Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/681774
SAGAFTRA.org | Spring 2016 | SAG-AFTRA 35 SAG-AFTRA PROMOTES DIVERSITY COAST TO COAST 5. From left, SAG-AFTRA EEO & Diversity Coordinator Becky Curran and SAG-AFTRA members Jay Cramer, Katy Sullivan and National PWD Committee Co-Vice Chair Danny Woodburn at the Beyond Hollywood: Authenticity and Opportunity panel discussion at the ReelAbilities Film Festival in New York on March 13. Co-hosted by SAG-AFTRA, the annual event is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the artistry of people with different abilities to create a more inclusive media landscape. 6. Actor-director Paul Feig, left, and actor Maria Bello join a panel discussion about the gender gap in the entertainment industry on March 30. The panel, which was presented by SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local Women's Committee, EPIX Network and the USC Annenberg School, followed a screening of The 4%: Film's Gender Problem, a documentary highlighting the dearth of female directors. 5 5. JESSICA MURRAY; 6. ANGELA WEISS 6 status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, gender identity or expression, age or disability." Full inclusion is about more than just race. There isn't just a lack of faces and voices of color in the entertainment and broadcast industries, there's also a dearth of visibility of people with disabilities and seniors. There's also lingering gender inequality between male and female actors when it comes to compensation and treatment and the kinds of roles they're offered. And let's not forget the ageism that is still alive and well. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White said there needs to be more diversity throughout all levels of the industry, not just towards the end of the process when SAG-AFTRA members are competing for jobs; he calls it a "pipeline problem." "In order for the pipeline to work, you've got to have people with talent and skills, they need to be known by someone and be part of a network, and they need access to a decision-maker," he told the Los Angeles Times in a March 3 interview. "The industry has to break the habit of surrounding itself with people who look like them, and expand that circle." Having people with varied backgrounds and life experiences deciding what content gets made can make all the difference in more dynamic and diverse casting choices, reflecting the world in which we live. Ultimately, though, diversity isn't about just raw numbers. It's about more and better jobs for all SAG-AFTRA members, in particular, those who have historically been denied opportunities to compete for those positions. Professional Young Performer After the Year 2000? Check for Unclaimed Wages! UnClaimedCoogan.org