Change is in the air at the Sundance Film Festival, where a bold new pledge is quickly picking up steam. Dr. Stacy L. Smith from USC Annenberg’s Inclusion Initiative announced the 4% challenge, alongside TIME’S UP:
Emerging out of a @TIMESUPNOW meeting and announced today at #Sundance, the 4% Challenge aims to increase the number of women directing top movies. @ninajacobson #therealbradsimpson @paulfeig @franklinleonard @RobinsonAngela & @amyschumer have all signed on. Will you? pic.twitter.com/7TTAgtn6N8
— Annenberg Inclusion Initiative (@Inclusionists) January 25, 2019
The 4% challenge was inspired by the dismal statistics that out of 1200 top earning films released between 2007-2018, only 4% were directed by women. Tessa Thompson was quick to take up the challenge, saying “Because only 4% of the top 100 studio films over the last DECADE have been directed by women, #TIMESUP is initiating a challenge, the 4% challenge, and I intend to take it: I commit to working with a female director in the next 18 months.” Thompson also tweeted, “I also committed to Doubling the number of women and POC journalist covering the films I have coming out this year. (One in April and in June). TimesUpx2.”
“Because only 4% of the top 100 studio films over the last DECADE have been directed by women, #TIMESUP is initiating a challenge, the 4% challenge, and I intend to take it: I commit to working with a female director in the next 18 months.” –@TessaThompson_x #TIMESUPX2 pic.twitter.com/GjsuqeryKj
— TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) January 26, 2019
Soon other Hollywood luminaries joined the campaign, pledging to work with a female directors, including Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams:
🖐🏽I’m in! I accept the @TIMESUPNOW #4percentChallenge!! We need more industry folks to agree to work with women directors!! Hey @everythingloria @HereIsGina @MattMcGorry @ItsJoshFeldman @nicosantos, what say you? https://t.co/MpIpUtBHzz
— Steven Canals (@StevenCanals) January 27, 2019
You KNOW I’m in, love!!! Already walking this walk & will continue to do so!!
— Gloria Calderón Kellett (@everythingloria) January 27, 2019
Time is waaaay up. As an actor and director, I am sickened by these statistics. This needs to change NOW. I officially accept the #4percentchallenge to work with other female directors on a feature film in the next 18 months. @timesupnow Who is in? pic.twitter.com/PWVEQ22zaC
— Bryce Dallas Howard (@BryceDHoward) January 27, 2019
Love this!@bad_robot is 100% on board!
Thank you @TessaThompson_x, @TIMESUPNOW and @Inclusionists! https://t.co/YCvIGqF4I4— JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) January 27, 2019
I’m in! https://t.co/StZF53QRfd
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) January 27, 2019
I accept the @TIMESUPNOW #4percentChallenge and pledge to work with a female director on a feature film in the next 18 months. pic.twitter.com/uIlYhDswdq
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) January 27, 2019
Count me in @TessaThompson_x #TIMESUPX2 🙋🏼♀️Support #FemaleFilmmakers https://t.co/Kj4FJqTBhs
— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) January 26, 2019
You know I’m in!!!! https://t.co/uQaf5h9rzC
— Jordan Peele (@JordanPeele) January 27, 2019
At the @sundancefest, #Wounds stars @armiehammer and Zazie Beetz say they accept the #4percentchallenge announced by @TessaThompson_x and @TIMESUPNOW pushing Hollywood to hire more female directors. pic.twitter.com/Uk6eEJJ4qB
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) January 27, 2019
WHO KNOWS if I'll be working on a feature in the next 18 months but on the TV side am excited to work with many fabulous directors who are women in the coming months. Thanks for the heads up about this challenge, Misha. More women behind the camera just makes the work better.
— Sera Gamble (@serathegamble) January 26, 2019
We’ve got this! #4percentChallenge https://t.co/qDQlfXXWtS
— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) January 27, 2019
Here’s hoping the future of filmmaking sees a major needle shift for women!
(via NBC, image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for MTV)
- Zazie Beetz says that the cast and director Todd Phillips were rewriting The Joker script while they were filming which … usually isn’t a sign of a great movie? (via SyfyWire)
- Patty Jenkins hints that she’s over Wonder Woman period pieces, and would likely set the third film in present day. (via CBR)
- Will Green Lantern make his way to the Arrowverse? Somebody get these guys a green ring. (via Blastr)
- Here’s a great essay on the queer and trans resonance in Steven Universe. (via io9)
What are y’all up to this Sunday, Mary Suevians?
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