Looking to hire a female cinematographer? A helpful new resource will make that task easier: illuminatrix, the UK’s first all-female collective of cinematographers, has launched a database highlighting the work of top female cinematographers in the UK. “The illuminatrix database will showcase available talent and provide contacts for industry figures looking to hire a DoP,” Screen International reports.
The database offers a tool to help combat gender equality in the field. While women are underrepresented in many roles behind the scenes, the stats are especially abysmal for female cinematographers. “Despite making up half of all film students in the UK, data from Directors UK shows that the field of cinematography suffers a significant lack of female representation, more so than almost any other production discipline, with less than seven percent of British feature films being shot by a woman,” Screen International writes. Women accounted for six percent of the cinematographers who worked on the top 250 highest-grossing films in the U.S. in 2015.
According to illuminatrix’s website, all of its members have over five years of professional industry experience working as a DoP. Members of the group include Natasha Braier (“The Neon Demon”), Sarah Cunningham (“The Forbidden Room”), and Vanessa Whyte (“Broadchurch”).
In addition to the database, illuminatrix is working towards raising awareness of film’s gender problem by hosting events and workshops, and speaking out on social media platforms.
“Coinciding with the launch of its database, the female collective will curate a day of events on diversity in cooperation with IMAGO, the European Federation of Cinematographers, at the Camerimage International Film Festival of Cinematography in Poland on Nov 18,” Screen International reports.
illuminatrix has received support from the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC), BAFTA, and Women in Film and Television UK.
“Making it as a cinematographer needs skill and daring and tenacity. It should never depend on your gender or race. So I welcome the initiative by the cinematographers of illuminatrix in showcasing some of the best women cinematographers,” said Barry Ackroyd, president of BSC. “This new webpage is proof that the talent is here. Now it’s time to stop talking about equality and time to let it happen. Producers, directors, all film makers, listen up, open your eyes, and play fair.”
Back in May, CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX launched in the U.S. An announcement described how the group will “help the crews behind the camera be more reflective of the stories they create, and provide a resource for producers and directors looking to find qualified cinematographers that identify as women.”
“Women have long been creating beautiful imagery and telling wonderful stories through cinematography, and the conversation about that inequality is finally catching up.” commented Autumn Eakin, founding member of CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX. “I often hear from production companies that they would like to hire more women, they just don’t know where to find them. CINEMATOGRAPHERS XX is a way to to connect productions with qualified, professional cinematographers that identify as female.”
The International Collective of Female Cinematographers (ICFC) also offers an international database of female cinematographers.
So, if a production company wants to hire more women, they now know where to find them: These cinematographers are talented, experienced, and ready to work. Stop making excuses and start effecting change.
