News, Women Directors

Inaugural Half Fest Directors Showcase to Highlight Women and Minorities in Hollywood

Director Jennifer Lynch will speak at the showcase: movieweb/YouTube

Ryan Murphy is expanding the work of the Half, a foundation within his 20th Century Fox-based production company. Launched in the summer of 2016, Half aims to diversify Hollywood by offering mentorships to underrepresented groups in the industry and committing to more mindful hiring practices.

The “Glee” co-creator committed to having 50 percent of all director gigs on his shows — including “Scream Queens,” “American Crime Story,” and “American Horror Story” — go to either women or minority candidates, which he defines as people of color or members of the LGBTQ community. His self-imposed deadline to achieve this goal was the end of 2016, but he surpassed it. As of December 2016, 60 percent of his directing gigs were going to women. And now the Emmy winner has announced the Half Fest Directors Showcase, a free two-day event at LA’s Skirball Cultural Center. A press release revealed that “attendees will have the opportunity to watch short films by the first cohort of Half Foundation mentees, as well as attend Q&As and talks on how to succeed in Hollywood.”

“I’m pleased that the public will have a chance to view the work of rising talented directors,” remarked Murphy. “The Half directing mentees range from college students to professionals and have created worthy short films.” The Half Directing Mentorship Program has already mentored nearly 30 emerging directors — all women, people of color, and/ or members of the LGBTQ community — since it was launched a year ago.

The event will include a panel discussion — with industry execs from Half, Fox, NBC, CBS, and Warner Bros. — about various director programs available and how applicants can make their submissions stand out. Directors Jennifer Lynch (“Quantico,” “Boxing Helena”) and Nelson Cragg (“American Crime Story”) are scheduled to speak at the event.

Check out more information about the Half Fest Directors Showcase over at Skirball’s website. Reservations are now open.


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