Just one drama pilot was directed by a woman this broadcast pilot season. One. As much as people like to treat TV like film’s woke — or at least more woke — sophisticated, cooler sibling, the small screen is far from the inclusive utopia some dream it to be. Fortunately NBC is taking a major step towards getting more women behind the camera of their shows. Deadline reports that the network has announced a new annual initiative, “Female Forward.” Led by NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke in partnership with TV director Lesli Linka Glatter (“Homeland,” “Mad Men”), the program was announced during the TCA summer press tour.
“The new program will provide ten female directors with the opportunity to shadow up to three episodes of an NBC series, followed by an in-season commitment to direct at least one episode of the series she shadows,” the source writes. So “Female Forward” isn’t just about helping women get their foot in the door — it’s ensuring that they get job opportunities and more experience to add to their resumes. “Female Forward” will kick off with the 2018–19 season on 10 NBC series. The intent is to increase the number of directors and shows in years to come.
“It’s been a collective and urgent goal of ours to identify more female directors,” said Salke. “We strongly believe women can and should be at the forefront of telling compelling stories, and I hope the guaranteed directing component will have real impact on our shows as well as the industry. It’s an honor to have a partner and advocate in the amazing Lesli Linka Glatter, who shares these ideals with us and has passionately acted as a mentor to other women throughout her career.”
Five-time Emmy nominee Linka Glatter added, “It shouldn’t be harder for our daughters to direct than for our sons. It should be an equal playing field. I’m truly optimistic that with this kind of commitment from the incredible Jen Salke and NBC Entertainment, we can actually make a difference. A program like this is a game changer and it’s an honor to be a part of it,” she emphasized.
In the 2015–16 TV season, women comprised just 12 percent of directors on broadcast network series, according to a study from Dr. Martha Lauzen and the Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film.
