WIF’s Post

Breaking Barriers: Women in Scripted TV - Overcoming Limitations and Creating Opportunities Discover the challenges faced by women in the entertainment industry, particularly in transitioning from documentary and reality shows to scripted TV. Explore the limitations and discuss the need for diverse and inclusive opportunities. Join the conversation on empowering women in the creative field. #WomenInTV #BreakingBarriers #InclusiveOpportunities #EmpoweringWomen #DiversityInEntertainment #ScriptedTelevision #EntertainmentIndustry #WomenCreators #TVIndustry #EmpowermentMovement #Bridgerton

I often bring up the Bechdel test for film in my general Unconscious Bias training sessions. Here's my favourite video explainer of the test https://lnkd.in/ekZhKtvm It's quite simple really. A film just has to pass 3 simple questions to pass : *are there 2 or more women in it, and do they have names? *do they talk to one another? * about something other than a man... It is quite astounding how many films fail this test. Hundreds and hundreds. And not just in the olden days before we knew better. Today's films too. Most people in most rooms are confused, disbelieving and then annoyed to learn this piece of information. That's the point for me of Unconscious Bias training - it's awareness through education. There's so many things about our unevenly designed and structured world that most of us simply don't know. And when we do know, we want to do better. As Maya Angelou said 'Do the best you can, until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better''. Enjoy testing your favourite films with the Bechdel test : ) #unconsciousbias #awarenessmatters #educateandelevate

🌟 Empowering Change in Media: The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media uses innovative tools like the Geena Davis Inclusion Quotient (GD-IQ) and Spellcheck for Bias to promote accuracy and inclusivity in media. Despite some progress, their latest research shows a continuous lack of female representation in key creative roles, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts toward gender parity. Dive deeper into their research: https://lnkd.in/giY5HrSa #genderdiversity #genderinmedia #genderlensinvesting

I am excited about sharing insights on how to negotiate good contracts and equip the female filmmakers with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of the film industry. In today's competitive landscape, it is essential for filmmakers, particularly women, to have the knowledge and skills to ensure they are not only well-prepared but also able to thrive in their endeavours. Negotiating contracts is indeed a crucial aspect of success in the film industry, and providing resources and guidance, especially for underrepresented groups like women, can make a significant difference. Empowering filmmakers with the necessary knowledge and skills not only strengthens their position in negotiations but also contributes to a more equitable and inclusive industry overall. #WomenInFilm #contractnegotiation

Highlights: - As a result of fewer overall series, many of the underrepresented groups analyzed in this report saw declines in their representation in TV/Digital series in 2023. - Conversely, representation in film for most cohorts was up (or at least even) with 2022. Due to the delayed impact of the dual strikes in 2023, representation in film might take a hit next year as we expect fewer films to be released in 2024. - When women were empowered as film directors, projects had an average of 12% more diverse casts than male directors from 2021-2023. In TV, female show creators averaged 9% more diverse casts than men in the same time period. The benefits are supported by a 2019 McKinsey report that found that companies with greater gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability. - Diversity appeals to audiences and the proof is in the viewership numbers. Top shows on broadcast, cable and digital/streaming outlets boast diverse casts. https://lnkd.in/dN4_GqUJ

More #women behind the camera. Period. If you believe that the success of the movie #Barbie indicates a shift for women at the box office or in film, you're not getting the full story. This is an interesting article from Deadline Hollywood about a recent study from #USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative that asserts #female #representation in film has fallen to lows not seen since 2014. One assertion made in the article, which is the one I most gravitate toward, is that the real issue is who is #behindthecamera. When you put women behind the camera, when you have crews that have female representation, you see better, more inclusive stories about women, by women. What a novel idea. A brilliant article by Jeff Guo featured in the Jan. 25, 2016, issue of The Washington Post pointed out a 2016 capstone project that linguists Carmen Fought and Karen Eisenhauer researched and presented to several audiences titled “A Quantitative Analysis of Gendered Compliments in Disney Princess Films.” The project analyzed dialogue from the Disney princess franchise and one takeaway was how The Little Mermaid “sparked a trend in Disney princess films where women spoke three times less than men in the films,” he wrote. From my memoir, "On Fire," I wrote: "Guo also reported that the most noticeable positive trend was that the modern princesses tended to be complimented more on their traits than their looks. He attributed much of the shift in moving away from looks to the fact that Brave and Frozen were conceived, written, and directed by women." Women need to be behind the camera, on the crews, writing the scripts, and be a part of the creative process by which films and other media are created. The only way for that to happen is to support women in film, for all genres of film. Please support #womeninfilm. Check out the article. https://lnkd.in/ggZ4gGdg

The glitz and glamour of the film industry often mask the *harsh realities faced by its female artists.* While audiences are captivated by the on-screen portrayals of women, the truth behind the scenes tells a different story. Despite the enchanting narratives spun on the silver screen, the *status of women in the film industry remains riddled with challenges, struggles, and an unyielding fight against male hegemony.* *Justice Hema Chandran's* report underscores the arduous and ongoing battle for gender equality within the film industry, revealing a landscape fraught with *systemic challenges.* Yet, it also shines a light on the *unwavering resilience and determination of women* who, despite facing significant adversity, *continue to fight for justice.* Their efforts are a powerful testament to the strength of collective action and the vital belief that meaningful change is not only possible but essential. Achieving a more equitable industry demands the active engagement of all *stakeholders* , including industry leaders, policymakers, the media, and the broader community. Only through a *unified* effort to dismantle *entrenched* power structures and foster inclusivity can the film industry begin to truly represent the diverse *voices and talents of all its artists, irrespective of gender.* https://lnkd.in/g65-URvm

Women led films fell close to 30% in 2023, nearly a 10 year low. "The results this year point to an industry grown apathetic about efforts surrounding diversity and inclusion. While it is critical to celebrate the achievements of significant films like Barbie, there must be more than one or a handful of films that reflect the experiences of women and people of color each year. Until the industry stops hiding behind a single exemplar, change will remain elusive.” Study authors recommend: "...hire more women behind the camera. Why? The numbers would seem to indicate a relationship between who is working behind the camera and who is seen in front of it.“

It’s fascinating how some organisations project certain diversity stats onto their partners / productions / clients alike. “You can’t work with us unless you have X level of diversity”. Yet internally, they don’t remotely come close to those targets themselves. It’s about time organisations start practicing what they preach.

📽️ What messages are you spreading in your films? As Gen Z starts entering the film industry, it’s important to recognize the responsibility that comes with producing and distributing inclusive and accurate content. Check out Faith Robinson-Hughes's article “Black Women on Screen: How Modern Media Perpetuates Stereotypes” on the Zhive website. In this article, Faith discusses the stereotypes that are often perpetuated in media about women of color and how these stereotypes influence the way these women are perceived. Click below to read the full article! 👇 https://lnkd.in/gMhixpnR ✅ Join the Zhive community #Newsletter for more content for leaders, creatives, and entrepreneurs! #ZhiveCommunity #Zhive #GenZ #CulturalImpact #ContentCreation #FilmIndustry #FilmandTV #TVProduction #Distribution #WomeninTV #CreativeIndustry #DiversityinMedia #InclusionMatters #DiversityinMedia #Filmmakers #FilmmakingCommunity #Creative #Inclusive #Diversity