The Founders

Directed By Carrie Schrader and Charlene Fisk

They were not supposed to be athletes. They were not supposed to get paid to play. They were not supposed call the shots. But, they did.

  • ABOUT
  • BIO
They were not supposed to be athletes. They were not supposed to get paid to play. They were not supposed to call the shots. But in 1950, 13 amateur women golfers battled society, finances and sometimes even each other to stake their claim to become professional sportswomen by creating the Ladies Professional Golf Association (The LPGA). With humour, grit and raw talent, these underdogs not only changed the course of women’s sport but created a timeless story of redemption and endurance. Through rare, archival footage, historical re-enactments and current-day interviews with surviving founders and leading players, we tell that story – a special legacy – in this feature-length documentary. While their male counterparts drew adoring crowds and handsome purses for their athletic achievements, The Founders used money from their own pockets to stage tournaments in small, far-flung towns that questioned whether female golfers were even worth watching. Together, they logged thousands of miles a week just for the opportunity to tee off on courses they also had to groom! Long overdue, this film is about finally recognizing those unseen efforts and identifying The Founders as true icons of sport and equality. The film isn’t just for those who frequent the golf course. This film is for anyone who believes in the transformative power of defying the odds.
Carrie Schrader directed an award-winning short film, "Don’t Mess With Texas," written by Ethan Coen (Coen bros.). She wrote and directed a feature-length film called "The Founders" (Amazon, Peacock), which won “Best Feature” at AFF. Carrie recently directed a spot for Netflix and has worked for the likes of AMC and TLC Networks. Her short films and screenplays, such as "Boys and Dogs and Kids Are Weird" and "The Thorny Rose," have won film festival audience awards internationally, and she was labeled one of the "Top Ten Directors To Watch Out For" by IndieWire.com. Carrie was a participant at the IFP in NY and was an Outfest Screenwriting Lab fellow. Her pilot, Sugar, was selected for The Orchard Project Episodic Lab, Stowe Story Labs, and placed at AFF. She is currently finishing two feature-length film writing contracts. Carrie has a BA in Theater and a very expensive but surprisingly useful MFA in directing from Columbia University. She believes spaghetti and meatballs are a perfectly acceptable breakfast choice and will be forever proud of her early days as a theater nerd.