“Selma”director Ava DuVernay, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and “The Lego Movie” producer Dan Lin have teamed up with the shared goal of giving Hollywood a much-needed makeover. Variety reports that the trio have launched the Evolve Entertainment Fund (EEF) to promote inclusion and, as Garcetti explains, “give people in underserved communities a new opportunity to chase their dreams in Hollywood — whether they want to be the next award-winning director or screenwriter, or are looking to secure a future in below-the-line jobs that are the bedrock of this city’s middle class.”
A collaboration between the City of Los Angeles, industry leaders in the media, non-profit orgs, and educational institutions, EEF is already making great strides, securing 150 paid summer internships for students participating in the Hire LA’s Youth program. Internships will take place at companies including DreamWorks Animation, Ryan Murphy Television, and Film Independent. And there’s already plans to expand the project. By 2018, EEF expects to arrange 250 internships, and has a goal of 500 placements by 2020.
“As we radically reimagine Hollywood, it is critically important that young people are included in our vision,” said DuVernay, who is serving as EEF co-chair. “Real change happens when we take tangible action — and that means giving young women and people of color opportunities in the industry early on, so they have the chance to shape its future.”
The “13th” director and ARRAY Entertainment founder has previously spoken out about Hollywood’s exclusionary hiring practices and the privilege of being able to say no. “When you add to … issues of representation and marginalization that go on top of the artist’s feeling of ‘Can I get my thing made?’ it becomes challenging for me to say no,” she revealed.
DuVernay made history as the first woman of color to helm a film with a budget over $100 million. An adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s award-winning sci-fi novel of the same name, “A Wrinkle in Time” hits theaters March 9. Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Chris Pine star.
