Paul Feig, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck are following in Brie Larson and Michael B. Jordan’s footsteps and committing to the inclusion rider. Feig announced that his production company, Feigco Entertainment, will adopt the clause — which ensures that projects have diverse casts and crews — in all its future projects. Damon and Affleck’s Pearl Street Films will use the inclusion rider in all its forthcoming deals as well, Variety confirms.
“Bridesmaids” helmer Feig tweeted his news earlier today. He recognized Dr. Stacy L. Smith of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative for helping him officially integrate the rider into his production plans, and called on others to join him in committing to the inclusion rider.
Thrilled to announce that Feigco Entertainment is officially adopting an #inclusionrider for all our film and TV productions moving forward. Thank you to @Inclusionists and Stacy L. Smith for their guidance and inspiration. We challenge other companies and studios to do the same.
Feigco’s projects include the all-female “Ghostbusters” reboot, “Snatched,” and the upcoming kidnapping thriller “A Simple Favor,” starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. Feig, who serves as an Ambassador for Hollywood inclusion program ReFrame, previously adopted an equity clause requiring gender-balanced casting for minor roles.
Playwright, actress, and producer Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni broke the story about Pearl Street Films last night, also via Twitter. Cox DiGiovanni is the Head of Strategic Outreach at Pearl Street and one of the architects behind the company’s adoption of the inclusion rider.
@michaelb4jordan Thank you for always supporting broader representation in the industry. On behalf of Pearl Street Films, Matt Damon, @BenAffleck, Jennifer Todd, Drew Vinton & I will be adopting the #InclusionRider for all of our projects moving forward. https://t.co/ODit24D2Rb
— @fanshen
“Manchester by the Sea” and “Promised Land” are among Pearl Street’s productions.
“It’s great to see Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and the Pearl Street Films team using their influence to create opportunities for people from underrepresented groups to enter the industry,” said Smith and Kalpana Kotagal, one of the lawyers behind the inclusion rider. “The Inclusion Rider is an important tool for Hollywood, and other industries, to create workplaces that truly reflect our diverse world.”
The inclusion rider first began dominating headlines when Frances McDormand advocated for the clause during her acceptance speech at last week’s Oscars ceremony. The “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” actress said, “I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: inclusion rider.”
Since then Oscar winner Larson and “Black Panther” actor Jordan have voiced their support for the inclusion rider. “I’m committed to the Inclusion Rider,” Larson tweeted. “Who’s with me?” As Jordan announced on Instagram, his production company, Outlier Society, will utilize the clause in all its forthcoming projects. “I’ve been privileged to work with powerful [women and] persons of color throughout my career [and] it’s Outlier’s mission to continue to create for talented individuals going forward,” the “Black Panther” star wrote.
Feig, Damon, and Affleck are some of the most powerful players in the industry, so it’s great to see them setting an inclusive example through their companies’ business practices. Hopefully others will be inspired to follow suit, especially those who, like Damon and Affleck, who in the past have exhibited severe blindspots in their behavior and commentary about diversity and gender equality.
In 2015 an episode of “Project Greenlight” saw Damon telling producer Effie Brown — who is a black woman — “when you’re talking about diversity, you do it in the casting of the film, not the casting of the show.” The “Downsizing” star also walked back comments on sexual harassment he made late last year. “I do believe that there’s a spectrum of behavior,” he said in December. “And on this end of the continuum where you have rape and child molestation or whatever, you know, that’s prison … That’s criminal behavior, and it needs to be dealt with that way. The other stuff is just kind of shameful and gross.”
Affleck meanwhile hasn’t been as quick to pontificate since the Harvey Weinstein revelations. He has however apologized for groping actress and producer Hilarie Burton on “TRL” in 2003. Several other women have accused the “Justice League” actor of groping them as well.
