Amazon MGM released a report that kept track of ongoing details in increasing diversity in front of and behind the camera for films and television programs under their banner. The study covered diversity through representation of women, people of color, and those in the LGBTQ+ community.
The full report showed an impressive increase across the board and highlights some changes caused by the Inclusion Policy and Playbook.
As Deadline reports, who also posted the complete report, Amazon launched the new policy in 2021 in hopes of codifying the studio’s practices with DEIA, with the company saying that the intent was to create more inclusive content representative of American audiences.
Some key findings were that women in creative roles for Amazon originals grew from 35% to 43%, and inclusion of women of color grew from 8% to 13%. People of color, in general, landing top creative roles increased from 19% to 24%, and women of color now make up 23%, as opposed to just 20%, of onscreen women representation. LGBTQ+ inclusion in top creative roles went from 3% to 5%, and LGBT+ talent in front of the camera rose from 4% to 7%. And people of color have seen themselves reflected on screen at an average of 45%.
“One of the most important things the data has shown us is the importance of being in business with diverse decision-makers,” Latasha Gillespie, head of DEIA for Amazon MGM Studios, had to say. “Representation increases in every area — from onscreen talent to Heads of Department — resulting in more authentic content. We need to continue to invest in creators from underrepresented groups to see long-term, systematic change.” Gillespie is also head of DEIA for Prime Video and Freevee.
“The world remains a complicated place, but we all have the opportunity to validate the human experience in the work we do,” she added. “If we are successful, we will tell inclusive stories that entertain audiences all over the world, while increasing our humanity toward one another.”
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