Female Representation Report Is ‘Wake-Up Call’ For Indian Film and TV Sectors

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran A landmark report spearheaded by Ormax Media and Film Companion, and supported by Amazon Prime Video, has revealed an abysmal state of affairs in the on- and off-screen representation of women in India.The report, in collaboration with the Producers Guild of India and Active Telugu Film Producers Guild, streamers Hoichoi, SonyLIV, Voot and ZEE5, and studios Clean Slate Filmz, Dharma Productions, Emmay Entertainment, Excel Entertainment, Purple Pebble Pictures, RSVP and Sikhya Entertainment, analyzed 150 theatrical films, streaming films and series released in 2021 across eight Indian languages.Key findings of the report, titled O Womaniya!

2022, include:• Women have low representation behind-the-camera. Only 10% head of department positions (HODs) across key divisions (production design, writing, editing, direction and cinematography) are held by women.

Out of the 56 theatrical films analyzed across multiple languages, not one was directed or edited by a woman. In media and entertainment corporations only 10% of senior leadership roles were held by women. • Only 55% of the films and series passed the Bechdel Test.

In promotional trailers women had only 25% talk time, with 48 titles allocating 10 seconds or less to female characters.• The percentage of female HODs doubled when a woman was responsible for greenlighting a series or a film.