How Safe Is Hollywood

With all of the reports surrounding #OscarsSoWhite, it is important to note that not only are there racial minorities under-represented in major acting awards, but also white actors and actresses hold most of the top positions.

It seems like every year we read about some new controversy or another casting call for an upcoming show or movie where they claim to be looking for “urban” contestants. This includes things such as dreadlocks, nose piercings, and tats. Many people take these statements seriously and pursue those opportunities over other races, religions, and sexes.

This article will talk about why this is problematic and what you can do to help promote diversity in media. It will also discuss some simple ways to increase diversity in film and television by giving yourself as a person of color a chance to shine!

Why is having diverse stories important?

We live in a culture that is increasingly focused on materialism and self-love. As humans, we need examples of different cultures’ lifestyles, beliefs, and practices to feel connected to our own. This is one reason why watching TV shows and movies is so popular - we get exposed to many different narratives, settings, and characters.

Most large companies focus their efforts on appealing to the mostly Caucasian crowd, which is very lucrative, but less inclusive. By excluding certain groups from seeing themselves reflected in media, individuals belonging to these groups lose connection with their identity.

Bad actors and criminals in the industry

There have been many accusations of sexual harassment, assault, kidnapping, and murder within the film and television industry. These allegations range from minor to very serious crimes that hurt or injure people.

Many believe that these abuses occur because there are too many opportunities for predators to create an environment where they feel comfortable taking advantage of their position.

The constant exposure can make some individuals feel uncomfortable about going out alone, or giving up control by sharing intimate experiences with someone you trust. This is especially true for young professionals who may not yet understand how to evaluate people and situations.

It seems like every week we read about another celebrity accused of something terrible and/or exposed for poor behavior. Some get fired, others face lawsuits, and some even lose their job!

But what most people don’t realize is that all of this bad publicity could be hurting your career as well as theirs!

Finding yourself under a microscope due to sexually inappropriate comments or behaviors can cost you professionally. Many employers look at a person's past as a predictor of future actions, so when reporters ask about it, you're tagged as dishonest and untrustworthy. It also looks bad on your resume if you've been terminated for misconduct or negligence.

Hackers and data breaches

Recent high-profile hacking incidents have caused many to question just how safe the internet is. It seems that every week, we are informed of another site or service being hacked, with hackers stealing personal information, malicious software (malware) being installed onto your device, and even fake apps being distributed via illegitimate means.

Many people make assumptions about what will happen next when it comes to their own personal information - will they get contacted directly? Will someone create a new account using their info? Or will everything be ignored since these things already happened?

It’s totally normal to feel nervous in this situation, but there are some steps you can take to help mitigate the risk. Here are some tips for protecting yourself from online dangers!

Avoid giving out too much personal information online. This includes creating an accounts on social media sites, buying products online, and filling out forms and surveys.

Practice privacy settings diligently. Some websites may not ask you if you agree to them collecting certain pieces of data, but they are still gathering it. Make sure you are completely protected by default.

Use strong passwords and don’t use readily available info for them. Try our password strength checker here to ensure yours are enough.

Update your software frequently! An old version of a program might put up additional security barriers, or contain vulnerabilities that could let malware through.

Security measures taken by studios

Recent reports of violence at movie screenings are very concerning, to say the least. With each occurrence, people are talking about how much more unsafe theaters become due to these precautions.

Many believe that this is an overreaction to an extremely rare situation. While it’s true that there have been only a few instances where someone was physically attacked or killed during or after a movie, these incidents can be multiplied infinitely in the mind.

The fear created from media coverage and word-of-mouth warnings makes many feel uncomfortable going to the theater, which then impacts business for cinema chains.

There is some truth to this assertion as several studies show that around 10% of individuals who go to a movie alone will experience something they call “ambient loneliness.” This happens when you’re surrounded by other people, but your internal dialogue tells you that you’re not quite connected with anyone else.

This feeling is made worse if you happen to look around and notice that everyone around you is speaking loudly and clearly while also looking relaxed and comfortable. You may find yourself wishing that you were able to connect with at least one person before leaving, even though you know that’s not possible under normal circumstances.

Security measures taken by actors

While acting is arguably one of the most risky professions out there, things have really picked up in recent years. With every major movie studio having their own internal security team that handles safety for their workers, it has become very common to feel safe going into work.

Many actors go beyond protecting themselves from outside threats with personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as armed escorts. They also make sure they are not exposed to too much media coverage or gossip about them before filming so that they do not attract any extra attention.

Security precautions such as these help mitigate some risk, but what about the potential threat within?

It is important to remember that even if an actor’s personal life is private, their career is not. Their stories and pictures are accessible to anyone at anytime, which makes their lives vulnerable to harassment, stalking, and worse.

This can be due to malicious intent like trying to break down their mental state, but also because people often take advantage of others’ fame. If someone feels threatened or uncomfortable around you, they may spread rumors or false information about you to your colleagues or the public.

These risks apply to both male and female professionals, though women face additional challenges when entering high-risk areas alone.

Security measures taken by producers

Recent reports of alarming safety lapses at major film production sites have put a spotlight on just how safe or unsafe the set is for people working in entertainment. While there are certain precautions that you must take to stay protected while filming, what kind of safety gear your team has really matters!

Not only can protective clothing prevent serious injury, but knowing which ones are actually effective and trustworthy makes a big difference. Unfortunately, not everyone knows the best protections for workers’ health so it is up to us as informed individuals to make sure this is changed.

Security guards typically wear heavy leather jackets, military grade helmets, dark sunglasses, and pants with extra padding to protect against bullets and other potential threats.

Security measures taken by directors

As discussed earlier, there are many ways in which filmmakers take extra precautions to protect their creations from being stolen. Many of these steps have to do with technology or how studios market themselves.

Many artists also make sure not to put too much information online that could be accessed by others or exposed through social media sites. This includes potential employers as well!

Another important factor is whether or not the filmmaker is very open about his or her personal life. If they are married with children, for example, then it might be harder to maintain an air of mystery and confidentiality.

By sharing more details about yourself, you increase your security exposure. Technically, this isn’t illegal but it does pose some risk.

Security measures taken by writers

As discussed earlier, protecting your work is extremely important. Luckily, there are several ways that most writer’s unions offer some type of security for their members. Some of these include defamation insurance, legal representation through union counsel, and even job placement services in case things get too bad.

In fact, many writer’s unions have an escrow service where they will deposit your check until you give them permission to negotiate it or not. This way, they are protected financially if you decide to go after them later on.

Overall, writer’s unions exist to protect writers so we recommend staying away from malicious accusations unless you have solid proof.

Security measures taken by actors

While protecting your personal information online is important, staying in well-lit areas with many eyewitnesses around you and not going to or from isolated locations may be more effective security precautions for movie sets.

Security professionals say that while it’s good to be aware of what sites you visit and how much personal info you share, actually avoiding those sites can be even better.

By staying off of social media and using fake accounts, you won’t have to worry about someone finding out who you are. You can also avoid having your profile pictures linked to you through GPS trackers!

Furthermore, experts suggest wearing simple, casual clothes instead of flashy jewelry or clothing items that can easily be grabbed.