Latest news with #representation
CBC
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
What will it take to get more disabled characters, and actors, on the big screen?
There were slightly more movie characters with disabilities on screen in 2024, according to a new report, but experts and advocates say that figure — and the quality of representation — are still sorely lacking. Last year, 20 of the top 100 grossing films featured leading or co-leading characters with a disability, according to the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, a California-based think-tank studying diversity and inclusion in entertainment. That's a big jump from 2023 when there were eight such films, and from 2015 when there were 10 movies in which characters had noticeable physical, cognitive or communicative disabilities. But on the whole, 2024's data was far more stark — only 2.4 per cent of speaking or named characters in the top 100 movies had a disability, the same rate as in 2015, the report found. That could mean, according to report author Stacy Smith, that the improvement among leading or co-leading characters is an anomaly that won't carry over into 2025. "This suggests that the change is not driven by an authentic desire for inclusion and matched with strategies based in expertise. Instead, ad hoc decision-making is the reason for these increases," Smith said in a statement. Disheartening, not surprising Sean Towgood, a Canadian writer and actor (You're My Hero) who has cerebral palsy, says the findings are "disheartening," though not entirely surprising. He says there's a sense in the film and TV industry that producers or executives choose to tell some stories about disability occasionally, but then rest on their laurels. "They just check a box and they're like, 'Well, we did that. We don't have to think about it for another 10 years, right?,'" Towgood said. He says he thinks some producers assume it's more expensive and logistically challenging to hire actors who require accommodations such as accessible sets. Jim LeBrecht, co-director of the 2020 Oscar-nominated Crip Camp, says accessibility — like any part of filming — does come with a price tag. But he says that the cost is worth it, especially given that accessible sets make life easier for everyone; a wheelchair ramp might also reduce the time it takes to move equipment around on set, for example. Beyond that, LeBrecht says the perception that there's no audience for stories about disability remains in the industry, which limits the number of such projects that make it on screen. "It's not because we're incompetent. It's not because we don't have good actors. It is because the road to getting us to have people who are box-office draws... is very, very limited," he said. LeBrecht says those behind the camera are often afraid to take on projects that are "too outside the norm" even if they are good stories because they're afraid of losing money or their jobs if the project doesn't succeed. Movies noted by the report include Madame Web, about the Marvel Comics character, who is blind for part of the film adaptation; Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, in which the title character has a prosthetic arm; and The Brutalist, in which the main character's wife uses a wheelchair. But the report highlights characters, not actors. And if only a handful of the actors portraying characters with disabilities have disabilities themselves, that's not great representation, according to Beth Haller, co-director of the Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment. "There may have been a blind person consulting but… if they're not going to hire a blind actress or actor, how is a blind actor or actress ever going to get the credits and the experience?" she said. Madame Web star Dakota Johnson is not blind, for example, nor is Furiosa 's Anya-Taylor Joy missing a limb. Too often, able-bodied actors in film and TV are cast to play such roles, says Ariel Simms, president and CEO of Disability Belongs, a non-profit that works to improve representation of people with disabilities in entertainment. One analysis found that more than 95 per cent of characters with a disability were played by an able-bodied actor. And when able-bodied actors play disabled characters, that can lead to inauthentic or trope-heavy portrayals, Simms says — like a character with autism being portrayed as a socially awkward savant. The best thing productions can do is hire people with disabilities — both on and off screen, and at every level — according to Simms. "That can make a huge difference," Simms said. "Ultimately that leads to more authentic representation on screen, whether the story is about disability or not." Their organization has worked with productions, such as Marvel's recent movie Eternals and the NBC show New Amsterdam, to help portray disability authentically on screen. For Eternals, for example, it worked with executives to help answer any questions they had about telling such stories. This can help avoid accidentally perpetuating outdated and harmful stereotypes, Simms says. Towgood says another part of the solution is those in the industry being willing to "take a chance" on stories that touch on disability. Movies like Coda are good examples of what happens when you tell quality stories about disability, Towgood says — they win Oscars. The film — about a teenager who is the only person in her family of four who can hear — won best picture and best adapted screenplay at the 2022 Oscars, and Troy Kotsur took home best supporting actor for his role.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘You're next': In meeting with Gov. Healey, Texas lawmakers warn of Trump power grab on voting maps
The ongoing partisan brawl in Texas over a Republican-backed plan to potentially erase five U.S. House seats currently held by Democrats is a prelude to a wider battle over voter rights and representation. That was the message Tuesday from a Democratic lawmaker who was among those who'd left the Lone Star State, partly to frustrate that effort and to attend a nationwide meeting of state legislators in Boston. 'You've all heard of the game 'Texas Hold 'Em?'" state Sen. Carol Alvarado, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Houston, said during a news conference at the State House. 'Well, we are literally holding the line on democracy, not just for Texas, but for our nation.' 'We are here to talk about, with other legislators from around the country: 'This is coming to you. You're next.' This is not a Texas problem. This is a United States of America problem,' she said. Alvarado and several of her colleagues met with Gov. Maura Healey on Tuesday afternoon. They're also slated to hold a news conference at the State House on Wednesday. That's the same day as the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which resulted in more than 1 million Black Americans registering to vote in the four years after it was passed, according to the Brennan Center. They are among the 50 lawmakers who left the state to deprive Republicans of the quorum they need to pass the bill. They have argued that the Republican-authored maps would impact Black and Hispanic voters. In his first public comments, President Donald Trump injected himself into the fiery debate, announcing Tuesday that he believes Lone Star State Republicans are 'entitled to five more seats' on Capitol Hill. If the effort in Texas is successful, Democrats would face a steeper climb as they seek to retake control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans currently hold a 219-212 edge in the lower chamber, with four vacancies. Right now, Democrats only would have to flip a handful of seats to retake control. Healey, already a vocal critic of the Republican White House, laced into Trump once again on Tuesday. She expanded her critique to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, also a Republican, who has warned that he would have the absent Democrats removed from office if they do not return home. 'They're proposing to completely rewrite a map, out of nowhere, to take away the votes and the voices of Texans,' Healey said. 'And the message is, not only does this have an impact on Congress, which impacts all of America, it also is something that you don't want to see spread." But Abbott, [Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton], Trump, they leave states with no choice," she continued. 'I want to make sure that people have access to healthcare. I don't want to see further cuts to Medicaid or to housing or to veterans or to poor little kids who need to eat. Okay? So that is why it becomes an issue for a governor in New York and a governor in Illinois, and a governor in Massachusetts.' Massachusetts Secretary of State William L. Galvin, a Democrat, and the commonwealth's chief elections officer, offered a similar sentiment. 'This is not a Texas fight. This is not some little fight down there,' he said, hinting that Democrats may also have to play hardball to counter GOP-led redistricting efforts. 'We may have to engage in those tactics,' he said. 'We don't want to, but nobody wants to do that. The answer really is not to let it happen at all. Let's stop it in Texas. Let's prevent this from happening. Let's show them this is not going to work.' More on Politics Housing costs are out of control. In Boston, experts offer the 4 fastest ways to fix it Is Harvard considering a $500M deal with Trump? Faculty don't think so Businessman revives PAC to boost Latino voter engagement. This time with safeguards Trump's popularity slides in new UMass Amherst poll. Here's how it happened Department of Justice waiting for response on Massachusetts voter data Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cardiff councillor 'now representing constituents from new home in England'
A Cardiff councillor now appears to be representing residents from a town in England. Labour Cllr Chris Lay, who is a ward member for Trowbridge, posted on social media on Saturday, July 26, suggesting that he had moved house to Telford. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that Cllr Lay has notified Cardiff Council about a change of address. Cllr Lay posted on Facebook that he was at a location in Telford and Werkin with family members. Never miss a Cardiff story and sign up to our newsletter here. READ MORE: Flash flooding hits Cardiff as heavy rain leaves roads deluged with water READ MORE: Major change for drivers breaking 20mph speed limit announced The post read: 'The move is complete, lovely evening sunshine with a cheeky drink. 'Massive thank you to mom and dad… and my cousin Jude. Me and jess are very grateful for the help and support moving us in.' We tried to contact Cllr Lay on a mobile number published on Cardiff Council's website and via Facebook. The LDRS also asked Cllr Lay via email if he would like to respond to questions about his change of address. The Labour group at Cardiff Council and Welsh Labour was also asked to clarify Cllr Lay's move and how he hoped to represent residents in Trowbridge and address the issues in their area from a town that's more than 120km away. Welsh Labour said it would not be commenting at this time. Changing address to a location outside your ward is not a breach of the members code of conduct – a code of standards councillors across the country have to adhere to. In the members code of conduct document on Cardiff Council's website, it states that councillors must register a change of interest within 28 days of becoming aware of it. Under Cllr Lay's profile on Cardiff Council's website, it states under his register of interest that he is the owner of a property in St Mellons. Two of the other ward members for Trowbridge live at addresses outside of their ward. Under Labour Cllr Michael Michael's register of interests, it states that he is the owner of a property in Fairwater. The other Labour councillor for the area, Cllr Bernie Bowen-Thomson, owns a property in Heath according to her register of interest.
New York Times
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Maybe Happy Ending' Casting Change Ignites Debate About Representation
The Broadway musical 'Maybe Happy Ending,' about two helperbots who form a bond at a robot retirement home in Seoul, has been riding high after winning six Tony Awards in June, including the coveted best new musical honor. But the show's recent decision to cast Andrew Barth Feldman, a white actor, as one of the helperbots after the current actor in the role, Darren Criss, who is of Filipino descent, departs next month has raised alarms among Asian American actors and spurred a weeklong conversation about representation. Feldman ('Dear Evan Hansen,' 'No Hard Feelings'), who is scheduled to step into the production for nine weeks starting Sept. 2, is also the boyfriend of the musical's lead actress, Helen J Shen. 'Maybe Happy Ending' opened on Broadway last fall, and seven of the show's eight actors (four onstage and four understudies) are currently played by actors of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander descent. In a statement, the show said that casting and production decisions were the result of 'thoughtful deliberations' by its creative team. 'We are proud to have created a show where every role can authentically be portrayed by an Asian actor, although the roles of the robots were not envisioned to always be cast that way,' the statement read. 'We also appreciate that, for many within the A.A.P.I. community, seeing the original Broadway cast represented an inspiring milestone of visibility and representation.' A separate lengthy statement was posted on social media early Thursday, and in the comments, fans and supporters debated the decision. This year three Asian American performers (Nicole Scherzinger, Darren Criss and Francis Jue) won Tony Awards in three acting categories, which was a first; four other Asian American actors were also nominated. Amid the dialogue about representation, Conrad Ricamora, a star of the Broadway play 'Oh, Mary!,' took action. Last weekend, he started a scholarship fund called 'The Right to Be There' for Asian American men pursuing an acting degree. He said in an attached letter that he had been carrying grief from being told that he did not belong. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CNN
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Your favorite model? Thanks to AI, they might not be real
American Vogue's August 2025 issue has been making headlines — and not only for its cover featuring actor Anne Hathaway, who is back in the limelight as she films 'The Devil Wears Prada' sequel. What has drawn much — if not more — attention can be found in the pages of the magazine: advertisements for the Californian clothing company Guess. At a cursory glance, nothing appears unusual: A Caucasian woman with wavy blonde hair, flushed cheeks and perfect teeth, bared in a wide smile, shows off a long stripe dress with a matching top-handle bag. In another image, she models a floral playsuit with a drawstring that cinches her waist. Yet, in small print on the page, it is revealed that the model was created using artificial intelligence. The campaign was developed by Seraphinne Vallora, a London-based AI-driven marketing agency, whose work has also been featured in titles including Elle, The Wall Street Journal and Harper's Bazaar. The discourse around the AI photos was ignited by TikTok user @lala4an, whose video on the Guess ad has since been viewed more than 2.7 million times. The revelation that AI models were inside the pages of Vogue sparked debate over what it might mean for real-life models pushing for greater representation and diversity, and consumers — particularly younger people — who often face unrealistic expectations of beauty. 'It's insane because it's not like we're short on people looking for modeling gigs or anything,' wrote one user on TikTok in a comment that, to date, has over 67,700 likes. 'So first normal women are comparing themselves to edited models… Now we have to compare ourselves to women that don't even exist???' wrote another. Several people have since called for a boycott against Guess and Vogue. Guess did not respond to CNN's request for comment. While the Guess campaign was a commercial decision, it would have still required internal approval at Vogue to be printed. A Condé Nast spokesperson confirmed to CNN that an AI model has never appeared editorially in Vogue. Though, digitally created models have featured in international editions of the title: Vogue Singapore previously showcased AI-generated avatars in its March 2023 issue. (Vogue Singapore is a licensee and not owned or operated by Condé Nast.) Valentina Gonzalez and Andreea Petrescu, the 25-year-old co-founders of Seraphinne Vallora, believe the outrage behind the Guess campaign is misplaced. Speaking to CNN on a video call, Petrescu explained that 'people think these images just came to be by AI, which is not true. We have a team, and we also still hire models.' Gonzalez and Petrescu were approached by Guess co-founder Paul Marciano to create AI models for the brand, they said. After reviewing multiple drafts, Marciano picked a digitally created blonde (Vivienne) and brunette (Anastasia) for further development. Both ended up being featured in Guess' ads, which appeared in Vogue and other magazines, Gonzalez said (though it was only Vivienne who went viral). To create the campaign, Seraphinne Vallora employed a real model, who, over the course of a week, was photographed in the studio wearing Guess clothing. That informed how the clothes looked on an AI model, said Gonzalez. 'We needed to see what poses would flatter the product most, and how it looked on a real woman. We cannot generate an image if we don't have an informed idea of what positions will be the most flattering.' 'To create an AI model, it takes time, so we want to make sure that people engage with it.' Valentina Gonzalez, co-founder of Seraphinne Vallora Asked why brands wouldn't simply use a real model in their ads, Petrescu argued that AI gave clients greater choice and efficiency, by requiring less time and smaller budgets to execute than a typical marketing campaign. Seraphinne Vallora was initially founded as a jewelry label before pivoting into providing AI-led marketing services, Petrescu explained. 'We realized that to sell this jewelry, we had to put a lot of good content out there that attracted people. But we didn't have budgets at the time to hire real people to be the face of our brand, so we tried to make our own model.' As architecture graduates, both Petrescu and Gonzalez were well versed in photography, drawing and digital media, so they turned to AI to create a model that would tout their products online. The results, according to Petrescu, were positive. 'We had millions of views on our Instagram Reels and tens of thousands of likes on some posts,' she said. The novelty of an AI model has appealed to many, added Gonzalez. 'The reason it went viral was because people were like, 'oh my god, is she real?'' Guess is not the only brand to have used AI models. Last July, Mango introduced its first AI-generated campaign to promote clothing for teenage girls. In one image, a young woman is wearing a colorful co-ord set. While the garments shown were real and available to purchase, the model was entirely AI generated. In March 2023, Levi's said that it would begin testing AI-generated models to ensure more diverse body types and skin tones in its marketing. Those launches were also met with criticism, with some seeing the AI creation of a model — especially a person of color — as a way for companies to profit from the appearance of diversity without having to invest in it, while also potentially pushing professional models out of their jobs in the process. Others feared the move would also negatively impact the livelihoods of photographers, makeup artists and other creatives traditionally involved in creating a campaign. In an October 2024 interview with Bloomberg, Mango's CEO Toni Ruiz justified the use of AI models, saying that advertising could be created more quickly. 'It's about faster content creation,' he said. Mango did not reply to CNN's request for comment. Levi's responded to criticism at the time of its announcement, clarifying that it was not 'a means to advance diversity' and the company remained committed to working with diverse models. The brand added it would not scale back live photoshoots with models. Noticeably, the AI models shared by Seraphinne Vallora on its Instagram are largely white and have conventionally attractive features, such as luscious hair, a fit body and facial symmetry, which align with widely held societal standards of beauty. Asked why there isn't greater diversity among Seraphinne Vallora's AI models, Petrescu said there were no technical limitations, but they simply followed directions from clients. She added that on testing a variety of models, they 'saw what works best with the public. We saw what people responded to.' The varied responses to their AI models have been considerable, said Gonzalez, with likes on a single Instagram post ranging from a few hundred going up to tens of thousands. 'To create an AI model, it takes time, so we want to make sure that people engage with it,' Gonzalez noted. For Sara Ziff, who started work as a model in New York at age 14 and is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization Model Alliance, the concerns around AI are not unfounded. As the technology becomes more widely adopted, Ziff argued that brands and creators must consider 'how it can best be rolled out and how it can be used responsibly,' she said. 'We need to ask who's getting paid, who's getting seen and who gets erased.' The rise of AI models is not worlds apart from virtual influencers, who are already overlapping with real-life ones. Digital avatars such as Lil Miquela and Shudu have large followings on social media and wear clothing from luxury brands like Prada, Dior and Calvin Klein. Neither digital model is Caucasian, and both have at least one white creator (Shudu was created by British visual artist Cameron-James Wilson and Miquela by Los Angeles-based creatives Trevor McFedries and Sara DeCou). Not all AI creations are entirely fictional, either. In March, H&M said that it would create AI 'twins' of 30 real-life models, with the intention of using them in advertising campaigns and social media posts. As part of the agreement, each model would own the rights to their twin, meaning they can book multiple photoshoots with brands (including H&M's competitors) and, in that sense, be in more than one place at once. The first images, using AI-made photos of models, were released this month. In a statement provided to CNN, H&M's chief creative officer Jörgen Andersson said the company would not change its 'human-centric' approach and was simply 'exploring how AI can enhance the creative process.' He added: 'We recognize that there are many questions and concerns around our engagement in AI, however, we are committed to approach this ethically, transparently, and responsibly.' Some luxury brands have experimented with technology to create digital doubles. In 2021, Dior created a digital version of real-life ambassador Angelababy (who has been dubbed the 'Kim Kardashian of China' due to her prolific appearances and extravagant lifestyle) to virtually attend its fashion show in Shanghai. A computer-generated version of supermodel Naomi Campbell appeared in Burberry's campaign that same year. Recalling her previous experience working for an online luxury retailer, Lara Ferris — now strategy director of Spring Studios, a global creative agency with clients such as Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford and Estée Lauder — said: 'Ten years ago, they tried to shoot products at volume. Clothes like T-shirts, shorts, coats and dresses would be photographed and transposed onto an online model. There was no human involved.' The use of AI models allows companies 'to create images at scale very quickly,' said Ferris. It's indicative of the rapid growth and globalization of the fashion industry, which has created tremendous ethical and environmental problems. 'We've always struggled with appetite and demand, and this is how the industry keeps up. The fact that you can create an image and reproduce that across thousands of products is very mass. But does it feel premium? No,' she concluded. Michael Musandu, the CEO and founder of digital model studio which partnered with Levi's to create its AI models, said that the use of AI models in fashion is already more widespread than many realize, and that brands of all sizes are simply not disclosing it because there is no legal obligation to. The recent sale of Musandu's company to digital design firm Browzwear is a testament to the growing opportunities in the space, he said. Like many AI model creators, Musandu insists his work is supplementary and not intended to replace real-life models. 'We launched by solving a massive problem, which is people of color feeling underrepresented while shopping online. I never got to see models that looked like myself,' said Musandu, who was born in Zimbabwe, raised in South Africa, and studied computer science and AI in the Netherlands, where he is currently based. 'We need to ask who's getting paid, who's getting seen and who gets erased.' Sara Ziff, founder and executive director of The Model Alliance As diversity in fashion continues to be a priority, brands are still shooting with real models but using AI to increase their output, said Musandu. 'There is no brand that we work with that is scaling down on traditional photography.' Musandu added that it would be impossible to entirely replace real-life models, who 'can create genuine connection with consumers.' Spring Studios' Ferris agrees, noting that the most successful models and online influencers today, such as Julia Fox, Gabbriette and Olivia Neill, are not traditional in that they are not 'statuesque and don't speak,' but they have a large fanbase because they are 'really active online and engaged with their communities.' While it will become 'increasingly difficult' to tell an AI model apart from a real-life person online, Ferris argued that the latter's personalities will set them apart and become an even greater asset. Still, the further use of AI in fashion is just another potential risk for models, who have historically lacked protection in the workplace and across the sector. It's what the New York State Fashion Workers Act, which took effect in June, seeks to do (the new law, co-sponsored by Ziff's Model Alliance, regulates model management companies, provides complaint procedures and sets up penalties for violations). 'I don't think that the use of AI is inherently bad, but it will be used to exploit people without the proper guardrails in place,' said Ziff. The new law, she added, 'is not a silver bullet by any stretch, but it's a starting point.'
