As anyone in the VFX industry would know, Victoria Alonso was honoured recently with the Visual Effects Society Visionary Award. Victoria is an almighty trailblazer, one of a few in our industry whom us ladies can admire, aspire to, and want to be.
Her acceptance speech was an important reminder to us of the imbalance of the sexes in our industry.
During her speech, Victoria stated that “Tonight there were 476 of you nominated. 43 of which are women*. We can do better.”
Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations with industry people – Executives, Supervisors, Producers, about why there are fewer women in artist and supervisory roles. A recent article in the NY Times suggested that female VFX Supervisors made up only 5% of the 250 top-grossing films of 2014. Pretty dismal.
I’ve always worked in male dominated industries, so I’m possibly a bit blasé about it. I studied Information Technology and worked as a Network Engineer in the late ‘90s. Before moving to the United States, where I worked on 4K digital media projects with technologists and scientists. One of a handful of women, I was always just one of the boys. To me it was the norm.
Moving into VFX about 10 years ago, I realised this industry was no different. From my viewpoint, I see about 1/8 ratio of female to male artists. The same is true from what I’ve seen through our affiliated training courses. Sadly, I’ve heard of some facilities that have no women in artist roles at all!
Most of the females in our industry work in other disciplines. At my workplace, Rising Sun Pictures, half of our Executive members are women (myself included) and women generally outweigh men in indirect overhead roles (HR, Finance, Administration and Management), as well as Production Management.
Women bring unique qualities to the workplace, they’re team players, hard working, are generous and empathetic. Copious reports have found that companies that have women on their board of directors and in leadership positions perform better than those that don’t. So in our industry, why do we see such a male dominated artist, technical and supervisory workforce?
By no means am I undervaluing the women in those other disciplines (we could not have functioning businesses without them!), I’m just merely trying to understand why there aren’t more women inclined to pursue artistic jobs, and ultimately supervision roles.
I can’t yet say that one of the talented female artists that I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years has risen to the ranks of being a VFX Supervisor… And that’s not to say that they couldn’t have, just that they didn’t, or haven’t yet.
This is something that disappoints me deeply. I consider myself a (liberal) feminist. Someone who, in a leadership position, wants to enable other women to become the best they can be, to be equal among their male counterparts.
So, why? Where are the women?
Men and women are wired differently
Recent studies suggest men and women really are wired differently.
“Male brains have more connections within hemispheres to optimise motor skills, whereas female brains are more connected between hemispheres to combine analytical and intuitive thinking.” LiveScience, Dec 2013.
Apparently this difference is at it’s greatest during the adolescent years (13-17 years) however with age these differences get smaller.
So, during the peak of an adolescent girls education, they’re more inclined to be analytical and intuitive. Is that a direct correlation to them not choosing a technical vocation? But then again I would have thought that STEM / STEAM careers would be something of interest to girls if they’re brains are wired to be analytical?
This would also explain women having better organisational and management skills and therefore seeking out more ‘indirectly’ associated roles.
Women can’t have it all
Do women actively seek out roles that offer them flexibility for family and shy away from an industry that is often perceived as hard work, long hours and tight deadlines?
Traditionally, women have taken on roles such as teaching and nursing which requires empathy, a trait often associated with females.
“Women can’t have it all” once said Anne-Marie Slaughter; At least they can’t have it all at once. We are in a time when, unfortunately, women (particularly birth mothers) are still traditionally the primary care givers to their children. Raising a young family and juggling a successful career is incredibly difficult; then there’s the guilt that you’re not giving either one your 100% attention (I should know).
So, perhaps they just opt out before they’ve given it a go in the first place?
Lean out
For those women in our industry, are they too afraid to seek out higher positions?
Women are often more self-critical and self-doubting. Men will promote themselves and dive right in, even if they’re less capable. I have experienced this first hand and didn’t actual recognise it in myself until I read Sheryl Sandberg’s ‘Lean In’ when the penny dropped.
Or, is it just simply that we’re in a ‘boys club’ – that these career opportunities are not being presented to our female artists, and that we’d prefer to promote men over women?
The ‘Star Wars’ factor
Possibly one of the real reasons that there is a lack of women in our industry is the ‘Star Wars’ factor. My male counterparts grew up watching ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Star Trek’, whereas I (personally) was more inclined to watch ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ or ‘Footloose’.
Did these adolescent boys want to be Luke or Han, or George for that matter? Were they so inspired by Dykstra’s lightsabers that they wanted to do THAT when they grew up?
And if this is true, maybe Jyn and Rae, and Captain Marvel, and our own Captain Marvel, Victoria Alonso, will spur on a new generation of women in the industry.
Maybe it’s a combination of all of these factors. Maybe it’s none.
I’m interested in exploring this further. To address the problem, we need to ask ourselves why, so please share your thoughts and experiences.
At least now the conversation has started.
[*I am very proud that one of my colleagues was one of those few women nominated for a VES award this year.]
Photo credit: Animation Magazine