Universal Filmed Entertainment Group is following in the steps of Tessa Thompson, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Lopez, Lena Waithe, and many others. The Donna Langley-led company is the first major studio to take the 4% Challenge. This means Universal Pictures, Focus Features, and DreamWorks Animation have each committed to announcing a woman-directed project within the next 18 months.
DreamWorks prez Margie Cohn, Universal Pictures prez of production Peter Cramer, and Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski made the announcement yesterday and Time’s Up confirmed the news via Twitter.
🚨 BIG NEWS 🚨
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group just became the first major studio to sign on to the #4PercentChallenge!! This includes Universal Pictures, Focus Features & Dreamworks Animation. Thanks for leading the way. @Inclusionists #TIMESUPX2 https://t.co/k4ZkilmgRS
— TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) January 29, 2019
First mentioned during Sundance’s “Making the (In)visible: Radical Transparency in the Data-Driven Age” panel and part of Time’s Upx2, which strives to double the number of women in leadership and other spaces where they are underrepresented, the 4% Challenge asks producers, actors, and others in the industry to commit to a woman-helmed project within the coming year and a half.
Time’s Up and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative started the campaign to increase the number of women, especially women of color, directing major studio films. A recent report from the Inclusionists revealed that women helmed just four percent of the top films from 2007-2018.
Amy Schumer, “Crazy Rich Asians” producer Nina Jacobson, and “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” helmer Angela Robinson were among the first to accept the challenge.
Speaking about the 4% Challenge’s overall objective, Women and Hollywood Founder and Publisher Melissa Silverstein said, “The commitment doesn’t say [signees] will only work with one woman — the goal is of course more than one woman. As more people publicly agree to the challenge, others will be inspired to follow suit. When people speak about these types of issues publicly they challenge their peers, many of whom don’t have a good track record on this, to be better. Leaders push people and take a stand. This is exactly the type of leadership the industry needs,” she said, commending Universal for setting an example. “I would imagine at the end of the day when we look back on this moment it will be a turning point. This is about hiring. The only way to change the numbers is to hire.”
According to research from the Inclusion Initiative, Universal has a relatively good track record of releasing women-directed films — but it’s still extremely low compared to its number of movies from male directors. Nine of the top 1,200 films from 2007-2018 were women-directed Universal titles. Sony also released nine women-helmed films. They were only bested by Warner Bros., which boasted 12 movies from female filmmakers.
Universal’s “Blockers,” directed by Kay Cannon, was one of the 100 top-grossing films of 2018. Only three other women-helmed films made the list: Ava DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” Abby Kohn’s “I Feel Pretty,” and Susanna Fogel’s “The Spy Who Dumped Me.”
Tina Gordon Chism’s body swap comedy “Little,” Melina Matsoukas’ “Bonnie and Clyde”-esque drama “Queen & Slim,” and Nia DaCosta’s “Candyman” sequel are among the titles on Universal’s upcoming slate.
