Various leaders from big film studios, production companies, and talent agencies urge entertainment companies to have more women involved in the entertainment industry. Through a joint initiative of Women in Film Los Angeles and the Sundance Institute called "Systemic Change Project", industry's change makers might resolve gender-related crises in the industry.
This private initiative is in response to previous body of research that revealed a "massive disproportion of men to women in the entertainment industry", James Rainey writes for Variety. One of the studies that revealed the under-representation of women in the entertainment industry was found by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism; "2% of last year's 100 top-grossing films were led by female directors and only a little more than one in five of the films featured a female lead character".
Kirsten Schaffer, Women in Film Los Angeles executive director said that after three years of doing research, it's time to take action; "This is a deeply-rooted, systemic problem that is going to take a complex solution.... This is a first step. It's not the end game," Schaffer explained.
Entertainment giant such as CAA, Marvel Studios, Warner Brothers, Miramax, Lionsgate, and Tristar Pictures have been brought together during the two-day series of meetings at the Pacific Design Center in October. Schaffer said that they are in hopes to bringing other key players in the industry into future talks.
The two sponsoring organizations are currently working hand-in-hand to create guidelines for a "gender parity stamp." This mark is to be given to films and TV programs that provide unbiased regard and employment opportunities to women. This initiative is seen to be expanded in studios and networks in recognition their support to the cause.
The program in the works might be modelled after the Producers Guild of America's program wherein a "Producers Mark" is given to films and individuals who have received a verified production credit. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's "corporate equality index," also comes to mind; corporations were given ratings for their policies relating to employees that belong to the LGBT community.
Other plans lined up in the Systemic Change Project is a series of training sessions or workshops that educate individuals and organisations about unconscious gender biases; a special year-long training and fellowship program for chosen early- to mid-career directors. They also wanted to promote more industry leaders as "ambassadors" who will serve as motivators in their own field that will help push more gender parity.
"The Systemic Change Project: Moving the Needle for Women In Hollywood" inaugural meeting was sponsored by BMW of North America, along with Female Filmmakers Initiative supporters. The advocacy initiative is co-founded by the Sundance Institute and Women in Film Los Angeles.
