Photo by Claudia Hoag
It Should Be Women’s History All Year Long, However…..
It’s 2024 and yet awards show voters seem to stubbornly embrace outdated ideas that there is only one slot reserved for women in non-gendered categories. In a year with a wide field of exemplary female talent, it’s a travesty that there isn’t #MoreThanOne woman nominated for Best Director, and zero women in cinematography.
Part of the issue is that the behind the scenes work of women has historically been dismissed, with a thousand excuses such as, “It’s a toy movie”, “It got lots of promotion”, “I heard it was a “made for t.v. movie”, “eyelines were off”. You name it, we’ve heard it. Similar criteria is rarely, if ever applied when it comes to nominating movies made by men.
We have made progress, with a number of milestones being achieved for women working in behind the scenes roles. For example:
For the first time in history, three of the 10 movies nominated for best picture — Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall,” Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Celine Song’s “Past Lives” — were directed by a female auteur, the most recognized in the Academy Awards’ 96-year history. https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/best-picture-women-directors-oscars-history-1235880035/
We don’t think that’s good enough. Women are 52% of the population, so clearly there is a disconnect with 3/10 representation. If their films are good enough to be nominated for Best Picture, why is only one auteur nominated for Best Director? The numbers don’t shake out.
Why Award Shows Matter
Award shows signal to the viewing public what they can expect from the film business for theatrical and television content. When women are left out, it shows that the nominating body is not “reading the room” for what the viewing public wants to see. It means that you can expect more of the same formulaic movies that we’ve been fed for the last century. This suggests that there will continue to be a serious decline in theatrical viewership.
A nomination can boost a filmmaker’s career exponentially. They become household names, and it shows the world that women can, and are capable of highly technical, artistic work at a very high level. Seeing women nominated encourages more female participation and hiring. If you can see it, you can be it.
We have come a long way, but clearly there is more work to be done. Join Women In Media this Women’s History Month in our campaign to change how women are seen, hired, and heard.
How You Can Participate
Comment, like, and share our social media campaign #morethanone
Watch films with women department heads and add your experience to your social media. Be sure to tag us so that we share.
Wear your Women In Media #MoreThanOne t-shirt year ‘round, but especially during awards season. Post selfies with the hashtags #MoreThanOne and #HireTheseWomen For Rush, fast shipping Order This Shirt or for batch slower shipping Order yours here
Apply for Women In Media membership here
Hashtags to Include
#MoreThanOne #hirethesewomen #parityinaction #womencallaction #womeninmedia #womennmedia #womenshistorymonth
Sample Language below, but feel free to use your own creativity!
Suggested Social Media Posts
Twitter:
This #WomensHistoryMonth I’m supporting @WomenNMedia because Awards voters need to acknowledge the accomplishments of women in all categories. Join me in donating to the organization that is making a difference because we can have #MoreThanOne https://donorbox.org/impact-donations
Awards voters should acknowledge the accomplishments of women behind the scenes. We can have #MoreThanOne in all non-gendered categories! This #WomensHistoryMonth, support @WomenNMedia, an org that’s making a difference! https://donorbox.org/impact-donations
Get your #MoreThanOne tee shirt for #WomensHistoryMonth and wear it year ’round. The earth won’t fall off it’s axis if there is more than one woman in all departments, every show, all awards categories. https://www.bonfire.com/morethanone/
Wear your #MoreThanOne tee shirt
Instagram and Facebook:
I love my job as a/an (insert your job here). I work hard and prove my worth everyday. This #WomensHistoryMonth I’m supporting Women In Media because in order for the entertainment industry to thrive, it must advance female talent. Join me in donating to the organization that is making a difference because we can have #MoreThanOne https://womennmedia.com/morethanone/
Instagram and Facebook:
This is (woman that you admire in the entertainment industry). Her work on (add project that she worked on) is exemplary and needs to be recognized. This #WomensHistoryMonth I’m supporting Women In Media because in order for the entertainment industry to thrive, it must advance female talent. When talent isn’t nurtured and acknowledged, we all lose. Join me in donating to the organization that is making a difference because there can be #MoreThanOne https://womennmedia.com/morethanone/
Photos by Ashly Covington
Click on the image of your choice below to use for your social media campaign to download!




