Thursday, October 01, 2020
ABC Sets New Inclusion Standards to Amplify Underrepresented Groups On TV
Variety: In a bid to create a “further catalyst for real and sustained change,” ABC Entertainment has set forth a slate of new inclusion standards for all primetime series to “ensure multidimensional representation across the entire creative and production process.”
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This set of standards and guidelines is definitely on the more thorough side and I really like that for ABC. The network has a long history of amplifying whiter shows like Modern Family, and really making their shows about white people become cannon and what they are known for. I think the part that is the most prevalent in this set of standards is the one on entering the business, this is something that should have already been in place before but better late than never. I think they made it pretty clear that the entertainment industry and in particular, television, has a really big gatekeeping problem and a big part of that is how nepotism works in the entertainment industry. I think that this is one of the steps needed to move towards shifting the attitude from being a "who you know" business but to one that is actually based in talent.
I am glad to see such a major broadcasting company taking initiative with clear, written out, public steps to improve the diversity and inclusion within their company. Film and television production are so heavily based in the labor of white men and always have been. This extends throughout every level of production, and I am so glad they have recognized that. They have accessed all their departments at multiple levels, acknowledged they needed to do better, and have committed to doing better. This will hopefully create a rich landscape of stories, talents, and experiences that will create a new generation of television to impact our future. One thing that caught my eye was that they are committing to paid internships, apprenticeships, and expert advisor positions for underrepresented people, and I think this is a wonderful idea. I hope they continue to improve, and that there is a way for them to be held accountable if they do not.
I’m glad ABC has put in new inclusion guidelines to help with representation within the company. I think it’s a great way of holding themselves accountable. I’m hoping this big step by a large corporation will put pressure on other similar companies to do the same. Measures like this are necessary right now because many stories are not getting told or at least not getting told by the right people. It’s not enough to just have a diverse cast because that’s all the viewers see, the industry must have people of color in all areas of production. It’s good that ABC touched on that and is also focused on career progression with paid apprenticeships, internships, and training. I’m curious to follow their goals. Hopefully they do reach at least two of the four by May 2021 and all of them by 2022 because it would benefit everyone.
This is LONG overdue. And honestly, this plan still feels like such a drawn out process. The network hopes to reach those goals incrementally, with the aim of meeting two of four standards by May 2021, three-quarters by Oct. 2021, and all of four standards by May 2022. Ah. So the bare minimum will be fulfilled in two years from now. Still, I guess as a BIPOC person myself, I gotta take what we can get. And clearly this is it.
I can count on one hand how many times I’ve felt represented on TV. Once. ABC’s show Fresh Off The Boat, was one of the first times, if not THE first time, I saw an Asian family on TV. Or even an Asian character whose only purpose was to be smart and Asian on TV. And it was incredibly refreshing. But only having one show to look to as an Asian person means that it doesn’t/won’t fit the mold for all Asian people, and it will get boring and repetitive eventually. Unlike the amount of White characters aired on TV are endless.
This is such a problem. Representation. I’m glad ABC is finally realizing that this is the case.
This is a very large initiative that ABC has decided to take on and I am here for it. ABC/Disney is one of the biggest Media conglomerates in the country and the amount of influence they exude on American viewers is unmeasurable. What is appreciate most about this plan is how thorough and well thought out it is. As opposed to a bunch of ither companies, whom just out out a Black Lives Matter statement and promised to work towards more equitable chances in entertainment, what ABC did is lay out a step by step comprehensive plan to enforce inclusion standards. Hopefully Abc leading by example will put pressure on other media companies to do the same thing. I for one am very happy that this not only includes actors and performers, but also production teams and designers.
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