5 Questions With: Debbie Zipp

Posted May 6, 2009, 9:42 am in Entertainment


What happens when you combine "girl power" with "boomer power?" Debbie Zipp has coined a new phrase that she and her partners at In the Trenches Productions hope will become the new catch phrase: "Women over 40 Power!" ITTP is a production company made up of female writers, producers and actresses who decided to combine 200 years of experience in the industry, and produce amazing movies, all aimed at women over the age of 40.


According to the group, the entertainment industry is obsessed with youth, when the truth is that over-40 women have the real power! It might not be easy to convince the executives and advertisers that it's true, but Debbie and her partners won't be stopped.
Here are some statistics from ITTP that back up their hard work:

• 50 percent of all women in the United States are 35 and older
• Women control 83 percent of purchasing power in America
• By 2010, women between the ages of 40 and 64 will be the largest age group in the country and will be at the height of their earning power

Debbie is a member of Growing Bolder, and has posted several of her company's productions here on the Web site. And since Growing Bolder believes that it's not about age, it's about attitude -- we knew she'd be a great addition to our 5 Questions With series.


1. How are you Growing Bolder?

I used to never speak up when I was younger. I tended to keep my mouth shut if I disagreed or was being treated rudely or inconsiderately in life and in business. I’m still a tolerant and patient person but…I will speak my mind and come from a place of confidence when I do it. I’m not a doormat or at least not as much. In dealing with my son’s illness the past two years, I have definitely dumped what all of us have tended to do for years…meekly accept anything doctors say and put up with either being talked down to or being ignored. I have become a strong advocate for my son and demand the best treatment and caring attitude from the doctors and nurses. I’m a mother warrior.

As far as my ‘biz’ goes I’m following the example of Mae West. Instead of being at the beck and call of the men at the top she wrote her own material and forged her way to the top without bowing and scraping. I’ve taken the horse by the tail and have refused to quietly accept being shuffled to the back of the deck because I’ve gotten older.

Are there stereotypes that you'd like to help smash?
I want to wipe out ageism, especially in women. It hits women so much earlier. It is ridiculous. Women over 40 have a wealth of knowledge, passion, experience and wisdom to give the world. America needs to see us as a major force in this country in terms of spirit and numbers. "By 2010, women between the ages of 40 and 64 will be the largest age group in the country and will be at the height of their earning power." (Martha Lauzen, Professor of Communications at San Diego State University 2005)




Do you believe it's about attitude, not age -- and why or why not? 
I believe ‘Attitude’ swings both ways. Society has a negative attitude about women over 40  and that attitude has a profound effect on mature women and how they see themselves and how others see them. It is getting better but we have a long way to go especially in the business world. Women have to adapt a fighting “not gonna take it” attitude. They cannot buy into the ageist and sexist attitudes out there. Women over 40 who truly believe they are beautiful and that they rock at this age set an example for others and that positive attitude can change the  way they are perceived by society and the media. Then the world will change and value us they way we should be valued.

2. Describe your perfect day -- what time do you wake up, where do you go, what do you do, who are you with ... and so on?

Sleeping in of course and waking up refreshed and rested with lots of energy. I make my smoothie and and drink it while watching HGTV. I take a walk in my garden and sit a while while the yellow finches and the hummingbirds while my doggies romp. I spend a few hours doing work that turns out to be very productive. My son is well and off with a friend. In the afternoon my daughter will arrive for a visit and we’ll go treasure hunting at thrift shops for a couple hours. My son will come home and we will all go to an incredible movie together and then go to Ventura, California, to our favorite restaurant. Afterwards we’ll all walk the beach and watch the sunset together. (It’s summer). Then we’ll come home to sit in the garden chatting for a while followed by laying on the sofa for another movie cuddling with our dogs and pigging out on snacks. My children will spend the night and I’ll go to bed feeling peaceful knowing that my husband is next to me and that for that one night my children are safe and sound in our home and we are all together under one roof again. As I fall asleep I’ll hear my dog Vinnie snoring and chuckle to myself.

3. Who are your heroes?

Volunteers.  I think that is pretty self explanatory.

But the main hero in my life right now is my 19 year old son, Trevor. He became ill 2 years ago with a disorder that has debilitated him and kept from his senior year at highschool. It took two years and 7 doctors to find out what it was. He is still very sick and homebound but he is taking online classes to get his high school diploma and is fighting to get well. He has been through hell and lost 99% of his friends and suffers everyday, but he has found the strength and courage at his young age to face it all with tenacity, a positive spirit and grace.  He is awesome and he is my hero.

Who has influenced you to become the person you are today?
IT MAY SOUND CORNY BUT MY PARENTS have always been the biggest influence in my life. They showed their love for me everyday. I knew I was cherished. They loved me for who I was and always supported my endeavors and dreams for my future.  No matter what obstacles or problems they faced they always held their head high, maintained their self respect and integrity and did the right thing. I learned many lessons from their loving spirit, goodness and strength of character that have colored my whole life and made me who I am.


4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

I definitely have goals for my family and my business. We all want the best for our husbands and children and parents. I would love for In the Trenches Productions to have transitioned from being an entertainment network on the web to be a network for women over 40 on television. I would love for many of our films and series to get a green light and hit the movie and television screens.



But I have learned that the old saying is very true, especially since my son got sick, “Live each day one day at a time.” I’ve never been one to go through life with a set time limit. I know what I want and do the best I can to achieve that but each day is a gift and I believe we need to stay open to all that may come our way especially what we aren't expecting. Flexibility and the ability to adapt and change to me is key. If you have a set timeline I believe you will be less open.

However that being said I would like a beach house in Cambria, California, in 5 years. In 10 years all my girlfriends will have moved up there as well.

5. What do you want to be remembered for -- what legacy do you hope to leave?

I would like to be remembered as a good wife, mother, daughter and friend, of course. I would also like to be remembered as a talented artist who never gave up and woman who made the world a better place if only in a small way. It is more important to me to have lived a significant life than a successful life.

Want to learn more about Debbie? Click here to visit her Growing Bolder profile page, and here to check out more In the Trenches Productions videos. And for more articles in our 5 Questions With series, click here.


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