Diversity in Film and Television/ Maria Castro

Diversity in Film and Television

by Maria Castro

RESEARCH:

Diversity in film and television is a constant topic that comes up when there is a hit tv show or blockbuster. If one wants to see diversity, then one has to step out of Hollywood and watch international content. According to the "2015 Diversity Report" conducted by Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, at every level, in every arena, women and minorities are under-represented in the industry (Images of Diversity, 2015). The Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA also noted that male and black characters were overrepresented, while Latino characters were notably underrepresented (Images of Diversity, 2015). Minority leads were more prominent in sitcoms, while white leads were more prominent in dramas (Images of Diversity, 2015). White actors dominated the top credits (Images of Diversity, 2015). LGBT characters were relegated to lower-credited actors (Images of Diversity, 2015). Law enforcement, professional, and student were the most prominent character occupations, and racial and gender stereotypes, though  present at times, were muted(Images of Diversity, 2015).

Although many people might think that diversity is an issue that exists in front the camera, its also an issue that affects those who work behind the camera. According to a study done by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, about 84.8 percent of directors are males and 15.2 are females (Behind the Camera, 2016). Like directors, male representation dominates the writers department as well. Whites dominate behind the camera overall, while 12.7 percent of the behind the camera workers are minorities (Behind the Camera, 2016). Unfortunately, white males dominate both behind and in front the camera. 

References:

"2015 Hollywood Diversity Report: Flipping the Script."(2015, February). Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA. Images of Diversity. Retrieved from:

http://www.bunchecenter.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2015-Hollywood-Diversity-Report-2-25-15.pdf

Smith, S. L., CHOUEITI, M., Case, A., & Tofan, A. (2016, February 22). INCLUSION or INVISIBILITY? Comprehensive Annenberg Report on Diversity in Entertainmen [Abstract]. INCLUSION or INVISIBILITY? Comprehensive Annenberg Report on Diversity in Entertainmen, 1-5. Retrieved from: http://annenberg.usc.edu/pages/~/media/M

PERSONAL: 

As a Chicana filmmaker, diversity in the world of film and television is an issue that affects me. Being part of the underrepresented, my action plan is to improve minorities representation in media, specifically in film and television.

A way that I would like to help improve diversity in the film industry is by stating the fact that we minorities do not want more racial stereotyped roles, and would like better treatment behind and in front the camera. Now in days when one sees a film blockbuster or just a regular film, one sees that our white counterparts get the main role, while minorities get a stereotypical role.  Although, the rise of minorities in the film industry has slowly grown, it still has not improved much. 

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