Directors Guild finds women, minorities shut out of TV directors positions

By LYNN ELBER

AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Women and minorities are largely shut out of the ranks of TV series directors in a stubbornly unchanged pattern of hiring, according to a Hollywood guild study released Wednesday.

The Directors Guild of America report said that employers have made no significant improvement in diversity among TV directors in the last four years.

According to the study, white males directed the vast majority of the more than 3,500 cable, broadcast and high-budget online episodes made for the 2013-14 season.

In a statement, Directors Guild President Paris Barclay said it can be “shockingly difficult” to persuade those who control industry hiring to make even small improvements.

“This should matter to all of us, as a culture, as an industry and as directors,” Barclay said, calling on studios, networks, production companies and individual producers to stop making excuses and provide “true equal opportunity.”

A lengthy “worst of” list with shows that hired no or few minorities or women includes HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” NBC’s “Hannibal” and CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory.” Shows that made the “best” list include BET’s “The Game,” CBS’ “Mike & Molly” and Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva.”

The major broadcast networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did HBO.

Last season, 69 percent of all TV episodes were directed by white males, with 17 percent directed by minority males and 12 percent directed by white females, the study found.

Female directors made no gains in hiring last season compared to the year before.

A 3 percent increase in the episodes directed by minority males can be attributed to work done by Tyler Perry on three series that he also produces, the guild said.

Minority females were the least-represented among TV directors, representing only 2 percent of TV series directors.

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Online:  DGA Episodic Director Diversity Report