The
SAG Ethnic Breakdown
February 1999
The SAG-commissioned report on casting is finally out
and the results are not very surprising. The 1997 casting data shows that primetime and
daytime television still significantly under-represent large segments of the American
population namely women, Asian-Pacific Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, Native-Americans, the
other-abled, and the elderly. The report, entitled Casting the American Scene, was
written by Dr. George Gerbner, Bell Atlantic Professor of Telecommunications at Temple
University. Dr. Gerbner updated his earlier studies back in 1979 and 1994, studies that
were also commissioned by the Screen Actors Guild. It analyzed 6,882 characters that
appeared in 440 primetime episodes of dramatic programs and also examined 2,137 roles in
205 episodes on daytime television from years 1994-1997.
These are their findings:
- Men still outnumber women 2 to 1
- African-American male representation increased each year and reached
171% of its real-life proportions. African-American women numbers insignificantly changed.
- Asian-Pacific Americans are only represented by less than half of
their actual proportion of their American population.
- Latinos and Hispanics characters are less than one-third of their
actual proportion.
- Poor people, especially low-income earners, are inexistent.
- Television characters are healthier and wealthier in the 90’s
than in the 80’s.
- Female characters are much younger.
- The number of characters with disabilities declined, and actors with
disabilities are under-employed
- As women age, the more evil they become. They also age faster than
men.
- Foreigners and mentally ill characters fail and commit the most
crimes and violence.
SAG also compiled their own data pulled from contracts with
production companies. Performers cast in television and theatrical productions in 1997:
78.1% are Caucasian
14.15% are African Americans
4% are Latino/Hispanic Americans
1.9% are Asian/Pacific Americans
1.6% are labeled as Other or Unknown
0.4% are North American Indians
Dr. Gebner’s study parallel SAG’s own figures. Clearly
these numbers indicate a wide gulf between the real American population and what is
reflected in the wide spread media. Interestingly, there was an increase in the visibility
of the African American male. This may seem a step in the right direction, but according
to SAG president Richard Masur, these numbers do not indicate the type of roles being
offered to ethnic minorities nor the compensation they had received.
Masur cited several SAG-sponsored porgrams that will
address the disproportion in casting. Last year, SAG issued to casting directors talent
directories that list performers of color and performers with disabilites. This month SAG
will announce the American Scene Award given annually to an individual,
production, or series that reflect the diversity in America. Past receivers include
director John Sayles and the Star Trek television series. Later this spring, SAG
will hold a symposium on the Latino/Hispanic casting. SAG's tactic is to educate the
industry about the differences between the fictional world of television and film, and the
real world that watches those fictional creations.
In reality, it is the holy dollar that dictates the
level of courage the industry takes. Perhaps a new study should be compiled on how much
each under-represented group drives the American economy. We should not only encourage the
industry to change, but we must also be vigilant as consumers and audiences to demand more
images of ourselves, that the promise of America may be finally revealed and delivered. In
our capitalist society, we have been endowed to speak with our money. Money is the
language of the industry and money is what they will listen to. Does Hollywood really care
about diversity? Only when it is safe and profitable.
|
