Producers Guild ‘Power Of Diversity’ Confab

COMMENTS (12)

• Thank you PGA for really committing to broadening the tastes of the viewing public by shepherding and mentoring underrepresented producers who are committed to promoting the works of sexual and racial minorities and getting them produced. I truly believe there would be far less schlock in film and tv if the buyers stopped going to the same people over and over again rather than daring to take more chances on the untried. And people who tire of seeing the words “diverse” and “diversity”used in comments posted on this site, perhaps instead of being negative haters you try suggesting another term that acknowledges the inclusion of people of color and LGBTQ in the ranks of execs, writers, directors and production staff.

  Comment by g-man — Sunday February 20, 2011 @ 8:10pm PST  Reply to this post

  • Gay and lesbian (white) people are working in this business en masse. It’s non-white people who are struggling to find work behind the scenes.

    Comment by brick — Sunday February 20, 2011 @ 10:06pm PST  Reply to this post

    • True…but this isn’t about hiring. For all the gays and lesbians working in this town, where is that representation onscreen? If you’re a gay actor, you’re told not to come out. If you’re a gay writer, you can’t make a living writing gay stories. Nobody’s buying. Gay managers, agents, executives — none of that matters.

      The whole industry is built on the notion that you have to appeal to white middle America — so all minorities are pushed to the side. Empowering producers to make films that studios and networks seem unwilling to make is a good thing.

      Comment by Jesse — Monday February 21, 2011 @ 8:47am PST  Reply to this post

      • Gay managers, agents, executives — none of that matters.

        It most certainly does, since they hold the purse-strings. Their money and power puts Hollywood’s gay execs in a position that blacks are valiantly struggling to attain. Gays are dealmakers. They package deals and hire and fire. That behind-the-scenes power has led to increased visibility for gay actors and performers who are now littering the television landscape as doors open to them with increasing rapidity. The same cannot be said of blacks.

        Comment by Hasbeen Aniston — Tuesday February 22, 2011 @ 8:42am PST  Reply to this post

  • This is such a load of bullshit. Enough already. Someone say the truth. Point out the fucking obvious. White male writers have it just as hard as minorities at landing a gig in this town. White males are often turned away from jobs because the show is seeking to hire a diversity writer for their one remaining slot. White male writers are also Jewish and/or gay — alas, a fact never talked about. It’s such a bunch of hypocritical bullshit some use to jockey for position simply based on the color of their skin. Or to use as a reason to why they’re not landing jobs. The color of someone’s skin does not mean the writer will lend a BROADER fucking story line. Jesus Christ. You’re black. You’re gay. People fucking get it. That doesn’t mean you deserve a job and it certainly doesn’t mean you’re overlooked for one. Minorities run this town.

    Comment by I'm sorry, but... — Tuesday February 22, 2011 @ 6:29pm PST  Reply to this post

    • when more people of color are hired just as frequently and equally as white writers that your comment will have all the validity it does not deserve at this time.

      Comment by g-man — Wednesday February 23, 2011 @ 11:48am PST  Reply to this post

• The PGA is the butt of a lot of jokes, but give them some credit for really trying hard to change the dialogue about Producers and production in this town.

  Comment by TV Dude — Monday February 21, 2011 @ 9:10am PST  Reply to this post

• I went to the PGA Diversity site and there isn’t a lot of information. It’s great there is a workshop like this available but even after completion of the workshop there still this huge barrier called distribution. Maybe there should be some sort of Rooney Rule (NFL) for network television and theatrical films. Otherwise I don’t see hollywood changing anytime soon.

  Another point, if you think of the film & tv industry as a whole it is actually diverse when you include foreign countries. The problem is local minority talent in the USA not getting the opportunities as their white counterparts. I don’t the PGA workshop addresses this issue because looking at their 2010 class a lot of them where from other countries.

  Comment by Ron Mexico — Monday February 21, 2011 @ 9:25am PST  Reply to this post

• Any educated person born after 1970 working in this industry knows: There are no gay writers, there are just WRITERS. There are no black directors, there are just DIRECTORS. Get it?

  I’m speaking in broad terms here, but blatant racisim and favoritism for WASP’s in the industry is a result of an older generation who hasen’t made the paradigm shift. Terms like “diversity talents” only add to psychic confusion.

  As young talent plants its roots, a lot of this bullshit will go away.

  We are artists. Simple.

  Comment by richard — Monday February 21, 2011 @ 3:15pm PST  Reply to this post

  • and rainbows rain skittles. either you’re naive or white or both.

    Comment by Jena — Monday February 21, 2011 @ 5:06pm PST  Reply to this post

• So, there aren’t any LGBT’s who are non-white? Wow- sums up how far the industry needs to go.

  Comment by akaison — Monday February 21, 2011 @ 7:05pm PST  Reply to this post

• I read all the comments and what I have found is this, all you have to do is look at this years Oscar Nominations. But, let’s go further why is it that we see this now in 2011? Because, now that we have a Black President in office all the studios and executives think that we have all arrived now. Where studios used to see picketing protesters against exclusion, they now see no problem in casting, ten movies and using all the same white crew.

  Think about it, everyone thinks now that we have a Black President racism in America is gone!

  Wake up America, it’s alive and living in Hollywood!

  Comment by Jaime Perry — Monday February 21, 2011 @ 10:03pm PST  Reply to this post