Published17. Aug 2023, 7:57 p.m
USA: “Barbie” as an exception – equal rights in the film is faltering
In 2022, almost 35 percent of the speaking characters on the screen will be female. Male roles continue to dominate in Hollywood.
In the US, “Barbie” is the most successful film by a female filmmaker ever.
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“Barbie” is an anomaly: This is the conclusion reached by a study on equality in film. For every speaking female character in the most popular films of 2022, there were more than two male characters with text, according to the Annenberg Initiative on Inclusion at the University of Southern California. 34.6 percent of the speaking roles in the 100 biggest box office hits of the past year were therefore female. The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative has been publishing these and many other metrics since 2007.
In the first study of its kind in three years, USC researchers found that progress toward onscreen parity has stalled in many areas since the coronavirus pandemic — and in some respects hasn’t changed much in 14 years . In 2019, 34 percent of speaking characters were female. In 2008 it was 32.8 percent.
The entertainment industry has little desire to improve the casting process in ways that make a difference for girls and women, said the initiative’s founder and director, Stacy L. Smith. The lack of progress is particularly disappointing after decades of commitment.
Advances in integrating women on screen
When analyzing the top-grossing films, the report fails to take into account the vast amount of content produced for streaming platforms and smaller releases. It does, however, provide an overview of how Hollywood may or may not be evolving.
However, some of the results of the study also indicate progress in the integration of women on screen. There have been more female leads or co-leads in the top-grossing films than ever before. In 2022, 44 percent of those leading roles were filled by girls or women, a historic high and more than double the number in 2007 (20 percent).
This year, “Barbie” by Greta Gerwig is the focus of the film industry: since its theatrical release last month, the film about the famous plastic doll has grossed 1.2 billion dollars worldwide. In the US, the film is the most successful by a filmmaker ever.
(DPA)
2023-08-18 07:19:01
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