3 Industry Insiders On The Future Of Representation In Hollywood

Last year, we had #OscarsSoWhite. This year, we had a record-breaking year for diversity. So what is the current state of representation and inclusiveness in Hollywood? And what can we do to ensure that more voices and stories are being heard? We asked three industry pros to explain.

“This has been a groundbreaking year for representation; Fences, Hidden Figures, and Moonlight all received multiple Academy Award nominations. Besides Fences, my favorite film was Kubo and the Two Strings, which was nominated twice. It was an unlikely contender that tells a beautiful, complex story about family, finding one’s destiny, and having compassion. I love that it features characters of Japanese origin in a supernatural setting and has a universal story at its center. We also had an unprecedented amount of people of color nominated for behind-the-camera work, including Roger Ross Williams for Life, Animated. These seeds were planted before the backlash of #OscarsSoWhite and are now bearing fruit. So how do we continue along this path? [My team at MACRO is] here to push that progress forward, and we’ve been having great conversations with larger companies that indicate a desire to make change. Efforts are already underway to expand membership for Academy voters. We also want the industry to look beyond the ‘usual suspects’ for casting, writing, and directing opportunities. We hope to take people outside of their conventional boxes. Still, we need more diverse talent. If you’re interested in breaking into the industry, I advise you to do the following: Be kind, make real friends, and don’t stop trying. You should target companies who are like-minded, and see how you can support their agenda – be it through an internship or other job opportunities. Then, go above and beyond. Do more than you are asked to do. We have two people on our MACRO team who, as interns, showed exemplary work ethic, taste, and skillsets. They are now full-time employees." — Poppy Hanks, Senior Vice President of Development and Production at MACRO, the multicultural media company behind Fences

“I don’t think this year’s diversity is a reaction to #OscarsSoWhite. It’s a reflection of more diverse talent in the business. There’s a critical mass that’s been building ever since Spike Lee began making films on a regular basis. Production companies are hiring more diverse talent with a greater variety of perspectives. The business itself is becoming more aware of the commercial viability of these films. Take movies like The Butler and Precious that performed well not only in the U.S., but also, overseas. People are more sensitive to diversity, but they would be less so if these films weren’t making money. As technology makes filmmaking even cheaper, we’re going to see a lot more variety. And that’s reflected with films like Moonlight breaking through. There’s also a growing trend in which a wider variety of stories are being told — from Hidden Figures to Lion. But it’s still not enough. Sure, there were several films which highlighted the African American experience; but diversity is broader than African Americans. Where are the Native Americans, the Hispanics, the Indians? We should see their stories reflected, and we don’t. People will be interested in those stories if we tell them. The more kids see actors and directors who look like them telling their stories, the more they’ll be attracted to the movie business. This will inspire a loop of diverse storytelling, which can shape culture for generations. The question for those looking to get into the movie business is: where do you want to be? Above the line, or below the line? Above the line are the ‘sexier’ jobs: Writer, producer, director, actor. Those are the jobs that film school helps you pursue. But no matter how effortless those jobs may appear, there is no true ‘overnight success.’ Most of the people you see succeeding now have been at it a long time. You have to love filmmaking and what it is about. You have to have the nervous system to sustain the journey.” — Hollywood producer Rudy Langlais, who launched an independent feature film finance and production entity in Antigua

"Representation and inclusiveness in Hollywood are getting better. Even just a few years ago, I don’t think you’d have a show like Black-ish on the air. Now, with streaming from Amazon to Netflix, you really have no restrictions. You can get The Get Down and Dear White People, which you never could have gotten on the air before. But we still have a long distance to travel We really need more people like Shonda Rhimes and Ava DuVernay creating change from the inside. There’s an old meme I always see floating around that says, ‘Create your own dreams or somebody else will hire you to create theirs.’ For so many years, I was doing the latter. I had stories floating around in me, but I was making everyone else’s. Finally, I decided to create my own production company and tell my stories. If the people with whom you identify are being underrepresented in film and TV, then make the stories you want to see. There are so many avenues to create now. Two years ago there, was a feature film, Tangerine, that was shot on an iPhone! If you feel that you’re not being represented, represent yourself. Grab a phone if you can’t afford a camera. Even if you’re not a ‘creative,’ you can still help bring about the change we need. Whatever you pay for, you’re voting for. So vote with your dollars! If you don’t have any creative abilities, and you want to see more stories that reflect your experiences, go to the theater and pay to watch them.” — Filmmaker Rob Graydon

This post is part of The Well’s Hollywood package. Read more: Coffee With: Director Rob Graydon, Founder Of Wet Road Films