News Archive
Geena’s Op-ed in Social Investor Magazine
Don’t miss Geena’s latest op-ed article, “If She Can See It, She Can Be It,” featured in Social Investor Magazine. Geena discusses her theory of change; and how onscreen images can shift the cultural narrative, advance social and gender justice and impact real-life overnight. She makes a case for investors to finance content creators and organizations like the Institute to transform children’s program development. Read more on pages 62-65…
Disney Advisory–Stories Matter
Stories Matter. We can make an impact, we can make a change. We are extremely proud to serve on the Advisory council which has made great strides for diversity and inclusion with their new content, Advisory Message, to ensure open dialogue and spark conversation about representation. “Because happily ever after doesn’t just happen. It takes effort. Effort we are making.” By acknowledging the past, we are able to learn from it and move forward. As Geena has said, “there is incredible power in seeing someone who is like you on screen.” Watch Video…
Underrepresentation and Misrepresentation Have No Place in Advertising Today–Insights from the Geena Davis Institute
Advertising has the power to move culture forward, but continued underrepresentation and misrepresentation in ads is holding back more than just brands. I discussed the new research in a (virtual) Q&A with The Institute’s CEO, Madeline Di Nonno. This accomplished business leader and former cross-industry marketing executive provided a unique perspective on the disconnect between advertising tropes and the real communities we live in—and what marketers can do to close the gap. Read More…
Exorcist Exclusive Cast Q and A 2020
Join us as we dive into the world of ‘The Exorcist’ with the cast for a Q and A session. Watch Video…
New Script-Submission Software Aims to Manage Slush Pile
Check out what are partners at ScriptHop our doing! They’re changing the game! “Before a studio exec reading your film or TV script will ring your agent to demand a meeting, it has to be judged a hidden gem and not tossed back onto the slush pile, or what Hollywood unkindly calls a stack of unsolicited screenplays.
So the creators of ScriptHop, a software platform for managing libraries of screenplays, are about to roll out The Packet, a interactive online tool for script-submissions they believe will change the way scripts travel in Hollywood — while also streamlining the job of a reader so they can focus on critiquing a screenplay.” Read More…
Men Are Broken. Geena Davis Is Trying to Fix Them.
You may not see Geena Davis on screen as much these days, a slight born of Hollywood’s ageism, but her impact on the film and TV industry has never been stronger. Since 2004, the star of films like Beetlejuice, Thelma & Louise, and A League of Their Own has operated the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media—a data-driven research organization that works with the entertainment world to improve female representation. And earlier this year, a study released by USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that 43 of the top 100 movies released in 2019 had female leads or co-leads, compared to just 20 of the top 100 in 2007. Read More…
Sony Pictures TV’s Gemstone Studios Launches Inaugural Rising Storytellers Search For Female-Led Narratives
The inclusive Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) was the perfect stage to launch Gemstone Studios’ inaugural Rising Storytellers Search, a competition seeking underrepresented female-led narratives. The competition was unveiled today during the fest which continues through August 16. Gemstone, a boutique production unit of Sony Pictures Television, is teaming with Ideas United and Geena Davis’ BFF for Rising Storytellers. The competition invites aspiring storytellers to submit pitch videos of up to six minutes in length to compete for the chance to win a development deal with Gemstone Studios. The winner will also receive other prizes from Sony Electronics’ Imaging Division and other goodies. Read More…
The Scully Effect
Our CEO Madeline Di Nonno joined ABC Radio National in Australia to chat about the #ScullyEffect, our research on it and, Gillian Anderson’s inspirational characters impact on #WomeninSTEM. “Almost three decades after The X-Files first aired in 1993, the sci-fi series remains an enduring cult classic. But for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), the show was about more than just monsters. Actor Gillian Anderson, as FBI Agent Dana Scully, initiated a real-life phenomenon known as ‘The Scully Effect’. Her character’s role as an FBI Agent and a doctor inspired many women to pursue careers in STEM fields.” Read More…
Geena Davis: ‘As soon as I hit 40, I fell off the cliff. I really did’
The Thelma & Louise and A League of Their Own star wanted to be an actor from the age of three. She discusses sexual harassment, improving representation, and why she’s so glad she had kids in her 40s. Read More…
Geena Davis Explains How to Have a Film Festival These Days
It was fairly early on in the coronavirus crisis when Geena Davis and Wendy Guerrero realized their Bentonville Film Festival could not go on as planned. The annual event in Bentonville, Arkansas, normally scheduled for late April or early May, was put on hold, along with virtually everything else in the world. But unlike Cannes and SXSW and Comic-Con, Bentonville 2020 is ultimately happening after all. Kicking off on August 10, this year’s Bentonville Film Festival will be held primarily via Zoom, with a few drive-in events still taking place in Bentonville. With its focus on underrepresented voices, and this year’s film slate more than 80% directed by women and 65% directed by BIPOC, the Bentonville Film Festival might look different this year, but it feels more important than ever. Read More…
