The Celluloid Ceiling Report 2014 – Jennifer Merin reports
The Celluloid Ceiling is the longest-running and most comprehensive study of women’s behind-the-scenes employment in film available. Currently in its 17th year, this annual study is helmed by Dr. Martha M. Lauzen, director of the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University.
This year’s stats show that there has been no progress in numbers parity for women working in Hollywood films. In fact, overall, there’s been a slight regression. Read more>>
Here are some of the most salient stats:
In 2014, women comprised 17% of all directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the top 250 (domestic) grossing films. This is the same percentage of women working in these roles in 1998.
Women accounted for 7% of directors, up 1 percentage point from 2013, but down 2 percentage points from 9% in 1998. In 2014, 93% of films had no female directors.
A historical comparison of women’s employment on the top 250 films in 2014 and 1998 reveals that the percentages of executive producers and cinematographers have increased. The percentages of women directors, writers, producers, and editors have declined.
A comparison of women’s employment on the top 250 films in 2014 and 2013 reveals that the percentages of women directors, writers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers have increased. The percentage of women producers has decreased.
Women comprised 7% of all directors working on the top 250 films of 2014. This represents an increase of 1 percentage point from 2013 but a decline of 2 percentage points from 1998. Ninety-three percent (93%) of the films had no female directors.
Women accounted for 11% of writers working on the top 250 films of 2014. This represents an increase of 1 percentage point from 2013 and a decrease of 2 percentage points from 1998. Seventy nine (79%) of the films had no female writers.
Women comprised 19% of all executive producers working on the top 250 films of 2014. This represents an increase of 4 percentage points from 2013 and an increase of 1 percentage point from 1998. Fifty six percent (56%) of the films had no female executive producers.
Women accounted for 23% of all producers working on the top 250 films of 2014. This represents a decrease of 2 percentage points from 2013 and a decrease of 1 percentage point from 1998. Thirty eight percent (38%) of the films had no female producers.
Women comprised 18% of all editors working on the top 250 films of 2014. This represents an increase of 1 percentage point from 2013 but a decline of 2 percentage points from 1998. Seventy eight percent (78%) of the films had no female editors.
Women accounted for 5% of all cinematographers working on the top 250 films of 2014. This represents an increase of 2 percentage points from 2013 and 1 percentage point from 1998. Ninety six percent (96%) of the films had no female cinematographers.
Women were most likely to work in the documentary and comedy genres. They were least likely to work in the action and horror genres.
The full report, which also indicates findings for composers, sound designers and supervising sound editors, can be found on the Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film Website.