Level Forward, Abigail Disney’s startup studio, is investing in another company striving to support women in Hollywood. Per the Los Angeles Times, Level Forward has obtained a 50 percent stake in Film Powered, a free website that connects women with job opportunities in show business, with plans to expand the site’s features and create new revenue streams.
Founded by “Rust Creek” director Jen McGowan, Film Powered’s network includes over 3,000 women working in entertainment, such as actors, crew members, and execs. It is being relaunched as Glass Elevator “in a broader effort to disprove the persistent notion that there aren’t enough highly qualified women to fill the behind-the-camera jobs that are dominated by men.”
“We’ve been through a year of shaming, and while important for healing, it’s not as productive as it needs to be,” said Level Forward Chief Executive Adrienne Becker, referring to the many people who have fallen from grace since the Harvey Weinstein revelations — and the conversations about systemic sexism and bias they have sparked. “The productive part is when we think more strategically to use our leverage to make changes behind the camera and in front of the camera.”
Designed to spotlight women and people of color’s voices, Level Forward was launched in January 2018 by Disney and media company Killer Content. Since then the startup has invested in Rotten Apples, a database that informs users if a given film or TV show employs/employed individuals accused of sexual misconduct, and brought on Stephanie Allain, Mel Jones, and Gabrielle Ebron’s Homegrown Pictures as a producing pod. Level Forward is also backing Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick’s upcoming Hollywood sexual misconduct doc and “Jagged Little Pill,” the Diablo Cody-written musical based on Alanis Morissette’s breakout album.
