Study Proves Higher Diversity Makes More Money in Movies and TV

Iron Man Three (2013) - Tony Star (Robert Downey Jr.) James Rhodes (Don Cheadle)

Diversity in entertainment is loved by everyone and makes more money. So, why is Hollywood increasing diversity so slowly? The latest report by the UCLA called the "Hollywood Diversity Report" is described as "part of a series of analyses done for the Bunche Center’s Hollywood Advancement Project, which will track over time whether the TV-and-film industry is employing diverse groups of lead actors, writers, directors and producers and whether major talent agencies are representing them. The study also will identify best practices for widening the pipeline for underrepresented groups." The Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies was founded in 1969 as the Center for Afro-American Studies (CAAS) and renamed after Nobel Prize winner, scholar, activist, and UCLA alumnus Ralph J. Bunche in 2003. They're last report sent ripples in the industry and this one should also make waves.

The 2015 Hollywood Diversity Report tracked 347 theatrical films released in 2012 through 2013 and 1,105 TV shows during the 2012-2013 season.

Here are some highlights from the report:

• Nearly 40 percent of the US population are People of Color (minority) in 2013 and this number is expected to increase to the majority within a few decades
• Films with relatively diverse casts enjoyed the highest global box office returns
• Viewers of all races like diversity, with broadcast scripted shows 41 percent to 50 percent diversely cast scoring the highest ratings in black and white households alike in 2012-13
• On cable, white and Latino viewers preferred casts with 31 percent to 40 percent diversity.
• Black households preferred cable shows with more than 50 percent diversity
• Greater than 2 to 1 among film leads are minority
• Film studio heads were 94 percent white and 100 percent male in 2013
• 2013 was a "breakout year for Black films" but were underrepresented at leading awards shows like the Oscars and Emmys
• Male and Black characters were overrepresented, while Latino characters and women were underrepresented
• White actors dominated the top credits
• Racial and gender stereotypes, though present, were not as pronounced
• More than half of all frequent moviegoers were minorities in 2013
• Comedy, action and dramatic movies accounted for 65 percent of the top grossing films in 2013 and 66 percent in 2013
• Minorities gained ground among lead roles in films from 10.5 percent in 2011 to 16.7 percent in 2013
• Overall cast diversity from 41 percent to 50 percent minority increased in films from 0 to 6.3 percent and films with 31 to 40 percent minority increased from 2.3 percent to 7.5 percent

What's really compelling about this report is that 2014 has shown an increase in these as well with TV shows with prominent minority leads like Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder at the top of the ratings. Iron Man 3, which featured a prominent Black superhero was the number two film at the box office. So, why are all these compelling numbers not driving bigger change?

Darnell Hunt, the lead author of the report, says, "It’s a high-risk industry. People want to surround themselves with collaborators they’re comfortable with, which tends to mean people they’ve networked with—and nine times out of 10, they’ll look similar. It reproduces the same opportunities for the same kind of people: You’re surrounding yourself with a bunch of white men to feel comfortable.

"It’s not like there’s this general trend upward, this wave everything is riding. It’s very precarious. It’s getting better, but it’s not getting better fast enough. And it’s still a big problem."

You can watch Darnell Hunt and co-author Ana-Christina Ramon summarize their findings

I'd highly encourage you to read the full report at the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies website. It's a fascinating read and really shows how far we've come as a people and a culture and how far we have to go.

What do you think of the report? Is it surprising?

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