A wide-ranging plan to address gender inequality in Hollywood has emerged in the wake of a little-publicised summit in October attended by considerable numbers of leading film industry figures and activists.
According to Deadline, Women in Film and the Sundance Institute organised the summit, which was held in LA, and saw the likes of director Catherine Hardwicke, producer Paul Wagner and studio executive Bonnie Arnold among those who took part.
The plan concentrates on several key areas. It recommends a “gender parity stamp” to certify projects and organisations that have reached certain targets for equality, a mentoring programme for promising figures early in their careers and training to eliminate “unconscious bias” in industry practices. It also advocates a system of industry “ambassadors” to ensure awareness of the issue remains high.
Cathy Schulman, president of Women in Film Los Angeles said: “We are at an economic, social and cultural tipping point and sustainable change is within reach ... The time to act is now. Hollywood is surprisingly late in coming to this party and this is the time for conversion.”
