Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/422151
SAGAFTRA.org | Fall 2014 | SAG-AFTRA 31 relatively high number of black characters, and Cristela, which centers on a Latino family. Out of 813 primetime broadcast scripted series regulars, GLAAD reports that 32 are LGBT this year, or 3.9 percent. This is up from 3.3 percent last season. There are also more encouraging statistics on the increasing diversity of series regular characters on cable networks. Please visit glaad.org for the full report. "We were excited to see the overall results and the trends they point to, but we still have plenty of work left to do," said Adam Moore, national director of SAG-AFTRA's Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity Department. "It does seem that, right now, the momentum toward inclusiveness is taking us in the right direction where the questions are no longer 'Why is this important?' or 'Why should I do this?' Now employers are asking 'How do I do this?' 'Where are the stories?' and 'Where is the talent to tell these stories?'" In conjunction with the SAG-AFTRA Performers with Disabilities Committee and the SAG-AFTRA EEO & Diversity Department, GLAAD's Where We Are on TV report also looked at primetime scripted series regular characters with disabilities. The report found that although there has been a slight increase in characters depicted with disabilities, from 1 to 1.4 percent, very few of the performers filling those roles actually have disabilities. "The number of canceled shows that attempted to include lead characters with disabilities but cast non-disabled actors may indicate that a lack of authenticity affects what viewers decide to watch," said Anita Hollander, national chair of SAG-AFTRA's Performers with Disabilities Committee. "The truth of the matter is that we're seeing a trend of many more people and performers with disabilities in reality TV and commercials than we are seeing reflected on scripted shows. Our aim is to match the reality of the demographics to not lose the authenticity." In addition to an increase in the number of roles representing LGBT community members or disabled persons, there are now also a number of characters who are both disabled and identify as LGBT. Shows such as Switched at Birth and Grey's Anatomy are paving the way, featuring characters that belong to both demographics. The report also concluded that the percentage of female characters appearing on network programming has been steadily decreasing. The ratio of women who portray series regulars on scripted primetime shows has dropped 5 percent over the last two years, from 45 to 40 percent. A similar report, commissioned by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and conducted by the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, studied the way women are portrayed in feature films and found equally concerning results. The institute's study examined a large volume of films from the U.S., U.K., Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany and others that were released between Jan. 1, 2010, and May 1, 2013. Of the 5,799 speaking or named characters in films reviewed in the study, only 31 percent were female. Moreover, male characters consistently held more powerful occupations than female characters — only 14 percent of business executives and 10 percent of politicians depicted in the films were female, and only a quarter of the films had women filling lead roles. The Geena Davis Institute, founded by actor and SAG-AFTRA member Geena Davis, recently held its second annual global symposium on gender representation in film in New York, Opposite page, Robert David Hall as Dr. Robbins on CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Left, Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, an intense defense attorney, on ABC's How to Get Away with Murder. Diversity of 813 Broadcast Series Regular Characters Announced for 2014-2015 RACE/ETHNICITY 590 white characters 105 black characters 64 Latino characters 36 Asian/Pacific Islander characters 18 multiracial characters relatively high number of black characters, , which centers on a Latino Out of 813 primetime broadcast scripted series regulars, GLAAD reports that 32 are LGBT this year, or 3.9 percent. This is up from 3.3 percent last season. disabilities but cast non-disabled actors may indicate that a lack of authenticity affects what viewers decide to watch," said Anita Hollander, national chair of SAG-AFTRA's Performers with Disabilities Committee. "The truth of LGBT. Shows such as Switched at Birth and Gre Gre Gr y's Anatomy are paving the way, featuring characters that belong to both demographics. The report also concluded that the percentage of female characters appearing on network programming has been steadily decreasing. The ratio of women who portray series regulars on scripted primetime shows has dropped 5 percent over the last two years, from 45 to 40 percent. A similar report, commissioned by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and conducted by the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, studied the way women are portrayed in feature films and found equally concerning results. The institute's study examined a large volume of films from the U.S., U.K., Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany and others that were released between Jan. 1, 2010, and May 1, 2013. Of the 5,799 speaking or named characters in films reviewed in the study, only 31 percent Opposite page, Robert David Hall as Dr. Robbins on CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Left, Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, an intense defense attorney, on ABC's How to Get Away with Murder. SOURCE: GL A AD MITCHELL HA ASETH/ABC