See Jane Spotlight
Here's the latest from behind the scenes.
The Cast of Endlings Sparks Timely Conversations about Emotional Health, Social Justice and Climate Change
Left to right: Michela Luci (Tabby), Edison Grant (Johnny), Kamia Fairburn (Julia), and Cale Ferrin (Finn). Photo credit: Sinking Ship Entertainment. By Mary Ellen Holden The sci-fi adventure series Endlings premiered its 12-episode second season on Hulu on January 15th. The series, set 20 years in the future, releases at a time when anxiety is […]
Starz Commitment to Inclusive Storytelling Lights Up Opportunities
Inclusive storytelling focused on women, and other underrepresented groups have been a priority for Starz before becoming a media industry imperative in front of and behind the camera. Earlier this year, Alison Hoffman, former Chief Marketing Officer of Starz, was promoted to a newly expanded position as President, Domestic Networks. I had the opportunity to sit down with Alison to learn more about their commitment to women and inclusion.
Entertainment Media is Changing the Equation for Women and Girls in Tech
The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media hosted its first-ever event for teens and young women (ages 13+), which was made possible by Craig Newmark Philanthropies in celebration of National STEM Day. Craig Newmark is widely known as a Web pioneer, for founding the online classified ad service craigslist.
Movio’s Audience Diversity Algorithm Can Predict Box Office Success
The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the social justice movement and a pause in filmmaking, has provided the movie industry and audiences alike with the rare opportunity to catch up to the evolution of the moviegoing experience.
IF/THEN® Collection Launches to Celebrate Female, STEM Pioneers
For many years, Lyda Hill Philanthropies® founder Lyda Hill has posited that “science is the answer” to life’s most challenging issues, and she is right. COVID 19 has changed our lives, and the world now understands that science matters. Today, the STEM community across sectors and borders is front and center in our world. Scientists, researchers, and medical workers are laboring to save lives; the Internet has become a lifeline to remote learning, business, and human connection.
“If He Can See It, Will He Be It?” Salon: Highlights and Insider Insights
On June 23rd, we unveiled a new report on the representation of masculinity in boys’ television. Our invitation-only event featured introductions and related insights from Institute Founder and Chair Geena Davis and Actor and Kering Foundation Board Director Salma Hayek Pinault along with President & CEO of Promundo, Gary Barker and three leading male advocates/feminists, Justin Baldoni, Wade Davis, and Joshua Rush.
The Baby-Sitters Club, Coming to Netflix
As temperatures rise, so does the anticipation for the launch of the contemporary adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s beloved young adult book series The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix. The 10-episode series releases at a time when demand for babysitting is high, and it will be a welcome addition to families across the country who hunger for normalized lives. The show the relationships and experiences of a group of girlfriends as they navigate middle school, and the challenges inherent in starting their babysitting business.
Mira, Royal Detective
In a world that is multicultural, global, and connected, it is fitting that Mira, Royal Detective, Disney Junior’s new television series celebrating Indian culture, was its first to launch concurrently in the United States and India. Set in the fictional kingdom of Jalpur, the production highlights the beauty, diversity, music, and deep heritage of this culture to a broad audience that transcends geographic, societal, and traditional demographic boundaries. It features South Asian talent on- and off-screen in the voice cast and creative team, as well as consultants who ensure that the series is authentic and breaks traditional stereotypes.
Dino Dana Takes Huge Steps to Advance Diversity, Break Gender Stereotypes and Embrace STEM
Debuting its fourth season on Amazon on April 17, Dino Dana has emerged as a bona fide brand appealing to boys and girls alike. This preschool franchise is based on two male-led series (Dino Dana and the Emmy award-winning Dino Dana: Trek’s Adventures) created by J.J. Johnson, the creative force and founding partner of Sinking Ship Entertainment. J.J. credits the star of his first preschool series (This is Daniel Cook) and the young star’s love of all things prehistoric and his desire to be a paleontologist as the genesis of the Dino Dana series, which brought dinosaurs into the present through a combination of CGI animation and live-action production.
Representation Matters: Nielsen Says It’s Time to Stand Up and Be Counted
The demand for diverse storytelling and inclusive content creation onscreen and behind-the-camera has never been stronger than it is today. Nielsen is deeply committed to “truth in measurement,” and there is a direct connection between diversity, inclusivity, and truth throughout Nielsen’s business. I had the pleasure of speaking with Ginger Bushell, Senior Vice President, Global Content Governance at Nielsen, to get an inside look at how diversity and inclusion (D&I) inform the way Nielsen operates. I learned that Nielsen is not only a trusted source of truth in global measurement and data analytics; it is also a “First Responder,” dedicated to identifying gaps in data and advocating for new information that can make the industry more responsive to the changing times that our global, multicultural content world requires. Let’s look.
