Netflix will invest $100 million to increase the diversity of its screen talent. Netflix released a first-of-its-kind diversity study on February 19, analyzing the composition of Netflix’s screen talent, including behind-the-scenes creators, producers, screenwriters, and directors.
There are still many shortcomings in reducing the talent diversity gap. Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, stated that they are committed to providing more ‘inclusiveness’ for their work, ‘Whose voice is gone? Is this a true portrayal? Who is excluded Outside?’
Sarandos said I think a great movie or a great TV series must be able to resonate with the audience, let the audience see something related to them, or reflect the audience. This research report was conducted by Stacy Smith, a Ph.D. in communications and human development at the University of Southern California, at the request of Netflix.
Smith regularly writes reports on the diversity of movies and TV, and her team checked all the movies and series produced by Netflix between 2018 and 2019. Of the 22 inclusion indicators (such as ethnic status, LGBTQ +, and disability), 19 indicators have improved within two years. Netflix’s advantage in diversity lies in women.
This study found that in Netflix movies and TV series, the status of male and female protagonists is equal. Smith also found that Netflix surpassed the industry average in hiring women and people of color as directors. She also found that Netflix prefers to use black people as the leading role.
The study also found that there are very few LGBTQ+ and disabled roles: there are only LGBTQ+4% protagonists in movies and only 1% in TV series. Although research shows that 27% of Americans think they have a disability, less than 1% of TV series protagonists and 5% of main actors are disabled.
Netflix promises to increase the level of diversification of its employees and will invest $100 million in this goal, while at the same time investing 2% of its cash in blacks serving low- and middle-income communities Financial institution.
(Via)
