Variety sent out invitations for an upcoming writing panel the trade is hosting, and some of the recipients immediately noticed a glaring problem with the lineup. Of the twelve showrunners speaking–six on a comedy panel, six drama–only one, Mom co-creator Gemma Baker, is a woman.
So… are we all really just shouting into a vacuum? pic.twitter.com/OQpfTh7lQr
— Liz Hannah (@itslizhannah) June 5, 2018
Making this even more infuriating, today, Wednesday, June 6th, Variety is hosting a “Path to Parity” women’s summit to talk about gender equality in Hollywood. That conference is slated to be much more balanced in the genders of its speakers (including Mila Kunis, Seth Meyers, Gloria Allred, Jill Soloway, Kenya Barris, and more), which is great and all, but an event shouldn’t have to be about gender parity to see it exemplified. Especially not when there are so many women working at the top of their field.
Because it’s not like the organizers of Variety’s writers’ panels didn’t have plenty of women and nonbinary writers to choose from. Busy Phillips took to Twitter to show just how many come up with even a cursory Google search.
Hey @Variety! Here are some ideas for you! *Jenni Konner&Lena Dunham*Melissa Rosenberg* *Tina Fey*Marti Noxon&Sarah Gertude Shapiro*Liz Flahive&Carly Mensch*Nahnatchka Khan*Maurissa Tancharoen*Jessica Queller*Shonda Rhimes*Jenji Kohan*Rachel Bloom&Aliene Brosh McKenna pic.twitter.com/CbzL9Fppom
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) June 5, 2018
MORE IDEAS OF FEMALE TV SHOWRUNNERS @Variety THIS TOOK ME THREE MINUTES: *Jill Soloway*Ava DuVernay*Lisa Joy*Courtney Kemp*Jennie Snyder Urman*I.Marlene King*Erica Messer*Ilene Chaiken*Issa Rae*Sarah Treem*Frankie Shaw
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) June 5, 2018
I used something called GOOGLE @Variety. IT WAS SO EASY!Turns out there are A BUNCH OF WOMEN RUNNING FANTASTIC TV SHOWS! So maybe next time you want to have a convo with showrunners, the odds shouldn’t be 11:1?Representation matters.Even at dumb industry events. ESPECIALLY THERE.
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) June 5, 2018
Variety’s omission of women is frustrating, but female writers mobilized their anger and the result was inspiring.
Liz Hannah, the writer of The Post, put a call out for female showrunners to form their own panel and the interest and support she received was immense.
If any female showrunners want to do a panel on Thursday night, I will moderate and organize. https://t.co/R1IXBMOXWN
— Liz Hannah (@itslizhannah) June 5, 2018
Signal boosting this and also want to say I love and admire this example of someone seeing a problem, calling it out, stepping up and offering real ideas and action. Brava, Liz. 🔥 https://t.co/GfNKL8Czvk
— Sera Gamble (@serathegamble) June 6, 2018
I’m in. https://t.co/r9519rEdMk
— Krista Vernoff (@KristaVernoff) June 5, 2018
how can we help?
— Writers Guild Foundation (@WritersGuildF) June 5, 2018
How can I and @theblcklst help?
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) June 5, 2018
Please let me know if I can introduce you to anyone AND/or if you’d like to record and release as a Writers Panel pod. (Mostly bc I want to hear it but will be out of town)
— Ben Blacker (@BenBlacker) June 6, 2018
👋🏻 We’d love to help and/or host at our office. DM us!
— Twitter Los Angeles (@TwitterLA) June 5, 2018
The outpouring of support for this has been absolutely incredible. This panel will be happening next week. Location, panelists, and details to come. Still looking for some badass female showrunners out there to come talk with us so keep hitting me up. Thank you to everyone!! https://t.co/ohE5yUeGTY
— Liz Hannah (@itslizhannah) June 6, 2018
Variety has also apologized and says it’s “working on rectifying [their] mistake.”
On behalf of Variety, we apologize for the egregious oversight regarding the lack of female writers participating in our upcoming A Night in the Writers’ Room event. We hear you loud and clear, and are currently working on rectifying our mistake.
— Variety (@Variety) June 5, 2018
Which is a great reminder that, while it would be nice if women weren’t so often overlooked in these situations, our outrage can effect change.
THIS is what happens when we use our voices! Don’t be afraid to speak up or nothing ever changes!! https://t.co/WQExdxGHqI
— Liz Hannah (@itslizhannah) June 5, 2018
What has happened today has been beyond an inspiring experience. Also goes to show that “if you build it [a space for women] they will come.”
— Liz Hannah (@itslizhannah) June 6, 2018
(via Refinery29, image: Matthew Henry from Burst)
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