Imagine the first time when young children see a superhero or an astronaut on screen whose image looks like them. It is 2018, and for some kids, the historic moment of seeing Black Panther was their first time seeing a superhero of colour on screen. Better yet, this ground-breaking film which has netted over $900 million dollars, could have been the first time seeing a predominantly black cast with a black director, black costume designers, black hairstylists, and more, actively producing representation in a positive light. Sandra Bullock’s astronaut character, Dr. Ryan Stone, in the 2013 film, Gravity, may have been the first occasion when young girls witnessed both a female astronaut and scientist on screen.
The content our society views on screen is supposed to reflect its people, but all too often the entertainment and media industries tend to marginalize people of colour, and women, just to name a few. Stories affect all areas of life in terms of how people view themselves, how they live their lives, and how they see others. Some of the content that these industries distribute to the public remains the only form of representation some individuals see, and these portrayals may be accurate or inaccurate. Media depicts stereotypical representations for people of colour and women, whether through Hollywood or on the news, as violent criminals, the help, terrorists, submissive characters, highly sexualized beings, unintelligent people, and more. Similarly, there are concerns for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) populations and depictions of disabled persons. Seeing oneself on screen is crucial because society is not monolithic, but multifaceted.
Now, while on-screen diversity is paramount, what occurs behind the camera is just as, if not more, important as well. By ensuring that underrepresented groups receive a seat in writers’ rooms and within directors’ chairs, we prevent the limiting and exclusion of their stories. All in all, we require more storylines that feature women, non-hetero characters, individuals with disabilities, and people of different races, ethnicities, and ages. With a diverse group of people taking the helm behind the scenes, we can share and learn more about these many experiences on-screen. The continued cycle of excluding diversity, inclusion, and ignoring misrepresentation in the entertainment and media industry showcase the importance of having diverse storytellers, actors, directors, and producers involved both on-screen and behind the scenes.
Gratefully, we have seen historic changes regarding diversity and inclusion during recent years, thanks to ground-breaking and award-winning movies such as Black Panther, Crazy Rich Asians, Wonder Woman, Into the Spider-Verse, and Coco. In these movies, filmmakers displayed representation in an accurate, empowering, and non-stereotypical light. These motion pictures showcase and portray the experiences of typically underrepresented people with the help of fictional role models who prove to viewers that anybody can accomplish their dreams and be successful, regardless of their gender, race, age, sexual orientation, or disability. These films encourage numerous onlookers to think, “Yes, someone like me can achieve this.”
For the second consecutive year, the percentages of women directing top grossing films increased, reaching recent historic highs, while the overall percentages of women working in key behind-the-scenes roles remained relatively stable. Women comprised 16% of directors working on the top 100 grossing films in 2020, up from 12% in 2019 and 4% in 2018. Women accounted for 18% of directors on the top 250 films, up from 13% in 2019 and 8% in 2018. In 2020, the percentages of behind-the-scenes women working on the top 100 and 250 (domestic) grossing films inched upward. Women comprised 21% of all directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the top 100 grossing films, up from 20% in 2019. Women working in these roles on the top 250 grossing films experienced a slight increase from 21% in 2019 to 23% in 2020. By role, women accounted for 18% of directors, 17% of writers, 21% of executive producers, 30% of producers, 22% of editors, and 6% of cinematographers working on the top 250 grossing films. In 2020, the majority of films (67%) employed 0 to 4 women in the roles considered. 24% of films employed 5 to 9 women, and 9% employed 10 or more women. In contrast, 5% of films employed 0 to 4 men in the roles considered, 24% employed 5 to 9 men, and the remaining majority (71%) employed 10 or more men.
Statistics aside, movies like Wonder Woman give viewers the chance to realize that people and their experiences are more complex and intricate than the stereotypes society has repeatedly used to confine them. Overall, diversity brings in more success, promotes inclusion and acceptance, attracts a bigger audience, and teaches us that everyone deserves to tell their story. This is why we need diversity and representation in the film industry.
In closing, despite the remarkable progress we have witnessed, the film industry still has significant room for improvement and a long way to go. Of course, the road to achieving diversity will not be easy, but one thing for sure is it will be worth it. After all, unity is our strength, and diversity is our power. The media has been historically, grossly irresponsible in their portrayals of people of colour, women, LGBTQs and disabled persons. The depictions range from showing these groups in stereotypical lights to being virtually non-existent. People feel validated and a sense of worth by seeing themselves reflected on screen. The integration of diverse filmmakers, directors, actors, and executives into the entertainment and media industries must increase. In order to eradicate the pattern of excluding diversity, inclusion, and misrepresentation, marginalized groups must gain access and have a voice in shaping culture.
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