While we are still digesting the bad news from yesterday with the release of statistics on the low amount of women onscreen in films, TV continues to be the bright spot regarding women’s representation onscreen. But as the film study showed, having women in leadership behinds the scenes matters to what we see onscreen, and the recently renewed Nashville is a sterling example of the importance of women’s leadership.
This LA Times piece from the weekend on Nashville — which is one of the best shows of the season — gave an inside look at the influence of creator Callie Khouri as well as showrunner Dee Johnson on the show.
The show is an anomaly in the TV business because there are women everywhere.
Women aren’t just in the writers room at “Nashville,” they have the majority say. Seven of the show’s 10 current writers are women, including Khouri and show runner Dee Johnson, as are many of its directors.
I have read this story several times and I have to say it is one of the most positive upbeat stories I have read about the business in a long time.
“The interesting thing is, we never thought, ‘Let’s hire women.’ It was just: ‘Who’s the best person for the job?'” Khouri says. “It absolutely came about organically.”
They had 6 female and nine male directors this past season which star Connie Britton calls “astounding.”
While it might have been organic, it is the fact that there are women everywhere on the show that makes it more likely to hire more women. When you hire women you continue to hire women. This is not rocket science. Being open to all kinds of hiring equals hirings all different kinds of people.
Khouri has spent her career as a game changer. Thelma and Louise is still a movie that gets talked about. Now Khouri is influencing the TV medium with her hiring on Nashville following in the steps of Shonda Rhimes. Both women’s shows are by the way on ABC.
If you care about these issues get on board the Nashville train. A new episode airs tonight and the season finale — directed by Callie Khouri — airs one week from today.
