10 Women on What Hollywood Could Do Better

"My hope for 2017 is that it becomes an equal playing field for both men and women to direct. It shouldn't become harder for our daughters to become directors than for our sons. It should be equal. People who are in positions to hire should make a commitment to hire equally and know that there are a lot of women and diverse directors out there who might not be the first, obvious choice. There are a lot of talented and totally qualified female–and male–directors. You can't just always go for the easy fix. This will help storytelling. It will bring more colors to the stories we're telling."

—Lesli Linka Glatter, Director, Homeland 

"[I want Hollywood] to find and foster and bring to the screen projects that will provoke substantive discussion, breed empathy and kindness, help us understand the world and ourselves more clearly, encourage the bravery we need to make our dreams come true, and inspire the belief that the impossible is possible."

—Suzanne Todd, Producer, Bad Moms

"It is our duty to help each other. We're living our dreams because someone else somewhere in our lives carved out an opportunity and made it possible for us. Help someone who doesn't look like you, didn't go to the same school, comes from a different economic background, isn't the most obviously talented, or doesn't have their shit together. The more different we are from each other, the more interesting the stories we'll tell. Our community will be so much better because of it."

—Nadia Hallgren, Cinematographer, Motherland

"In 2017, I hope that Hollywood makes a real effort to show women that they are just as important as men in this industry. They can do this by not promoting or working with men with a history of sexual assault or harassment (especially those men whose assaults have been reported and well documented). This is a pragmatic and, frankly, common sense measure to assure women that they are being heard and are valued. The potential benefits are myriad, but one benefit is a less risky bottom line, as audiences won't have a moral dilemma at the box office. If Hollywood wants to show how serious it is about gender equality, take a note from other industries and make it safer for women."

—Shalita Grant, Actress, NCIS: New Orleans

"We need to create, write, produce, and support more projects that reflect all of us, not just a few. It's important for all of us to relate and identify with others. When we have the ability to empathize, we can get closer to treating each other better."

—Yesi Ramirez, Casting Director, Moonlight

"I resolve to encourage more women to make documentaries using the many formats and platforms now available. We need women to bring their instincts, their empathy, and their life experiences to the subjects they find and cultivate. Whether assembling a team, shooting in the field, making choices in the editing room, or developing outreach campaigns, a woman's understanding of the world she lives in will infuse what she produces. We've seen how audiences are stimulated and enriched by the perspectives of fresh and diverse voices. This is the time to give the voices of women documentarians a chance to be heard."

—Kathleen Dowdey, Producer/Director, John Lewis–Get In the Way