News

Sharp decline in women-led films in 2023 despite Barbie success

Published

7 months ago

February 22, 2024

While the film “Barbie” may have been a box office success in 2023, it wasn’t enough to offset a concerning trend in Hollywood: a significant decline in women-led films.

According to a study released by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the representation of women, especially women of color and those over 45, in films reached near-decade lows last year.

The study, which analyzed the gender identity, racial/ethnicity, and age of leads and co-leads across the top 100 grossing films from 2007 to 2023, revealed that only 30% of the films in 2023 featured a female-identified actor as a lead or co-lead.

This percentage marked a substantial drop from the previous year, despite women representing more than half of the U.S. population and the movie-going audience.

Cannot compensate

Authors of the study, Katherine L. Neff, Dr. Stacy L. Smith, and Dr. Katherine Pieper, emphasised that while individual films like “Barbie” may receive attention for their representation, they cannot compensate for the lack of diversity in the broader film landscape.

They urged the industry to move beyond celebrating isolated successes and to prioritize systemic change.

The study also highlighted the scarcity of roles for women over the age of 45, with only three films in 2023 featuring female leads/co-leads in this age group.

This figure represented a significant decline from the previous year and underscored the broader issue of ageism in Hollywood.

Leaders

Trump & Harris conclude fierce debate, rumours of a second showdown emerge

Published

17 hours ago

September 11, 2024

ticker NEWS

The debate was marked by heated exchanges and contrasting visions for America’s future, resonating deeply with undecided voters ahead of the upcoming election.

Harris made a point to get under Trump’s skin, leading the way to some curious comments from the Republican candidate.

Trump falsely claimed that immigrants in the country illegally were killing and eating people’s pets in the city of Springfield, Ohio.

After the showdown, questions were raised about the possibility of a second debate before the November election date. #featured #trending

Leaders

Trump vs. Harris: first and only debate commences in Philadelphia

Published

23 hours ago

September 11, 2024

ticker NEWS

Republican Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are gearing up for their first and only debate of the 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump plans to accuse Harris of flip-flopping on policy positions, while Harris will call out Trump’s alleged history of dishonesty.

Polls show voters are still uncertain about Harris, making this a crucial opportunity for her to sway opinions.

Trump, meanwhile, will focus on inflation and immigration under Biden’s administration. The debate could shift dynamics in a tight race. #featured #trending

News

Thousands of protesters clash with police at Melbourne defence expo

Published

23 hours ago

September 11, 2024

ticker NEWS

Anti-war protesters and police clashed outside a defence exhibition in Melbourne on forcing police to close roads.

Hundreds of people were seen gathered outside the venue hosting the biennial Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, with many chanting pro-Palestine slogans through a loud speaker, television footage showed. #featured #trending