Page 29 - ARUBA TODAY

PEOPLE/ARTS Friday 29 September 2017
A29
Study: More women, minorities being hired as TV directors

By LYNN ELBER do the work of being in- cent) of all first-time hires
AP Television Writer clusive, they find talented last season were ethnic
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The directors who overwhelm- minorities, up from 24 (15
hiring of ethnic minorities ingly succeed in establish- percent) in the preceding
and women as first-time TV ing longer-term careers.” season.
series directors is up sharp- Schlamme credited the The 73 female first-time
ly, according to a Directors guild’s effort to educate directors hired in 2016-17
Guild of America study re- the industry and hold represented 32 percent of
leased Wednesday. employers accountable incoming directors, com-
They’re part of record through contracts for bring- pared with 38 (24 percent)
growth and diversity in the ing about what he called the season before.
“pipeline” of incoming di- “meaningful improvement” The study didn’t include
rectors, the study of the in diversity. a breakdown by ethnic-
2016-17 TV season found. The expanding world of TV ity among the minority first-
The percentage of minor- has brought more oppor- time directors.
ity first-time episodic series tunity overall, with stream- For men and whites, the
directors has more than ing services such as Netflix study found their percent-
doubled since the 2009-10 and Hulu joining broadcast ages among new hires
season, while the percent- and cable platforms to were down but their num-
age of female first-time di- push the combined num- bers reached new levels.
rectors has nearly tripled. ber of TV series to 400-plus A record 152 men repre-
“The fact is, it all starts with and counting. An all-time sented 68 percent of first-
the pipeline,” guild Presi- high of 225 first-time direc- time directors hired in the In this July 29, 2015 file photo, director and executive producer
dent Thomas Schlamme tors were hired last season 2016-17 season, up from Thomas Schlamme speaks during the “Manhattan” panel at the
said in a statement, with by studios, networks and 120 (76 percent) hired in Viacom Networks 2015 Summer TCA Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif.
hiring decisions made now executive producers, a 42 the 2015-16 season. Associated Press
affecting who will be in the percent increase over the Whites made up 161 (72 for more than 20 years, said The guild’s annual report
employment pool “in two previous season, the study percent) of new directors it added scrutiny of first- on employment of all epi-
years, five years, 10 years’ found. last season, compared with time directors in 2009 be- sodic directors last season,
time. Comparing the 2016-17 133 (84 percent) in 2015-16. cause they represent the including newcomers and
Our research shows that season with 2015-16, the The Directors Guild, which point of entry for the hiring veterans, will be published
when employers actually guild found that 56 (25 per- has been studying diversity pipeline. in the coming weeks.q
Gloria Steinem to be ‘Veep’ star Julia Louis-Dreyfus

honored by sex assault says she has breast cancer
defense group

condition would be pro-
BOSTON (AP) — Feminist “uplifting women’s voices vided at this time, adding
icon Gloria Steinem is set to and lives in the search for
be honored in Boston.The equality.” Malone notes that the actress “is incred-
ibly grateful for the out-
Victim Rights Law Center that Steinem also repeat-
says it’s presenting its 2017 edly has condemned pouring of support and
wishes.”Hundreds
well
Leadership Award to the sexual violence “and its
renowned author, journalist use as a tool of inequality of messages from well-
wishers quickly poured in
and activist at the federal to intimidate and oppress
courthouse in Boston on women.”Steinem says on Twitter.“Sending you
love and light and prayers
Thursday evening.The Bos- she remains committed
ton-based group offers free to “saving women’s lives of support,” actress and
producer Roma Downey
civil legal services to men, and challenging the nor-
women and children vic- malcy of violence against wrote.“Love you Julia. You
got this,” actress Wanda
timized by sexual assault.Its women.”Past honorees in-
executive director, Stacy clude actress Ashley Judd Sykes tweeted.
Louis-Dreyfus won her sixth
Malone, says Steinem was and legal scholar Anita
selected for a lifetime of Hill.q Emmy Award this month
In this Sept. 17, 2017 file photo, Julia Louis-Dreyfus arrives at the for her portrayal of for-
69th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Louis-Dreyfus says mer POTUS Selina Meyer
she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. in “Veep.” The show is set
Associated Press to air its seventh and final
By LYNN ELBER in eight women get breast season in 2018.
AP Television Writer cancer. At this month’s Emmy
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ju- “The good news is that awards, Louis-Dreyfus
lia Louis-Dreyfus says she I have the most glorious pushed for better repre-
has been diagnosed with group of supportive and sentation for women in Hol-
breast cancer. caring family and friends, lywood.
The star of “Veep” and and fantastic insurance “Let’s hope that this is the
“Seinfeld” posted word through my union. The bad beginning of something
of her illness Thursday on news is that not all women even better in our country
social media. A spokes- are so lucky, so let’s fight all and the world,” she said,
woman for Louis-Dreyfus cancers and make univer- savoring her record-break-
In this Sept. 11, 2016 file photo, Gloria Steinem arrives at night confirmed the posts were sal health care a reality,” ing award. “I think the
two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater authentic. she tweeted. world would be a better
in Los Angeles. On her Twitter account, Louis-Dreyfus’ publicist said place if more women were
Associated Press the actress wrote that one no further details about her in charge.”q