The Alliance of Independent Representatives, better known as AIR, is conducting a talent search for diverse filmmakers who are not currently signed to any U.S. production houses for representation. Entrants to the Diverse Directors Showcase can earn a chance to introduce themselves and their work to members of AIR, the trade association of the independent repping community for the advertising production industry, and the executive producers of the many production companies they represent.
The top five minority directorial talents, as judged by a panel of AIR members, will be selected to take part in a virtual Diverse Directors Showcase–co-sponsored by Simian–that will be presented on Monday, July 25 at 1 pm ET. Deadline for entering here is July 12.
The event is being organized and led by AIR’s Diversity in Talent committee, led by chair Isabel Echeverry of Kontakto Reps. Also on the committee are Sonia Blum of Sonia Reps and Mary Saxon of Saxon + Partners Presents.
Entry rules for submission and requirements are as follows:
Entrants must be a diverse/minority director including, Women, BIPOC, Latinx and LGBTQ.
Directors cannot currently be represented and must be independent or freelance.
Entrants must submit three pieces of work, with the total running time of their showreel no longer than five minutes. They must also submit bios.
Submissions are limited, so first come, first served.
AIR members will review all entries and select the five directors who demonstrate the best overall work and potential marketability to the commercial production industry.
Civil rights groups call on major corporations to stick with DEI programs
A broad group of civil rights organizations called on the CEOs and board members of major companies Thursday to maintain their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that have come under attack online and in lawsuits.
An open letter signed by 19 organizations and directed at the leaders of Fortune 1000 companies said companies that abandon their DEI programs are shirking their fiduciary responsibility to employees, consumers and shareholders.
The civil rights groups included the NAACP, the National Organization for Women, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
"Diversity, equity and inclusion programs, policies, and practices make business-sense and they're broadly popular among the public, consumers, and employees," their statement read. "But a small, well-funded, and extreme group of right-wing activists is attempting to pressure companies into abandoning their DEI programs."
Companies such as Ford, Lowes, John Deere, Molson Coors and Harley-Davidson recently announced they would pull back on their diversity, equity and inclusion policies after facing pressure from conservative activists who were emboldened by recent victories in the courtroom.
Many major corporations have been examining their diversity programs in the wake of a Supreme Court decision last year that declared race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions unconstitutional. Dozens of cases have been filed making similar arguments about employers. Critics of DEI programs say the initiatives provide benefits to people of one race or sexual orientation while excluding others.
In their letter, the civil rights organizations, which also included... Read More