How the Entertainment Industry Can #BalanceForBetter

Note From Tongal: “How the Entertainment Industry Can #BalanceForBetter” is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here and then Pitch us a topic you'd like to write about for the Tongal Blog!  

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International Women's Day is just around the corner [March 8 - woohoo!] and the theme for this year is: Better the balance, better the world.

So, what the heck does ‘balance’ mean? We hear phrases like ‘work-life balance’ or ‘a healthy balanced diet’ or ‘you have a balance of -$10 dollars in your account, Loren’ all the time - but a phrase such as ‘creating balance’ isn’t something I use in my everyday vocabulary.

Why?

There are a few factors I’ve heard for people not wanting to discuss ‘creating balance’, especially when it comes to the industry:

1. This subject has already been addressed.
2. I’ve already chosen a side.
3. Isn’t this just for you ladies to talk about?

The last one confused me the most... because balance [Chris Traegar voice] literally means:

balance [noun]

: an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady


So balance is not about choosing a side, it’s about working as a whole in order to not only grow, but hold up over time as an industry.

Yes, we’re working together, but balance between genders doesn’t mean that everyone should become the same. We’re not ants. 

Each and every one of us are different, and that’s awesome, but due to our differences balance doesn’t naturally exist. That’s why we must actively distribute it. We have to take action to make balance. We must create balance.


I was sick of talking to myself so I spoke with two very talented people in the industry, a woman and a man [see... I’m balanced too] to get their opinions on this subject.

Liz Rogers is an art department coordinator [Warner Bros.’ Gotham, NBC’s Shades of Blue, and CW's Black Lightning] and on-set photographer here in Atlanta.

Todd Mount, co-founder of M-O [a creative video production company in Atlanta] and has worked with CBS, MGM, Coca-Cola, Hartsfield Jackson, and Caesars Entertainment.

What’s your favorite thing about what you do?

• Liz Rogers: I love working in a creative environment surrounded by artists. Although my job deals a lot with cost reports and invoices, I take pride in the fact that I’m an essential part of the process. You’re not building a set if no one gets paid!
• Todd Mount: Every project and every client represents a new set of challenges to create something that will be both memorable and effective. It’s rare to be able to do what you love every day. Collaborating with others and being a part of the process never gets stale or predictable. I think that’s what motivates me year after year.


What’s your opinion on balance within the industry?

• LR: The industry feels unbalanced in my experience. Higher up positions are usually white men. Women are more commonly seen in assistant positions but the real imbalance is the lack of people of color in the film industry.
• TM: For the industry to be strong and thrive both creatively and economically, there needs to be opportunity for every talented collaborator. 
There’s been a debate about how to change this imbalance in the industry - one of the thoughts is we need equity, not equality.
  
  

• Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful.

• Equality is treating everyone the same.

So the debate is: Equality aims to promote fairness, but only works if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same help. Equity seems unfair, but it actively moves closer to success by leveling the playing field for everyone. But not everyone starts at the same place, and not everyone has the same needs.

What're your thoughts on this?

• TM: Equity and equality are both extremely important to the success of our industry. Talent, hard work, experience, and greatness are not qualities limited by race, gender, economic background, or even access to exclusive education. I think more diversity in the industry keeps the creative process exciting, fresh, and innovative. Ultimately, viewers win because of this, and the world is much more interesting.
• LR: We need equity in the film industry if we hope to create equal opportunities for women and people of color. However, that issue is larger than the industry itself and is rooted in systematic disadvantages. Film school is a luxury many cannot afford. It’s impossible to create equality without factoring in privilege. 


How do you think we can achieve balance for better?

• TM: I know I can help directly - I love collaborating with talented and motivated people. I have been inspired and impressed by the amazing people that I’ve had the pleasure of working with along my career. I’m excited to hire and collaborate with more emerging, as well as established, filmmakers from every perspective. I think our best work will be cultivated from the best/most diverse teams.
• LR: Those in a hiring position could make a difference if they give opportunities to those who haven’t had has many. If department heads would hire based on an individual’s work ethic and take the time to teach, I believe we would have a more balanced film industry.
  
  

Creating balance means actively giving men and women the same opportunities to succeed, despite their differences. Recognizing our differences as unique parts working towards the same goal - because our differences are not the obstacles, they are part of the solution.

We need to talk about how we can do this more, and actively change things up now: because balance in the workplace isn’t just a women’s conversation - it’s a business conversation.