The good news: the process for greenlighting a movie is relatively democratic, with most studios considering multiple perspectives via committee. The bad news: the women on those committees rarely have the final authority give a movie the go-ahead. Since the ability to greenlight is “the definitive marker for who holds power in Hollywood,” a recent article from The Hollywood Reporter again reveals the limitations women face at movie studios.
As THR writes, “greenlight committees have become the norm, sometimes involving a handful of executives, sometimes more than a dozen.” A decision rarely comes down to just one person anymore, especially since marketing execs are becoming more and more involved in moviemaking. In fact, THR notes that — before his recent exit from the studio—Paramount CEO and chairman Brad Grey was one of the last studio heads with “sole greenlight authority.” (Things can literally change overnight in Hollywood. This article was written late last week and Grey was negotiating his exit on Friday evening.)
THR’s report highlights how efforts to ensure the greenlight structure is not focused on one person’s whim or personal taste continue to disregard women. Some studios like Sony and Lionsgate do not have any women on the greenlight committee. Disney’s Lucasfilm includes only one woman on its committee, Kathleen Kennedy, but she is not the ultimate decision maker. Of the studios THR profiled, Warner Bros. has the most women on its greenlight committee. Yet the final decision still belongs to male executives.
On the brighter side, there are a couple exceptions to the rule. Universal’s Donna Langley is the only woman on her studio’s greenlight committee, but she maintains final authority with Jeff Shell. And while Fox’s Stacey Snider collaborates closely with a few others — including her recently-hired number two Emma Watts — she possesses sole greenlight authority.
“The committee model likely will become even more pervasive if Paramount alters its structure,” THR stresses. In the wake of Grey’s departure, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish and vice chair Shari Redstone are attempting to update the studio’s greenlight procedure. “[Redstone] is trying to put in place a greenlight committee,” THR details. “She’s working with her team to change the dynamic.” It’s unclear how much, if any, influence women will wield if Paramount adopts the committee structure.
Below, find the greenlight committee breakdown by studio. List adapted from The Hollywood Reporter.
DISNEY (Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, and Disney Animation)
Committee members: Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, Marvel president Kevin Feige, Pixar CCO John Lasseter, Disney Chairman Alan Horn (to whom Kennedy and Feige report), Disney Studios president Alan Bergman, and Disney CEO Bob Iger
Number of women involved: 1/6
Final say: Bergman and Iger
WARNER BROS.
Committee members: Marketing/distribution chief Sue Kroll, international distribution and growth initiatives president Veronica Kwan Vandenberg, home entertainment president Ron Sanders, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Toby Emmerich, and chairman/CEO Kevin Tsujihara
Number of women involved: 2/5
Final say: Emmerich and Tsujihara
FOX
Committee members: Movie chair Stacey Snider has sole greenlight authority, THR reports. She consults with James and Lachlan Murdoch, and Fox 2000 executive Elizabeth Gabler.
Number of women involved: 2/4
Final say: Snider
SONY
Committee members: Movie group chairman Tom Rothman and CFO Philip Rowley
Number of women involved: 0/2
Final say: Rothman and Rowly
UNIVERSAL
Committee members: Chairman of Universal Pictures Donna Langley, chairman of the filmed entertainment group Jeff Shell, NBCUniversal vice chairman Ron Meyer, and the heads of production, marketing, publicity, distribution, international, home entertainment, consumer products, finance, and more
Number of women involved: 1/11 or more
Final say: Langley and Shell
LIONSGATE
Committee members: CEO Jon Feltheimer; Patrick Wachsberger, chairman of the motion picture group; Erik Feig and Steve Beeks, co-presidents of the motion picture group; head of marketing Tim Palen; head of domestic distribution David Spitz; vice chairman Michael Burns; the home entertainment heads
Number of women involved: 0/7 or more
Final say: Feltheimer
