Producing : Diversity and Inclusion by Nassma Al Bahrani

Netflix and other major streamers are increasingly seeking a worldwide audience that includes such stories as yours. But for them to address diversity and inclusion in their productions, they need access to talented writers with gripping stories with international appeal to stimulate and accelerate their long term plans in these areas. So make sure your own writing tells these stories in a unique and irresistible way that draws immediate attention to your own talents. And if possible seek agent or managerial representation that truly understands the global market and how best to exploit your own gifting as a writer in it.

It is a necessary trend since demographics are changing. It is also the right thing to do. Why not make stories that are reflective of the world around you? Netflix does offer a diverse series of stories which I find refreshing.

Kyle LIttle While I appreciate input of all kinds, particularly ones that might differ from my own, I don’t believe listing how ethnically diverse you are adds anything to your argument and does not make it a stronger or more valid opinion, it’s an opinion regardless, and can be respected for that alone even though it could have been worded less aggressively. Either way, I don’t believe my question on the forum has anything to do with the importance of story, there are many all white casts or characters in shows/movies that are very badly done, and no one would go and praise those either. So while I understand the importance of story, no one can deny that writers/creators/directors or even producers of color in the past have not been given an equal chance to represent their world class, fantastic stories as they do now. Therefore, it is definitely something to be celebrated, alongside the quality of content that no one with any experience in the industry would overlook.

the problem is all the executives in charge of making decisions are majority white. And white men. Dunno if there will be an equal playing level in my lifetime but maybe for the next generation coming up. Keep grinding. Representation does matter in front and behind camera.

Dan - why do you suppose it is that the majority of decision makers in the film industry are white men? I'm acquainted with a few POC who have managed to reach the upper tiers within their chosen fields. They chose a field, educated them selves, worked hard and succeeded.

Doug Nelson the same reason our founding fathers wrote the constitution for white men. Cmon, Doug, our country is racist from the day the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth rock and killed all the natives.

Dan, they did? I musta been nappin' that day in class.

Nassma, welcome to Stage 32!

Great post, Nassma Al Bahrani . It won't be a trend if the numbers reflect positive growth. We must continue to support by tuning in and engaging. We are seeing an increase in diverse stories but I agree with some of the comments, we must put story first.

I don't think much effort to support progressive and diverse materials is needed, nor that they are just some trend. Great progressive stories come first; they always have. Schindler's List, Dances with Wolves, Munich, Citizen Kane, Watermelon Man, In the Heat of the Night, etc.

If Black Panther has taught us anything it's that diversity certainly doesn't deter people from seeing great films and series. I for one am looking forward to Ms Marvel, Muslim or not.

I'll disagree with some of the comments - it's not about story first. It's about money first. As long as "diversity" and "inclusion" make the big guys money (which translates into making the stockholders money, which translates into the big guys keeping their jobs), they'll be all for it.

The real challenge is to convince them that "diversity and inclusion" will make them money. Putting aside exceptions like Black Panther, etc., it's not clear that diverse stories make big profits (at the studio level).

That's where we indies come in. If well tell enough good stories (1st) that are diverse and inclusive (2nd), AND make money (obviously not at the studio level of revenue, but turn a profit), we will show the bigs that there is something long-term to this diversity thing. And advance the careers of of POC at the same time.

Thus, a "trend" becomes a transformation.

Franklin Leonard made news this week, tweeting about Hollywood neoptism and lack of diversity in front and behind camera.

https://variety.com/2021/film/news/ben-stiller-steven-spielbergs-daughte...

Nepotism is one of greatest major film industry problems, highly annihilating real diversity. Even some guys criticizing it have or had someone helping them overtake a few steps on the ladder.

On the other hand, not always such a bad stuff. Example, Jake Gyllenhaal has been pointed out as a nepotistic product, still one helluva actor by me. Bad is only when a certain person finds himself in a place he has absolutely no business to be all because family/relative ties.

I myself got in today workplace because of manager (my groomsman) offered me a position....all advancing and bonuses later on, onwards are because of me...

@John Ellis I tend to agree with you. Also noticed the "token lesbian' stuck in all kinds of NF products lately. The most egregious being in the recent Midnight Mass (which is all together egregious, in my view).

There was a trend with lady autistic cops for a while (The Closer and Bron/Broen), but then the novelty wore off, I guess.

Either way, that is not real diversity. It is a step, but to really get anywhere, we still have a way to go.