Sacramento Bill Promotes Diversity in Hollywood -- But Only "Below the Line"

Sophia Bollag of the AP reports that the California legislature is making diversity hiring a condition for tax credits to the film industry. Unfortunately, this only applies to "below the line" workers.

 

Bollag writes [June 19, 2018]:

"The film commission assigns credits based on a production's 'below the line' jobs, including set builders, makeup artists and extras -- not the highest profile workers, such as starring actors and directors. Applicants who receive the tax credit would help fund a program to train people from underrepresented communities to do 'below the line' jobs on film sets."

That's commendable as far as it goes. But diversity in the workplace will always depend upon the kindness of employers until the gatekeepers to jobs -- producers, studio executives, talent agents, casting directors -- also more accurately reflect our nation's racial, religious, ethnic and gender makeup. Diversity among "below the line" workers is nice. Diversity among decision makers is better.

 

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