ASC Hosts “Changing the Face of the Industry” Event on April 21

Dr. Stacy Smith to keynote daylong symposium to address inclusion and diversity issues facing the industry.

The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) will present “Changing the Face of the Industry” on April 21, a daylong event designed to advocate for inclusion and diversity in the industry. The symposium, which takes place at the ASC Clubhouse in Hollywood, will kick off with a keynote from Dr. Stacy Smith (pictured above), associate professor at the USC Annenberg School of Communication and founder/director of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. Two subsequent panels will look at hiring statistics and mandates, and explore ideas for cultivating more diverse crews on set.

“Changing the Face of the Industry” is an initiative of the ASC Vision Committee, which was formed in January 2016 with the mission to actively support those who face more hurdles in this industry. The committee organizes inspirational events and offers scholarships alongside networking opportunities, and is headed by co-chairs John Simmons, ASC and Cynthia Pusheck, ASC. “By bringing filmmakers together, we hope to create a network that expands opportunities, raise awareness of the exceptional talent for hire, and give underrepresented crewmembers the opportunity to meet cinematographers who may one day recruit them,” notes Pusheck. 

Dr. Smith’s groundbreaking research at the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative (AII) examines inclusion of gender, race/ethnicity, the LGBT community, people with disabilities and mental health in storytelling across film, TV and digital platforms. The Initiative releases analyses of top-grossing films (on screen, behind the camera, executive ranks), popular music (artists, songwriters, producers), and impediments facing women and individuals from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups in the director's chair. She has authored over 100 articles, book chapters and reports, and is covered regularly in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CBS This Morning, NPR and many others. Dr. Smith crafts compelling and innovative solutions to entertainment inequality. 

Dr. Smith introduced the Inclusion Rider to the entertainment industry via her 2016 TED talk and a 2014 opinion piece in The Hollywood Reporter. Frances McDormand popularized the phrase on stage at the 2018 Academy Awards.In 2015, LA Weekly named Dr. Smith the most influential person in Los Angeles. Dr. Smith and AII have partnered with many organizations over the years, such as Universal Music Group, Google, The Harnisch Foundation, Clif Bar, Humana, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Annenberg Foundation and more.

“We’re hopeful this event encourages camera department heads to continually evolve their mindset and practices for inclusivity,” Simmons adds. 

Panelists are expected to include (based on availability):

• Xiomara Comrie - Local 600, National Diversity Officer & Lead Western Region Business Rep
  
• Rebecca Rhine - Local 600, National Executive Director
  
• Tema Staig - Women in Media, Executive Director
  
• Alan Caso, ASC (Hawaii Five-O, Dexter)
  
• Sarah Caplan, producer (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Brothers & Sisters)
  
• Donald A. Morgan, ASC (Last Man Standing, The Ranch)
  
• John Simmons, ASC (Roseanne)
  
• Bradford Young, ASC (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Arrival)

ASC President Kees van Oostrum says, “Finding and hiring craftspeople that reflect our diverse world at large is a necessity of inclusion. By hosting a day of networking and discussion, we hope to initiate solutions to make that easier and broaden people’s address books, so they have the contacts they need to affect change.”

To register to attend the April 21 event, email [email protected]

Past ASC Vision Committee events have included:

• ASC Clubhouse “Day of Inspiration,” October 2016
• East Coast SVA “Day of Inspiration,” May 2017
• “DP First: Women Who Shoot” Sundance panel, January 2018