Living Archive: The Celluloid Ceiling Documenting 25 Years of Women’s Employment in U.S. Films 

Living Archive: The Celluloid Ceiling Documenting 25 Years of Women’s Employment in U.S. Films

EXCERPT

Since 1998, the annual Celluloid Ceiling project has tracked women’s employment in some of the core crafts of filmmaking, including directing, writing, producing, editing, and cinematography.  Gains in women’s employment have been uneven and, in the case of some roles, negligible.  The percentage of women working as editors on the 250 top (domestic) grossing films increased by a single percentage point from 20% in 1998 to 21% in 2022.  The percentage of women cinematographers rose just 3 percentage points over the last 25 years, from 4% in 1998 to 7% in 2022.  The percentage of women writers increased 6 percentage points from 13% in 1998 to 19% in 2022.  The percentage of women working as executive producers rose 7 percentage points from 18% in 1998 to 25% in 2022.  The percentage of women working as producers climbed 7 percentage points, from 24% in 1998 to 31% in 2022.  Women who direct experienced the largest gains, rising from 9% in 1998 to 18% in 2022.  While the percentage of women directors has doubled over the last 25 years, they remain dramatically underrepresented, as do women working as writers, editors, cinematographers, composers, and in other vital roles.

Streaming Women:  Representation and Employment in Original U.S. Films Released by Streaming Services in 2022

Streaming Women: Representation and Employment in Original U.S. Films Released by Streaming Services in 2022

EXCERPT

In 2022, more original U.S. films on major streaming services featured female than male protagonists.  49% (49.4%) of films featured sole female protagonists, 38% (38.3%) of films featured sole male protagonists, and 12% (12.3%) of films had ensembles.  Females comprised 44% (43.8%) of major characters, and 40% (40.1%) of all speaking characters.   The report also considers the representation of women in behind-the-scenes roles.  In 2022, women comprised 26% of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers.  By role, women accounted for 8% of cinematographers, 22% of directors, 23% of writers, 27% of producers, 29% of executive producers, and 30% of editors.   The study reports the findings of a content analysis of over 1,800 characters and more than 1,100 behind-the-scenes credits on original U.S. films released by Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max and Netflix in 2022.  It is the only study currently available that provides 2022 data for the major streaming companies.