Film Industry Continues to Struggle with Diversity

Nationals Women’s History Month is coming to an end, and some people think women are still fighting to be recognized. The University of Georgia Institute of Women’s Studies had its annual film screening last night to take a look at the struggles of women.

Throughout the history of The Academy Awards, the results speak for themselves. The Academy Awards began in 1929 and only one woman, Kathryn Bigelow won an award for best director 81 years later in 2010. Although the meeting was small in attendance, aspiring producer and UGA Mass Media Arts major Lauren Hollinger believes that something isn’t right with those figures.

“It is shocking and disheartening a lot. That’s what I wrote my admission essay on, is waiting to be involved in Hollywood as a female director/producer,” said Hollinger.

Behind the lens of the camera, a lack of diversity is still present in 2016. One third of films last year had zero or one woman in directing roles. Hollinger believes the film industry tends to hire what they know. “Men tend to hire men. I definitely think men are given more respect in the film industry”.

Associate director of the Peabody Awards, Dr. Kohn believes women need to work to make themselves heard. ” Women should do everything they can to break through.”

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