The Screenwriting Lounge just wrapped up a heated, and mostly constructive, thread about writing for characters of color, but I believe in our community and our ability to help each other grow from civil discourse. I invite that thoughtful discourse now.
From this fantastic article on Variety by Prentice Penny, the showrunner for HBO's Insecure, he asks us to consider where we are on the "Sliding Scale". Now, I believe that to be a personal journey, but based on his suggestion to hire your next crew as 60% people of color, I'd love to know:
1) Could you hire 60% of your crew as people of color? What risks would you take? What would you look forward to learning from the experience?
2) What have you experienced in this business on that Sliding Scale? Share your best day and your worst day (as much as you are willing).
No one's going to check your homework, so your responses are just as much for your own benefit as they are for our collective betterment. As always, I'm grateful that we have such a supportive community where we can have an open and constructive conversation about being a force for positive change in the film and television industry.
https://deadline.com/2020/07/prentice-penny-hollywood-blackface-commenta...
Hey, Maurice Vaughan - thanks for sharing! Candice Patton, who plays Iris West on the CW's The Flash, has mentioned that one way to help actors of color to feel cared for and comfortable is to hire more crew members of color, including hair and make-up. Perhaps the first step to hiring more diverse crew is to start by hiring more diverse cast, and thus writing for a more diverse cast. #FoodforThought
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The first thing to do is to fire/replace Hollywood executives in charge now, 95% white men & women. I hear people suggesting a “Rooney” rule like they do in the NFL for executive jobs.
https://theankler.com/p/class-photos
Firing people based on the color of their skin is discrimination, no matter the color. Also, all of their (possibly) valuable experience would go with them. Perhaps there could be a mentor program where those executives are phased out but are allowed to be a part of the change instead of discarded. What's a "Rooney" rule?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooney_Rule
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As the Co-Founder of the American Scene Awards ( Seattle Local 1986 ) and now a National Award as of 2013 to hire Actors of Color and Disabilities, that includes our LGBTQ Film and TV Professionals under our Sag/Aftra EEO Policy, you all need to do your research regarding this subject! Start with Hattie McDaniel, who was always cast as Nanny and received an Academy Award for Gone with the Wind to Black Panther! My 2nd Cousin Reginald Hudlin, Hudlin Brothers Entertainment, penned this piece! He came from BET to Co-Produce the Academy Awards during the boycott! Tyler Perry, Rhonda Rhymes, Morgan Freeman and many other Black Producers have also been instrumental regarding this subject! Bottom Line, we have seen much progress with still much more work to do to convince Producers to hire diverse casts, including Production personnel and extra's! Sag/Aftra has incentives for diversity under our Theatrical Contracts and of course this is Union Pay! You can call the NY or LA offices for more information. I saw a statistic once the 57% of theater goers is 57%! Of course with this Pandemic to enjoy the Big Screen is streaming, etc. But, Drive in Theaters is on the rise and coming back! I am proud to be a pioneer and game changer and optimistic that continued developments and changes to our hiring practices will come to fruition, especially with our next generation of Filmmakers!
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Tony Ginn - Hey! I'm VERY happy to hear about the rise of Drive-In theaters again, as it fits in very nicely with the crowdsourcing & impact producing campaign plans for initially screening the Thorn Trees project. May need a solution for how best to interact with viewers at a drive-in versus a theater so they can give us live feedback. BTW: Just was in touch with your cousin, Reginald this week, about the GREAT organization his teen daughter and friends started up motivated by the Black Lives Matter protests. Hope the student intern editors working with me now at The Pursuit Studio decide to cover it in the July "Creativity & Storytelling 'Zine". I"m giving them editorial freedom. Hope you and your loved ones are well! ~Valerie
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This is coming from a minority producer so bear with me; I think representation of races and ethnicities still doesn’t reflect the diversity of the general public. Inclusion riders are becoming more prevalent. In our particular case with our current deal with WarnerMedia, we need to include not only a diverse cast but also a diverse writer's room and crew, but I also believe that in order for hollywood to become more inclusive we also need minority managers, agents and lawyers.
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Hey Karen "Kay" Ross - Interesting questions. I'm in pre-production for a TV series pilot now, and so far, haven't thought in terms of percentages. It's been a bit of a struggle to make certain the cast is inclusive in a series set in 1590s England. I wanted a lead, male protagonist character to be of African descent, but got pushback that it would not be authentic for the time period; so instead, I and my co-creator/screenwriter/producer (white, male, British) have agreed upon a supporting (but important role for the male as a skilled enforcer for a government official), and a supporting role for a female of African descent who is the wife of a villager at risk for her spiritual beliefs more so than color.
I reject the racist and self-centered notion of people of color being a minority. In fact, there are more people of color on this planet that any other. It's a mind-twisting fallacy that's been used to set up an alternate reality to keep people in power--well, in power. We've been brainwashed. It's hard for me to answer this question with so much of what I've been taught being a false narrative because I'm still processing during this time of re-education and mind-emotion-spiritual cleansing. The BEST and most Powerful film to watch to get a re-education (no matter who you are) is the documentary film "I'm Not Your Negro" (James Baldwin). The QUESTION changes. Your questions may change after viewing it. Best I can respond now. ~Valerie
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I'm going to discuss from two perspectives. I hope I don't sound too strange. When I lived in Spain, I met people from all over the world. We had these discussions and topics daily to write about at my school. Some times I didn't see someone who looked exactly like me for weeks; however, it didn't bother me because I didn't focus on how I look. My focus was on character. Second story, when I hire, I hire the person who is qualified and who wants the opportunity. I also take excellent care of anybody who works with me (which is the term that I prefer virsus for me) that includes my friends and Exs. In most cases if you treat people the way you would like to be treated, the color is no issue. I have taught every color and nationality. Kids are not born knowing what color is. This is taught.
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This is an ongoing dialog with people I work with, among my investors, content creators, and cast. I already go out of my way to hire people of color on all my sets, and I emphasize African Americans in that. At the Sin 13 premiere, 90% of the event staff were non-white and most of them were African-American. Having worked in mainstream and indie film & TV for over 20 years, I can tell you that in crew makeup NOTHING AT ALL SIGNIFICANT has changed in that time, with the exception in the last 3 years or so of an overt, and partly useful, partly not, attempt at diversity in crew. This operational diversity, clearly mandated by outside pressure in my personal observation, still reflects structural racism. We do see a LOT more women on set, in all roles, which I personally am relieved to see. As far as racial diversity, there is more diversity, but it's telling to observe what kind of diversity. White women, yes. Asian women, FAR FAR over-represented (partly due to investment from Chinese money which brings some staffing requirements along with it - I am sorry but it's true), African-American men are still under-represented and African-American women STILL FAR FAR underrepresented and usually relegated to wardrobe or makeup. Black voices in writing - statistically insignificant unless it's an urban show. This have not changed. They will only change when producers make it so.
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Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg & Karen "Kay" Ross - Wondering if you would be interested in a meet-up via Zoom with a small group of filmmakers to chat about Reality TV ideas that work to expose and dismantle structures of racism? Filmmaker Jennifer Potts reached out to me via Linkedin about her interest in this area. I have a concept for a series on my slate in this vein, so, I'm on board for a chat. I know everyone has a lot on their plates, so will see who's up for this conversation to see where it may lead.
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Valerie Michele Oliver I would be interested, yes.
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Hey, Valerie Michele Oliver I'd be interested to participate, although I'm not sure I have any ideas, but I'm great at hearing ideas and making suggestions! There is a writer on Stage32 that I know who does reality TV who I think would be interested, and maybe a producer as well. If you set up the time and date, may I invite them?
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Also, I LOVE the conversation that this post has generated. Thank you all for your thoughtful responses!
Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg Excellent! Will private message you details when it's being scheduled.
Karen "Kay" Ross - Yes, absolutely give a heads up to the people you have in mind who might be interested in participating. Message me their info (so I can connect with them here), and I'll message you the details when it's being scheduled. Great discussion here. Thanks for starting it.
Have y'all seen this letter from a parking/security PA? It's a great reflection on how the percentage of diversity hiring isn't as important as the roles they are in: https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/ramy-parking-coordinator-racism-letter...
Interesting read, Karen "Kay" Ross! Thanks for sharing. And, really, great discussion here. I'm terrible at keeping up with being on the platform but plan to do better.