There are few roles available for Asian actors. Only 5% of all film roles in 2019 were Asian characters. The percentage of Asian directors and writers are even lower at 3.4 and 2.8% respectively.*

What few Asian roles there are have been whitewashed in Hollywood as long as movies and shows have been made. It can be a case of needing to include A-List actors to attract funding and audiences, and the relative lack of Asian A-List actors. But how do Asian actors get to be A-List if they don’t get cast in the first place?

White-washed examples include:
Emma Stone…

A reworked version of the original inclusion rider tool was recently released. It includes new policies that focus on accountability and hiring targets, and brings together civil rights, racial justice, and legal expertise to provide resources for increased representation throughout Hollywood.

Inclusion riders are additions A-List stars make to their contracts that require a production to hire a larger proportion of actors and crew that are women or people from underrepresented groups.

They were suggested as a solution to the gender equity problem by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and popularized when Frances McDormand said at the 2018 Oscars, “I have…

Like live action television, adult animation has been dominated by men behind the scenes. Onscreen, women are often seen in the usual supporting roles of mother, wife, sister, or sexy fantasy girlfriend.

Now, adult animation has opened up to include:
New styles of animation
Content that pushed the boundaries
More female creators
Women in stronger, more central roles on screen

Of the top 100 animated TV series in 2018* only 17% of animated show creators were women and only 39% of the characters were women. Of those, only 12% were women on color.

Diversity in voicing has been inconsistent. Big…

What is The Glow Up Trope?

An “unattractive” woman gets a makeover and suddenly she is beautiful, acceptable, and worthy.

The goal is to make the woman conform to societal standards of beauty otherwise she’s not worthy of getting the man (heteronormative), fitting in with the cool girls (often classist), or succeeding professionally.

The desired look is usually a Eurocentric one, and this trope typically applies to white women.

The process: Frizzy, unkempt hair is straightened and styled, glasses are replaced by contacts, makeup is applied, outfits are upgraded (or downsized).

Who has agency? Not the character being transformed.

It…

We just rewatched Working Girl for the first time since it came out over 30 years ago. We were pleasantly surprised by aspects that still rang true today however, not unexpectantly, a number of things are outdated (and not just the fabulous 80s fashions!).

What still works:
> It addresses ongoing issues of sexual harassment, gender bias, classism, privilege, and educational inequality.
> It highlights the bonds of women as friends and colleagues.
> The anthemic Let the River Run is still moving!

What doesn’t work:
> Even in a movie about a woman succeeding professionally, Tess still has to be…

We’ve watched some STEAMY shows lately and wondered how *those* scenes are shot. See Normal People, Bridgerton, and I May Destroy You among others. Intimacy coordinators are used to create and facilitate these scenes for a realistic look and the safety of actors.

Intimacy Coordinators 101
They are professionals who work on film and TV sets to facilitate scenes involving simulated sex between actors

They choreograph intimate actions, helping actors learn appropriate skills required to perform what’s scripted, similar to choreographing stunts and fight scenes

They may also: act as liaisons between actors and crew; work on intimacy/nudity riders in…

What is colorism? Prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.

When Black actors are cast:
>Lighter skinned actors generally get leading and more desirable roles such as love interest, successful professional, entertainer, etc.
>Darker skinned actors are typically cast in roles that perpetuate racial stereotypes and tropes such as best friend, assistant/help, troubled youth/gang member, etc.
>Producers cast lighter skinned actors and expect credit for their contribution to diversity.

In one example, Zoe Saldana was cast as Nina Simone but needed a prosthetic nose and to have…

25% of the U.S. population has a disability
3.5% of regular characters on primetime TV have a disability
78% of disabled characters on television are portrayed by non-disabled actors

Here’s what disabled actors have to say: