Member of the Month

Susan Wright

Producer

“My dream of the future may only be realized with a strong foundation in the present. I believe it is that foundation that will lead to a future of true inclusion and equality. This is what drew me to the Geena Davis Institute. ‎The Institute is creating these stepping stones in which we can stride and strive towards that inclusive and diverse reality. They are walking the walk and I am proud of their support.”

Susan Wright’s entertainment career began as a lit agency intern in the late 90s, while receiving her journalism degree. She then worked the newsroom at UPN Channel 13 and associate produced the indie film, Social Intercourse, for Hollywood Video’s First Rites Program. She joined MGM/UA as an International Publicity Coordinator working on Man in the Iron Mask and Ronin. When the international department was disbanded, Susan went back to the agent business and joined Working Artist Agency in 2000. There she helped expand the agency to representing all crew and utilized her publicity skills as well; giving the below-the-line clients not only an agent, but a publicist.

She financed and produced her own indie film Detour for under $100K. The “old-school” horror film continues to be seen worldwide and has won several film festivals. Her passion for film and production was clear. To date, the film has grossed over $1 million worldwide and, in 2002, she took her own philosophies and decided to found The Criterion Group, Inc., a below-the-line talent agency known for its ethics, candor and all-star roster of award winning clients. Susan has shared her wisdom as a featured speaker at the Cannes Film Festival for Sag Indie program. In 2015, she launched the inaugural Hair and Makeup By… Symposium with the generous support of The Daily Variety at the Hollywood Loew’s Hotel to spread the invaluable knowledge of her clients to the next generation of hair and make-up artists. This continued with great success to the 2nd Annual Symposium in Atlanta, May 2016.

Criterion’s clientele include award winning artists working on Guardians of the Galaxy, Empire, Dancing with the Stars, Suicide Squad, Pitch Perfect Franchise, Black Panther and Bright.

She served as a panelist for The Woman Code in L.A., hosted by Angie Harmon and Author Sophia Nelson in January 2016. Susan was honored to be part of The Arclight’s Women in Entertainment summit in November 2016 as a panelist for Diversity in Media as well as having The Criterion Group as a sponsor. She is a member of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and has served as a mentor with The New Hollywood in 2017. She was part of the Director’s Circle for the inaugural Women in Media Summit in Provincetown and is also an active member of Television Academy.

Susan is taking it to next level by not only breaking the glass ceiling; but smashing it with a bulldozer and building her own house and invites all like-minded folks to join her. After Criterion celebrates its 15th birthday this year; Susan is launching a new genre of film with a project that answers the big question of inequality and diversity. The film is equal in all aspects – age, race, gender and pay equality.

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IF SHE CAN SEE IT, SHE CAN BE IT®