2020 STATISTICS
TV Statistics | Women Critics | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008
Women Behind the Scenes
Employed screenwriters:
- Women were 35.2% of development/pilot writers and of 29.6% of screenwriters.
- BIPOC folks were 23.3% of development/pilot writers and 22.6% screenwriters.
- BIPOC women made up 9.9% of development/pilot writers and 9.6% of screenwriters. BIPOC men made up 13.2% and 13%, respectively.
- White women comprised 25.9% of development/pilot writers and 21.2% of screenwriters.
- Of development/pilot writers, 9.7% were Black, <1% were Native American/Indigenous, 3.2% were Latinx, 5.9% were Asian/South Asian/Pacific Islander, <1% were Middle Eastern, and 3.8% were multi-ethnic/racial.
- Of screenwriters, 6.9% were Black, <1% were Native American/Indigenous, 3.1% were Latinx, 3.4% were Asian/South Asian/Pacific Islander, <1% were Middle Eastern, and 8.5% were multi-ethnic/racial.
- LGBTQ+ folks accounted for 6.4% of development/pilot writers and 6.2% of screenwriters.
- Writers with disabilities represented 1% of development/pilot writers and <1% of screenwriters.
- Writers aged 55 or over comprised 20.4% of development/pilot writers and 18.1% of screenwriters.
Of the screenwriters employed 2010-2020:
- Women writers increased from just 17.2% of screenwriters in 2010 to 29.6% in 2020.
- BIPOC writers were 5.2% of screenwriters in 2010 and increased to 22.6% in 2020.
Of the indie films screening at U.S. festivals 2019-2020:
- Women fared best as producers (40%), followed by directors (38%), writers (35%), executive producers (33%), editors (28%), and cinematographers (16%).
- Overall, the percentage of women working in key behind-the-scenes roles (directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, cinematographers) was 34%. Independent films employed almost twice as many men in these roles. 66% of those working as directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors, and cinematographers were male.
- The festivals considered selected and/or screened an average of 12 narrative films directed by men, compared to an average of 6 films directed by at least one woman.
- Festivals selected and/or screened an average of 11 documentaries directed by men versus an average of 10 documentaries directed by at least one woman.
- Overall, festivals selected and/or screened an average of 16 films (narrative features and documentaries) directed by at least one woman versus an average of 22 films directed exclusively by men.
- Women accounted for 40% of those working in key behind-the-scenes roles on documentaries versus 29% of those working on narrative features.
- 34% of the independent films considered employed 0 or 1 woman, 43% employed 2 to 5 women, 17% employed 6 to 9 women, and 5% employed 10 or more women. In contrast, 12% of the films employed 0 or 1 man, 33% employed 2 to 5 men, 29% employed 6 to 9 men, and 26% employed 10 or more men.
- Films with at least one woman director had substantially higher percentages of women writers, editors, and cinematographers. On films with at least one female director, women comprised 73% of writers versus 12% on films directed exclusively by men. On films with at least one female director, women accounted for 43% of editors versus 18% on films directed exclusively by men. On films with at least one female director, women comprised 27% of cinematographers versus 8% on films directed exclusively by men.