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Canon Club: Issue No. 1
Welcome to DEG’s Canon Club Newsletter! We are happy to share the inaugural issue of what will be a monthly publication highlighting women in our outstanding community and across the industry, DEG updates, and the month's noteworthy news.
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Happy Women's History Month to our Canon Club community! The next newsletter will celebrate the outstanding women in our lives. Join us by sending the name of a woman who inspires you and why to cayla@degonline.org, by Friday, March 29.
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Now Accepting Nominations: The Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology
Nominate Yourself or Your Colleagues Today!
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Deadline: March 29, 2024
The Hedy Lamarr Awards seek to recognize and commemorate women industry leaders who have impacted entertainment technology in a unique manner to drive meaningful change.
Download the Nomination Form HERE.
The eighth annual Hedy Lamarr Awards will be presented in November 2024, to coincide with the anniversary of Hedy Lamarr's birth.
The application for DEG's student award, the Hedy Lamarr Achievement Award for Emerging Leaders in Entertainment Technology, is also
available on DEG's website.
Learn more about the Hedy Lamarr Awards and see our past honorees here!
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2024 HEDY LAMARR AWARDS SPONSORED BY: | |
Congratulations to women who have recently joined or been promoted to prominent positions at our member companies. | |
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Amazon MGM Studios
Anaïs Baker
Head of Global Formats
Formerly at BBC Worldwide
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AMC Networks
Stephanie Mitchko
Executive VP, Global Media Operations and Technology
Formerly at Charter Communications
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Disney Entertainment
Debra O'Connell
President, News Groups and Networks
Formerly President, Networks - Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution
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Fox Entertainment Global
Simona Argenti
SVP, Content Sales (EMEA Region)
Formerly at Salesforce
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Fox Entertainment Global
Roxanne Likely
Senior Director, Content Sales (US and Latin America)
Formerly at Paramount Global
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Fox Entertainment Global
Nathalie Wogue
SVP, Global Formats
Formerly at Fox Alternative Entertainment
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Did a female executive recently join or receive a promotion at your company?
Email cayla@degonline.org to recognize them in next month's newsletter!
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“I know there are a number of women in this room who might believe that women don't actually need to be empowered, because we already have the power within us. But I also know that sometimes it takes the help of other women to remind us of the inner strength and ability that we each have.”
- Forbes Women Editor Maggie McGrath introducing the magazine's annual 30/50 Summit, which celebrates female innovators across multiple industries.
Read more
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32% of Oscar Nominees Are Women, Tying the All-Time High
Indie Wire
“The study reveals how often the Academy Awards recognize the talent and work of women and people of color,” Dr. Smith said in a statement sent to media. “For those who want to say that the Awards are improving, it is critical to note that in 2024, the percentage of women and people of color nominated for awards in feature categories still falls far below proportional representation. There is much more work to do to see the creative talents of women and people of color– and particularly women of color– recognized by this industry body.” Read more
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Is AI Biased - Does It Help Or Hinder Women As They Rise To The Top?
Forbes ($)
Facing a reality where only 26% of employees in AI and machine-learning companies are women, and less than 19% of AI researchers identify as women, the urgency to intensify our efforts toward diversifying the leadership in technology startups—particularly those driven by AI—has never been more critical. If we are to ensure that these biases do not become even more hard-coded into our society and perpetuated as the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, we must act now. Read more
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‘A Thousand and One’ Director on Hollywood’s Diversity Gains: “Progress Is Happening, and This Is a Sign of It”
The Hollywood Reporter
From the first moments of A.V. Rockwell’s debut feature, A Thousand and One, the audience is in the company of Teyana Taylor’s vivid portrayal of Inez, a woman in 1994 Harlem. She’s just out of Rikers and on a mission to rescue her son, Terry, out of the foster care system. As Terry grows older, the viewer follows their loving, messy relationship in a changing city. After winning the 2023 Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, A Thousand and One has continued to rack up accolades for Taylor and Rockwell, who now finds herself nominated for first-time feature film at the DGA Awards. Read more
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Taylor Swift’s NFL Bump: 20% Sponsorship Gains and New Women Viewers | Analysis
TheWrap Pro ($)
Swift is bringing new viewers and big dollars to a television institution, the NFL, whose valuation has been growing and didn’t need a boost in advertising or viewership. The Swift bump nevertheless scored a 20% surge in sponsorships and a upward spike of young women tuning in to NFL games — an over 50% rise among 12-17-year-old girls at the start of this season. Read more
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Empowering Women In Technology: 7 Strategies For Company Support
Forbes ($)
One of the most crucial steps a company can take is to ensure there are equal opportunities for women to rise to leadership positions. By showcasing successful women in these roles, companies can inspire others and break down gender stereotypes. This visibility is essential for young women contemplating careers in technology. It sends a powerful message that the industry is open to everyone, regardless of gender. Read more
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‘Barbie’ and ‘Past Lives’ Among 29 Films Awarded ReFrame Stamp for Gender-Balanced Productions
Variety
The newly released report came with other key findings. 19 out of the top 100 films this past year were directed by women and one was directed by a non-binary person, an increase from 14 women directors in 2022. Of said films, nine were directed by women of color; only two were directed by women of color in 2022. Furthermore, 17 women were hired as visual effects supervisors, a significant increase from 8 in 2022. Read more
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‘Oppenheimer’ Producer Emma Thomas on Making the Historical Epic a Summer Blockbuster: “That’s the Genius of Chris Nolan”
The Hollywood Reporter
Emma Thomas has been producing Christopher Nolan’s films since Nolan’s 1997 short feature Doodlebug. 30 years and 12 feature films later, she most recently served as the producer on Oppenheimer, a historical epic about nuclear physicist and father of the atomic bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer, now nominated for 13 Academy Awards including best picture. Thomas talks to THR about how the idea of Oppenheimer came about, why the marketing of the film seemed daunting to her and why the production of the film reminded her of their work on Nolan’s 2017 "Dunkirk." Read more
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After the Success of ‘Barbie,’ Warner Bros. Is Staying in the Margot Robbie Business
Indie Wire
Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group has signed a multi-year first look feature film deal with Robbie’s production company LuckyChap Entertainment. It will make WB the first stop for any film projects Robbie wishes to produce through her production arm, which she runs alongside Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara. It’s no big question as to why. Robbie and Ackerley together produced WB and Mattel’s “Barbie,” which grossed $1.45 billion as the highest-grossing film of 2023, and went on to earn eight Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture. Read more
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3 Ways Women Can Combat the Retirement Gap, Starting Today
Business Insider ($)
A major reason why saving is particularly important is because women typically outlive their spouses and studies show that women are 80% more likely than men to live in poverty during retirement. Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, who has partnered with TIAA to close the 30% retirement income gap women face and to help them prepare for their financial futures, gave me three tips women use to get their money on track and put themselves in the best position for retirement. Read more
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Women in DEG: EnTech Fest | |
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On February 7, DEG's third annual EnTech Fest was held at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. The day was a resounding success, and women executives from member companies and beyond were front and center. Thank you to all of our attendees and sponsors for your support, and special shoutout to our female speakers and exhibitors!
Pictured: A feature panel on the role of indie content in major AVOD platforms was moderated by Shout! Studios' Julie Dansker (at mic) and featured industry experts including Roku's Vicki Liao (r.).
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During the Insights presentations, Omdia's Sarah Henschel shared the company's outlook on 2024 media and entertainment trends. | |
Crunchyroll's Gita Rebbapragada and Sony's Keith LeGoy engaged in a lively keynote conversation on the company's strategies in the streaming era. | |
360 Solutions' Michelle Mikesell (l.) shared examples of how AI can be effective in the supply chain, as well as some humorous but noteworthy shortcomings. | |
Holly Willis, professor and co-director of AI for Media and Storytelling at USC, gave a well-received keynote presentation citing examples for the potentials of AI in storytelling and entertainment. | |
All photos by Skyler Barberio | | | | |
