresh perspectives on how business gets done, and women can bring exactly that. Our title song for $HARE is "Captain," which is kind of perfect because, yes, we are absolutely captaining this ship. But we’re also doing it differently, rethinking the stories we tell and how we tell them [See our manifesto].
Watch The Series Now
Beth: Where and when can people watch the series?
Katja: We're streaming the pilot on Olyn, a great new platform that gives creators more control and transparency. It's perfect for us because, like $HARE, it challenges the old way of doing things.
The pilot costs $8.95—we get $5 after fees and taxes—and every view helps fund the rest of season one. The response has been amazing, with many viewers joining our 500k challenge and paying it forward to support independent storytelling.
$HARE In the News
Will Women Do Wealth Differently? We’re About to Find Out [Fortune, Jan 24, 2025]
TV Writer On Women 40+ Scheme Says She Was Asked To Make Female Lead “20 Years Younger” [Deadline, January 26, 2025]
- ’s Substack:
*The Writers Lab elevates female screenwriters 40+. TWL is supported by Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Cate Blanchett’s Dirty Films.
$HARE on Social
$HARE’s [500k challenge]
$HARE [on Instagram]
Subscribe to Katja’s Substack Startup with 50 [
]
What an exciting venture and adventure. Wonderful interview. Congrats to Katja. You are an inspiration. Thank you, Beth, for introducing us to Katja and her work.
Sounds like an interesting show!