Comments on: Film Gender Gap: More Stats on Women Working Behind the Scenes in Film

By: Leslie

Leslie — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:55:12 +0000

Thomai in LA,

No need to translate the positions for me, I spent 5 years in the trenches only where I come from it is PC and APC for the production office types and FACS for first aid\craft service (combined position).

I am just saying that there seems to be no problem hiring women for positions that are derogatorily perceived to be populated by a bunch of bored secretaries filing their nails.

I went to film school and ended up in the office. So what. By the same tolken I had friends with film degrees who ended up in the camera and AD departments. Had we not become diillusioned with the industry at the same time and run screaming for the hills who knows where we’d be right now. No everyone wants to direct or be a HOD (head of department)

By: sarah

sarah — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:59:50 +0000

The software industry is the same. When you see who is in control of software design, architecture and the top tier of management: it’s a guy world. This is true in your mundane software, your gaming and animation, and the powerhouses. You can’t say it is because of the heavy lifting. But here is another place where helming and really being in control of creation is lacking – and therefore the wealth and power.

By: THomai in L.A.

THomai in L.A. — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:03:48 +0000

Leslie, high, but not extremely high when you’re talking about the top 250 films.

the positions most commonly held by women are:
Make-up Dept.
Hair Dept.
Wardrobe/Costume Dept.
Script Supervisor
POC (prod. office coordinator)
APOC (assists the POC)
Assistant to the producer, director (not Assistant Director/AD)
actors, etc.)
Craft Services (snack table)

I’ve spoken to more than one make-up artist who went to film school with the original intention to become a director.
Same with scripty, etc. etc.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:00:41 +0000

And yet if you look at production coordinators the percentage of females in that position would be extremely high, although that is changing somewhat. The pink ghetto is alive an well in the film industry.

By: THomai in L.A.

THomai in L.A. — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:23:36 +0000

I know it’s dismal out there, but all I can focus on right now-

my film had a female gaffer, female DP, female Prod. Super, female & male Producers, female and Male ADs and the usual suspects- Wardrobe, M/U & scripty – all female. I’m female and I directed/wrote/produced. My son prod. designed it, so a male, yes, but a pro feminist one- actually- all the men involved are pro feminist – and most of the crew were minority-or raised by a single mom- as well as the lead and child actor.

It may just be an itty bitty low budget short, but, it’s a start…

I’d like to see the stats on indie films-
women seem less likely to be union than men in this industry.