By Robert Goldrich
While a return to normality is coveted in this COVID era, there’s something to be said for not resurrecting business as usual on certain fronts–as shown in research from San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film headed by Dr. Martha M. Lauzen.
To be sure, the report–titled “The Celluloid Ceiling: Behind-the-Scenes Employment of Women on the Top U.S. Films of 2020”–shows some progress. But at the same time, considerably more is needed to get the industry up to even a remotely acceptable level.
Among the prime positive-trending findings was that for the second straight year, the percentage 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, EPs, editors, and DPs working on the top 100 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.
Women accounted for 18% of directors, 17% of writers, 21% of EPs, 30% of producers, 22% of editors, and 6% of DPs working on the top 250 grossing films.Yet while percentages are up, movement is far too gradual. 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.
Due to the COVID-impacted box office, the study also tracked employment on films included on The Digital Entertainment Group’s “Watched at Home” list. Dr. Lauzen noted that the gender imbalance is huge. Most films employ less than 5 women and 10 or more men. And 80% of the top films have male directors.
Robert Goldrich is an editor with SHOOTonline.
Human promotes Kamela Anderson to West Coast EP and head of sync
Music production and supervision company Human has promoted Kamela Anderson to West Coast executive producer and head of sync. In this new role, Anderson will oversee all West Coast operations for Human, including PostHuman, an independent postproduction entity.
As Human’s former head of sync and A&R, Anderson helped build the music supervision department. Anderson has spent the past eight years in various roles within Human. She has grown with the company as a rising voice in commercial music.
Anderson’s career in advertising began in sales at HSI Productions before joining Anonymous Content to work in its in-house sales department. After that, her journey at Human began, where Anderson worked on several notable brand films that went on to win many industry awards, including four Clio Awards, a Bronze Pencil, a Gold Andy Award, and a Silver Lion. Her work at Human spans brands like Apple, Xbox, Adidas, Samsung, Amazon, BMW, Netflix, NFL, Meta, Gatorade, Google, Doritos, Mountain Dew, and a Nike spot which garnered recognition from the soundtrack’s artist. For “Dream Further,” Nike’s gloriously girl-powered ad promoting the Women’s World Cup, Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation,” was synced, delivering optimal emotional impact. Jett later lauded this needle drop as “stunning” and “carrying a strong message beyond the brand” while being honored that year with a Bronze Clio.
“I built HumanSupervision as a new offering in 2020, and we’re continuing to expand our reach, both on the West Coast and internationally,” remarked Anderson. “My creative partner Mike Jurasits and I are very hands-on collaborators and continue to push the envelope with our artist partnerships. Recently, we took a simple music supervision... Read More