Latasha Gillespie: Last News

FCC chairman’s probe into DEI practices at Comcast and NBCUniversal, Amazon Studios has walked back its inclusion program that laid out standards for achieving racial diversity, Variety has confirmed. “We’ve said from the beginning that our efforts to ensure diverse and inclusive storytelling would be fluid and change over time,” said a spokesperson for Amazon. “We continue to evolve this vital work in concert with our commitment to keep our global audience of viewers at the center of everything we do.

Latasha Gillespie is stepping down from her post as Global Head of DEIA for Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video effective August 29 after seven years at Amazon, the last five at the film and TV studio. She will be succeed by Amanda Baker-Lane, who has worked in the DEIA space for more than 14 years, the last 9 ½ of them in various roles at Amazon, most recently Head of DEIA Product and Strategy under Gillespie.

Angelique Jackson Amazon MGM Studios announced that Latasha Gillespie is departing her role as Global Head of DEIA. She will be replaced by Amanda Baker-Lane who previously served as the studio’s head of DEIA product and strategy.

Elizabeth Taylor New York Women in Film & Television hosted its 44th annual Muse Awards on Wednesday afternoon in New York City. More than 700 guests gathered at Cipriani 42nd Street to celebrate the achievements of honorees Fran Drescher, Alex Borstein, Kyra Sedgwick, Tantoo Cardinal, Latasha Gillespie, Millicent Simmonds, Michèle Stephenson and Oscar-winner Raney Aronson-Rath. SAG-AFTRA executive vice president, Linda Powell, accepted an award on behalf of Drescher, who wasn’t able to make it to the gala due to her father’s recent death.

Amazon MGM released a report today detailing the progress it has made in supporting increased diversity in front of and behind the camera for its TV series and films. It shows significant growth in representation of women and people of color in creative roles and onscreen gains for women, people of color and LGBTQIA+ talent.

If the warm vibes between Keke Palmer and Amazon Studio’s Global Head of DEIA Latasha Gillespie continue, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

McKinley Franklin editor The SCAD Savannah Film Festival will debut the SAVFF LGBTQ+ Short Film Competition during this year’s festival which runs from Oct. 21 to 28. The competition will broaden available resources for rising queer filmmakers through mentorship and exposure. Each filmmaker will have access to networking and educational opportunities throughout the duration of the competition.  SCAD is currently accepting submissions via FilmFreeway for the competition. Directors, writers and producers who identify as LGBTQ+ are eligible to apply.  Per the official terms, “films should be under 40 minutes in length and represent excellence in storytelling and execution. Submitted films can be in narrative or documentary formats, reflecting unique insight into LGBTQ+ themes, issues, or ideas. The film’s content should embody a personal connection to the subject and showcase the filmmaker’s artistic approach to visual storytelling.”

Angelique Jackson Sheryl Lee Ralph has delivered one rousing acceptance speech after another, all awards season long. But the newly crowned Emmy, Critics Choice and Golden Globe-winner saved something special for Essence’s 16th annual Black Women in Hollywood luncheon on Thursday afternoon. Presented the award by her “Abbott Elementary” co-star and creator — and 2022 Essence Black Women in Hollywood honoree — Quinta Brunson, Ralph whipped the audience into a frenzy with a 13-minute speech that ranged from an subdued, yet soul-stirring rendition of “Endangered Species” to an impassioned rallying cry to remember who paved the way for where Black women in the industry have come from and where we’re going.

EXCLUSIVE: Nielsen, the audience measurement, data and analytics organization unveiled today the findings of their case studies on Native content at a panel discussion in the Indigenous House at Sundance Film Festival, presented by , the Native woman-led social justice organization dedicated to building visibility and representation for Native peoples. 

Angelique Jackson Amazon Studios is formalizing its commitment to the Latino community in Hollywood and beyond by partnering with Edward James Olmos’ Latino Film Institute, the Youth Cinema Project and local non-profit LA Collab, working together to strengthen the Hollywood pipeline. “As we strive to be a global entertainment destination, we acknowledge the power and importance of Latino audiences. In order to tell their rich and dynamic stories authentically, we need their skills and creative power both in front of and behind the camera,” stated Latasha Gillespie, global head of DEIA for Amazon Studios, Freevee and IMDb, in a press release announcing the news. “Partnering with LFI and LA Collab is not a charitable endeavor, it is an equitable endeavor. It is our responsibility to remove barriers and open doors so everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Studios embarked on two entertainment collaborations that mark a real and differentiating commitment to supporting the U.S. Latino community.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorThis time last year, one of the world’s largest corporations made a major statement about its expectations for diversity, equity and inclusion within its content operations.Amazon’s Prime Video and Amazon Studios published a detailed inclusion policy and playbook to spell out its guidelines and requirements for producers working on shows for the studio arm or commissioned by Prime Video. It was a concerted effort to be transparent and to tell the creative community “here’s what we think good looks like,” says Latasha Gillespie, head of global diversity, equity and inclusion for Prime Video, Amazon Studios and IMDB.One year later, Gillespie tells Variety‘s “Strictly Business” podcast, that there has been measurable progress in hiring, especially in low-profile areas like transportation and support services.

Angelique Jackson In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Amazon has announced the first in-person installment of its Voices series, featuring a conversation with “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” author and screenwriter Jenny Han.Han, whose series adaptation of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” launches June 17 on Prime Video, will sit for a for a wide-ranging discussion about her New York Times bestselling books moderated by journalist Dino Ray Ramos (The Diaspora Times). The three-hour event, titled “Voices: Asian & Pacific Islander Representation in Film & Media,” will take place on May 19 from 4-7 p.m.

Wilson Chapman editorPrime Video has announced “Voices: Women Innovating Hollywood,” a special virtual event celebrating Women’s History Month.The conference will feature panels and programming centering women in the entertainment industry, from prominent actors to behind-the-scenes talent. The event will open with a special introduction from Jerrie Johnson and Shoniqua Shandai, who star in the Prime Video comedy series “Harlem.”Events that take place throughout the day will include a discussion with “One Day at a Time” and “With Love” showrunner Gloria Calderón Kellett, a panel with prominent casting directors Angelique Midthunder and Carla Hool and a talk from Dr.

Amazon Prime Video has hired BBC Head of Creative Diversity Miranda Wayland to oversee the streamer’s diversity strategy in Europe.

K.J. Yossman BBC diversity lead Miranda Wayland is set to join Prime Video/Amazon Studios Europe, Variety can confirm.Wayland was previously deputy head of diversity at the BBC.

Angelique Jackson Prime Video and Easterseals Disability Services will co-present a candid conversation about authentic neurodiverse representation with “As We See It” creator Jason Katims and the cast of the prime video series — including including Rick Glassman (“Jack”), Sue Ann Pien (“Violet”), Albert Rutecki (“Harrison”), Sosie Bacon (“Mandy”), and Chris Pang (“Van”).The conversation, titled “#ActuallyAuthentic,” is moderated by actor and comedian Ron Funches and will discuss the process of creating a series that authentically portrays the Autism experience. Series stars Glassman, Rutecki, and Pien all identify as living on the autism spectrum.