Asian & Pacific Islander Representation in Film & Media (2022) June 4, 2022 Join Amazon Studios’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team for a lively conversation as we celebrate VOICES: Asian & Pacific Islander Representation in Film and Media Watch Now Women Innovating Hollywood May 9, 2022 Women Innovating Hollywood, a one-day virtual event uplifting the voices of women in entertainment, both in front of and behind the camera, in celebration of Women’s History Month. Watch Now Celebrate Black VOICES March 3, 2022 Join Prime Video and its Diversity Equity and Inclusion team for a virtual event that highlights people, stories, and leaders who illuminate the joy and the change required for Hollywood to truly invest in intersectional diversity. Watch Now VOICES: “As We See It” February 10, 2022 Join executive producer, Jason Katims, and the cast of Prime Video’s new series As We See It for a candid conversation about authentic neurodivergent representation. The series is a rare, entertaining, and heartfelt look at twentysomething roommates on the autism spectrum navigating life and its hurdles. Presented by Easterseals Disability Services. Watch Now Indigenous Peoples’ Month November 11, 2021 Amazon Prime Video presents VOICES: An Entertainment Celebration for Native American Heritage Month, a one-day virtual event celebrating Native American History Month. Watch Now Voices / Voces October 5, 2021 Welcome to Amazon Studio’s Voices / Voces program. Our program this year highlighted the many contributions to entertainment from the Latiné community. Watch Now Pride 2021 June 25, 2021 Rewatch Amazon Studio’s celebration and reflection of Pride. This event dives into intersectional LGBTQ+ representation on screen and behind the camera, and how we can change the narrative to create more inclusive stories. Watch Now Asian & Pacific Islander Representation in Film & Media (2021) February 28, 2021 This event brings together industry leaders to dive deep into the history of Hollywood’s complicity in anti-Asian racism and shine a light on actions to change the narrative. Watch Now Events & Learnings cc:DEIA's events dive into the history and data of inequities in Hollywood, and ways we can change the narrative across our productions.

Just a minute, we’re fixing something here. (Error 500) We hope to be back online very soon.

Press Room Stay informed with the latest updates on press releases, media coverage, and exciting event announcements. Women Represented Majority of Amazon Originals Writers in 2022 Thursday, December 14, 2023 Amazon MGM Studios has provided a progress report on DEIA behind and in front of the camera since it implemented its Inclusion Policy and Playbook two years ago. Read More Amazon MGM Diversity Report Shows Gains For Persons Of Color, Women & LBQTBIA+ In Its Films & TV Series Thursday, December 14, 2023 Amazon MGM released a report today detailing the progress it has made in supporting increased diversity in front of and behind the camera for its TV series and films. Read More Amazon Studios Wants to ‘Earn the Trust’ of Audiences, Employees With Disabilities Friday, October 6, 2023 TheGrill 2023: The studio’s head of diversity, equity and inclusion content explains why they added an “A” for “accessibility” to its core values earlier this year. Read More Amazon Studios and AMC Networks Partner to Support Deaf Creatives of Color Thursday, June 1, 2023 The new initiative will work to provide Deaf people of color with skills to further their success within the entertainment industry. Read More SCAD and Amazon Studios partner to provide cash prize to LGBTQ+ filmmakers Monday, May 15, 2023 The Savannah College of Art and Design and Amazon have created a dedicated SAVFF LGBTQ+ Short Film Competition, which will premiere this October during the annual SCAD film festival in Savannah. Read More Amazon Studios Teams With IllumiNative for Episodic Directors Program Tuesday, March 28, 2023 The four filmmakers of the inaugural cohort are Razelle Benally, Daniel Hyde, Christopher Cegielski and Peshawn Bread. Read More Amazon Studios Diversity Lead Among New Trustees at U.K. Drama School RADA Thursday, March 2, 2023 Amazon Studios diversity lead Miranda Wayland is among the new trustees at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Read More Amazon Studios to Provide $50k Finishing Fund for Latino Independent Filmmakers Tuesday, February 28, 2023 LALIFF Works in Progress is an extension of the streamer’s partnership with the Latino Film Institute, with fund recipients to be announced at the L.A. Latino International Film Festival’s closing night June 4. Read More Reframing the Narrative: The Evolution of the Chief Diversity Officer Thursday, January 12, 2023 Hear from Chief Diversity Officers and Chief Human Resource Officers as they discuss their role in shaping company-wide diversity and inclusion. Read More Film and TV production is stressful. Some sets are turning to therapy Monday, January 9, 2023 With the impact of the pandemic and the boom in streaming, film sets in the U.K. and the U.S. are seeing more focus from mental health advocates. Read More

Previous Next As an extension of its partnership with the Latino Film Institute (LFI), announced in October 2022 , Amazon Studios is providing a finishing fund for three indie filmmakers to complete their narrative or documentary features. Directors and independent production companies can submit their picture-locked cuts to the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival Works in Progress , which will evaluate based on unique directorial voice, cultural significance and commercial viability. Winners will be announced June 4 during closing night of LFI’s LALIFF. The exact split of the $50,000 inaugural fund will be based on each of the three winning projects’ postproduction needs, as determined by a jury of post professionals. “By supporting this program, Amazon is supporting our work as we continue to elevate Latino voices in a landscape where it’s difficult for filmmakers from our community to secure postproduction funds,” LFI founder and LALIFF co-founder Edward James Olmos said in a statement. Amazon and LFI’s collaboration already includes the streamer’s exclusive sponsorship of LFI’s Youth Cinema Project Alumni Program, which includes the YCP Fellowship, giving 19 high schoolers the resources to make a short film for their film school and scholarship applications. The completed YCP Fellowship short will also screen at LALIFF in June. “At Amazon Studios, we strive to remove barriers to success in the creative process,” Amazon Studios and Prime Video global head of DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility) Latasha Gillespie said in a statement. “It is part of the equity work we are committed to doing. LALIFF Works in Progress is a compelling example of our inclusion policy and playbook in action.” Amazon Studios to Provide $50k Finishing Fund for Latino Independent Filmmakers Rebecca Sun Hollywood Reporter February 28, 2023 LALIFF Works in Progress is an extension of the streamer’s partnership with the Latino Film Institute, with fund recipients to be announced at the L.A. Latino International Film Festival’s closing night June 4. Edward James Olmos (left) and Latasha Gillespie celebrated their organizations' partnership at a Latino Culture & Heritage event on Oct. 3, 2022 at Neuehouse. JC OLIVERA Press Room Stay informed with the latest updates on press releases, media coverage, and exciting event announcements.

Previous Next In summer 2021, when producer Joanna Laurie was planning production of “The Son,” an upcoming drama from Oscar-winning writer and director Florian Zeller, she knew stress levels would be exponentially high for cast and crew. They had to contend with strict COVID-19 safety protocols and the movie’s difficult subject matter: teenage depression and suicide. So the London-based producer did something unconventional: She arranged to hire a company that would provide confidential virtual therapy sessions to anyone on set who needed it during shoots in New York, London and France. The program was so popular, she plans to replicate it on other productions. “We just had to make completely sure that in the process of making a movie about mental health, that we really took total care of the cast and crew who are going to be dealing with this, which is a very sensitive subject,” said Laurie, a producer at See-Saw Films. “I think it’s something that we’ll see a lot more of.” Regardless of the subject matter, film and TV sets can be stressful and dangerous places to work . The pandemic added a raft of anxieties as cast and crews returned to work to face rigorous safety protocols such as testing, masking and social distancing. The streaming boom put more pressure on film workers as production of new shows spiked and crew worked longer hours to keep up with demand, fueling burnout and rising labor tensions. As a result, more producers are considering offering therapy services, both on set and virtually, to help film workers cope with on-the-job stress. Among the beneficiaries is Solas Mind, the British firm hired by See-Saw Films for the Sony released feature “The Son.” The company has developed a digital platform to allow crew members to schedule therapy sessions, and it has worked with studios such as Apple TV and NBC Universal. With a team of 30 counselors and psychotherapists, Solas Mind is looking to expand in the U.S. and Canada to meet demand from producers for its services. “That sense of isolation where people are away from families, locked down in hotel rooms, all the nice stuff about the industry, the social side, had gone,” said the company’s founder, Sarah McCaffrey. “There was a massive demand for people just to be able to speak to somebody at the end of the working day.” While it is typical to hear of producers catering to every whim of A-list stars, crews often get little support. And despite rising costs, some producers recognize the benefit of offering therapy services as an additional perk to attract crew members. “Productions are longer, I think budgets are tighter, so schedules are tighter, which has all those knock-on effects of people being exhausted, leading ineffectively,” said McCaffrey, a psychotherapist and former actor. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents technical workers on film and TV sets, favors the push to add more therapists to productions. “Making even more mental health resources and support available to crews and anyone who needs it is a good thing,” said Jonas Loeb, spokesman for IATSE. He noted that the union has worked with the Motion Picture & Television Fund and other groups to offer mental health resources to crew members. The use of therapists on film sets is relatively uncommon, but there have been a few high profile examples. Georgia-based therapist Kim Whyte was tapped to assist the 2020 production of Amazon’s acclaimed limited series “The Underground Railroad” to help the cast and crew cope with the difficult subject matter on set. “Studios and producers are really becoming more mindful about the pressures and the stressors that are going on in our society in general, and they are wanting to help their people involved with their project,” Whyte said, adding that common issues clients raise include stresses of gig work, financial insecurities and separation anxiety. Film and TV production is stressful. Some sets are turning to therapy Anousha Sakoui The LA Times January 9, 2023 With the impact of the pandemic and the boom in streaming, film sets in the U.K. and the U.S. are seeing more focus from mental health advocates. 'Gen V' / Amazon MGM Studios Press Room Stay informed with the latest updates on press releases, media coverage, and exciting event announcements.

Previous Next Amazon Studios is partnering with the Savannah College of Art and Design to provide LGBTQ+ short filmmakers with up to $15,000 this fall as part of the 2023 SCAD Savannah Film Festival . As the presenting sponsor of the SAVFF LGBTQ+ Short Film Competition, which will premiere during the festival in October, Amazon Studios will donate up to $15,000 to winners. The studio will also host a panel discussion on the future of LGBTQIA+ storytelling, as well as provide educational opportunities for SCAD students and alumni and a networking session for filmmakers. "At Amazon Studios we have long prioritized amplifying underrepresented voices; it is part of the equity work we are committed to doing" Latasha Gillespie, global head of DEIA for Amazon Studios and Prime Video, says in a statement provided to EW. "We recognize the joy, complexity and power of LGBTQIA+ storytelling and we are thrilled to support these filmmakers through our collaboration with SCAD." "We are grateful that Amazon Studios has joined us to help move the needle on this very critical issue," adds SCAD Savannah Film Festival executive director Christina Routhier. "This competition and its mentorship effect can help the next generation of LGBTQ+ storytellers achieve new creative and professional goals and build sustainable careers, and we hope to inspire other institutions and festivals to follow our lead with similar dedicated programs." SCAD also provides the following directions to those wishing to submit a short film to the competition: To be eligible, a director, writer, or producer contributing to the film must identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.Films should be under 40 minutes in length and represent excellence in storytelling and execution.Submitted films can be narrative or documentary formats, reflecting unique insight into LGBTQ+ themes, issues, or ideas.The film's content should embody a personal connection to the subject and showcase the filmmaker's artistic approach to visual storytelling.Interested filmmakers can submit their film to the competition via FilmFreeway . The 2023 SCAD Savannah Film Festival will take place October 21–28 in Savannah. SCAD and Amazon Studios partner to provide cash prize to LGBTQ+ filmmakers Patrick Gomez Entertainment Weekly May 15, 2023 The Savannah College of Art and Design and Amazon have created a dedicated SAVFF LGBTQ+ Short Film Competition, which will premiere this October during the annual SCAD film festival in Savannah. ​ Press Room Stay informed with the latest updates on press releases, media coverage, and exciting event announcements.

Previous Next While many organizations in Hollywood and beyond seem to have moved on from their commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, Amazon MGM Studios ’ Customer and Content DEIA team is continuing to push forward. The company has published a progress report on its film and TV productions since implementing in 2021 its Inclusion Policy and Playbook , a best-practices resource for writing, casting and hiring inclusively and creating an equitable and accessible working environment on set. To measure the impact of its guidelines (and create accountability), Amazon MGM Studios is sharing gender and race/ethnicity data for cast and creative leadership for all 195 of its scripted and unscripted U.S. Originals released between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2023 (119 series and 76 movies). Over the past three years, the share of female or non-binary representation onscreen got closer to parity, increasing from 46 percent in 2020 to 49 percent in 2022. Meanwhile, onscreen representation of non-Hispanic white characters has actually been proportionate or just below proportionate with the real-life U.S. population share of 59 percent. However, this does not mean that all people of color are proportionately represented — for example, Amazon’s report acknowledges that the percentage of Hispanic/Latino cast members continuously falls below the 19 percent U.S. share, while there is an overindex of performers who identify as multiracial. Amazon MGM Studios’ “Progress on Inclusion” report, 2023 COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS Amazon MGM Studios’ “Progress on Inclusion” report, 2023 COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS Diversification is happening very slowly behind the scenes, with the greatest increase being women as writers, rising from 40 percent in 2020 to 54 percent two years later. But men continue to make up the majority of creators, directors, producers and showrunners. White hegemony is even more pronounced, maintaining 76 percent of top creative roles last year (down from 81 percent the year before the Inclusion Policy was introduced). Diverse staffing was achieved in part through working with nonprofits like Streetlights and platforms and services including Array Crew, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, Crewvie, Free the Work and Staff Me Up. And for personnel with disabilities, such as aspiring producer Harold Foxx, an alumnus of RespectAbility’s 2021 Entertainment Lab who was hired as a post-production intern on the 2022 original movie Something from Tiffany’s , cc:DEIA worked with to make sure they were provided with the necessary resources to do their job. For Foxx, who is deaf, that meant making sure the post supervisor had productivity tools such as captioning on early movie cuts and video conferences as well as interpreters available virtually on-demand through contracts with third-party ASL interpretation services. “I learned so much from being able to sit in on creative meetings and would not have understood the intricacies that go into editing a film had the team not supplied me with virtual ASL interpreters,” Foxx says in the report. The report also rounded up the various partnerships that indicate Amazon MGM Studios’ investment in pipelines for historically excluded individuals, such as its work with the Latino Film Institute (which includes a $50,000 finishing fund for a U.S.-based Latino filmmaker), with Howard University (via the work and study Howard Entertainment Program) and with the Savannah Film Festival (via an LGBTQ+ short film contest). Qualitatively, the report explained how the cc:DEIA team reviews every project for tropes, harmful dialogue and lack of multidimensionality or inauthenticity before it receives a green light, tapping their consultancy partners including Anti-Defamation League, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, Color of Change, Define American, Disability Media Alliance Project, GenderCool, GLAAD, Pillars Fund, RespectAbility, Storyline partners and Think Tank for Inclusion and Equity if needed. In the past two years, the team has conducted 146 green light assessments and consulted on content 181 times across 126 projects. During production, the studio also considered the side effects of diverse casting, such as actors experiencing harassment . Anticipating such issues with its high-profile genre title The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power , Amazon MGM Studios provided an on-set “emotional wellness professional” for the cast and crew, such as Ismael Cruz Córdova, who is the first person of color to play an elf in Middle-earth. These emotional wellness resources have so far been offered on a production-by-production basis, but the company’s next steps include expanding that offering to more productions next year, as well as continuing to improve its demographic data collection methodology (particularly for below-the-line crew) and localizing its DEIA strategy for territories outside of the U.S. And given that the company recently canceled POC-centered series including With Love and The Horror of Dolores Roach , both from Gloria Calderón Kellett, it will be worth keeping an eye on the longevity of future series featuring the historically excluded on Amazon’s slate. Women Represented Majority of Amazon Originals Writers in 2022 Rebecca Sun The Hollywood Reporter December 14, 2023 Amazon MGM Studios has provided a progress report on DEIA behind and in front of the camera since it implemented its Inclusion Policy and Playbook two years ago. 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' and 'Something from Tiffany's' Press Room Stay informed with the latest updates on press releases, media coverage, and exciting event announcements.

Previous Next Join Amazon Studios’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team for a lively conversation as we celebrate VOICES: Asian & Pacific Islander Representation in Film and Media , and the one-year anniversary of Amazon Studios’ VOICES event series. Opening remarks by Latasha Gillespie , Global Head of DEI - Amazon Studios, Prime Video, IMDb. Speakers include Jenny Han , Author and Creator of The Summer I Turned Pretty ; and Dino-Ray Ramos , Award-winning journalist and Founder of Diaspora. Asian & Pacific Islander Representation in Film & Media (2022) June 4, 2022 at 7:00:00 AM Join Amazon Studios’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team for a lively conversation as we celebrate VOICES: Asian & Pacific Islander Representation in Film and Media Events & Learnings cc:DEIA's events dive into the history and data of inequities in Hollywood, and ways we can change the narrative across our productions.

Previous Next Amazon MGM released a report today detailing the progress it has made in supporting increased diversity in front of and behind the camera for its TV series and films. It shows significant growth in representation of women and people of color in creative roles and onscreen gains for women, people of color and LGBTQIA+ talent. The report (read it here ) highlights changes driven by the studio’s Inclusion Policy and Playbook, which launched in summer 2021 to codify Amazon MGM Studios’ existing DEIA practices with the aim of creating content that is more inclusive and representative of U.S. audiences, the company said. “One of the most important things the data has shown us is the importance of being in business with diverse decision makers,” said Latasha Gillespie , global head of DEIA for Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video and Freevee. “Representation increases in every area — from onscreen talent to Heads of Department — resulting in more authentic content. We need to continue to invest in creators from underrepresented groups to see long term, systematic change.” Here are some of the reports key findings, per Amazon: Representation of all women grew across creative roles (creators, directors, producers, showrunners and writers) for Amazon Originals series and movies from 35% to 43%. Women of color were a large proportion of that growth, increasing from 8% to 13%. People of color in top creative roles increased across movies and series from 19% to 24%. LGBTQIA+ also experienced increased representation across top creative roles, growing from 3% to 5%. People of color are seeing themselves equitably reflected on-screen in Originals movies and series for main cast (lead, regular/recurring, and supporting) roles at 45% (41.1% US Census). Women of color make up 23% of total on-screen women representation, up from 20%. LGBTQIA+ on screen talent in main cast roles increased from 4% to 7% across Originals movies and series. “The world remains a complicated place, but we all have the opportunity to validate the human experience in the work we do,” Gillespie added. “If we are successful, we will tell inclusive stories that entertain audiences all over the world, while increasing our humanity toward one another.” Amazon MGM Diversity Report Shows Gains For Persons Of Color, Women & LBQTBIA+ In Its Films & TV Series Erik Pederson Deadline December 14, 2023 Amazon MGM released a report today detailing the progress it has made in supporting increased diversity in front of and behind the camera for its TV series and films. Amazon MGM Studios Press Room Stay informed with the latest updates on press releases, media coverage, and exciting event announcements.

Previous Next From Emmy Award-winner Jason Katims ( Friday Night Lights), As We See It follows Jack ( Rick Glassman ), Harrison ( Albert Rutecki ), and Violet ( Sue Ann Pien ), twentysomething roommates on the autism spectrum, as they strive to get and keep jobs, make friends, fall in love, and navigate a world that eludes them. With the help of their families, aide, and sometimes even each other, these roommates experience setbacks and celebrate triumphs on their own unique journeys towards independence and acceptance. Series stars Glassman, Rutecki, and Pien all identify as living on the autism spectrum. The series also stars Sosie Bacon as their aide Mandy, Chris Pang as Violet’s brother Van, and Joe Mantegna as Jack’s father Lou. Join Jason and the cast as they discuss the process to create a series that authentically portrays the Autism experience, hosted by Easterseals Disability Services. For over 100 years, Easterseals has been the indispensable disability services resource to millions of families across the country. Its Easterseals in Entertainment initiative has been encouraging and supporting greater disability representation in storytelling through content creation, talent development and expert consultation. Easterseals was proud to be one of the organizations that provided consultative support on this groundbreaking series. Amazon Studios’ Voices events dive into the history and data of inequities in Hollywood, and ways we can change the narrative across our productions VOICES: “As We See It” February 10, 2022 at 8:00:00 AM Join executive producer, Jason Katims, and the cast of Prime Video’s new series As We See It for a candid conversation about authentic neurodivergent representation. The series is a rare, entertaining, and heartfelt look at twentysomething roommates on the autism spectrum navigating life and its hurdles. Presented by Easterseals Disability Services. Events & Learnings cc:DEIA's events dive into the history and data of inequities in Hollywood, and ways we can change the narrative across our productions.

Previous Next Amazon Studios has partnered with IllumiNative to create the IllumiNative Episodic Directors Program. Over the next year, the inaugural cohort of early- and mid-career Indigenous filmmakers will shadow directors on the upcoming second season of the streamer’s neo-Western series Outer Range , which includes an Indigenous character among its main cast. The participants will be paid for their work, with travel and accommodations covered. Although the filmmakers will not be hired to direct an episode as part of their program participation (a component first introduced by NBCU Launch and subsequently adopted by other studios such as Disney), Amazon says that it will consider program alumni for future gigs. “Amazon Studios is intentional in developing accurate stories and characters by and about Native peoples, and IllumiNative has been an invaluable resource in this work,” Amazon Studios and Prime Video global head of DEIA Latasha Gillespie said in a statement. “We are proud to grow our relationship with them and provide a pathway for Indigenous directors to build their careers.” The new pipeline program builds on the pre-existing partnership between the two organizations, with IllumiNative having consulted on Amazon series including Outer Range , The English and Three Pines . “Over the past few years, we have seen the huge success of Native content on streaming platforms — the demand for the nuance and complexity that Native-led shows bring to the screen is undeniable,” IllumiNative founder and executive director Crystal Echo Hawk said in a statement. “In order to meet this demand, we have to ensure Native creatives are provided with the resources and opportunities to succeed in an industry that has historically forgotten or dismissed Native peoples. We’re so thrilled to expand our work with Amazon Studios on this exciting collaboration, to uplift new and emerging Native and Indigenous TV directors and ensure they not only break into the industry but thrive.” Read more about the inaugural IllumiNative Episodic Directors Program cohort below. While still a film production MFA student at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Razelle Benally (Oglala Lakota/Diné) teamed with Matthew Galkin to direct the recent Showtime docuseries Murder in Big Horn , and she also was a staff writer on season one of AMC’s Dark Winds . Now in her thesis year, the former Sundance Native Lab, Producers and Screenwriters Intensive fellow is in development on her first directorial feature. Daniel Edward Hyde (Navajo/Belize)’s credits include The Way Things Are (2011), Brousins (2012), Bert & Weiwei: Time (2014), The Making of Navajo Star Wars (2015) and Manna (2015). A 2007 alumnus of the University of Arizona’s School of Media Arts, the 2011 Sundance Native Lab Fellow received the first-ever Sen. John Pinto Memorial Film Grant and is currently in production on his debut feature, Yazhi Boy . A recent fellow in the DGA and AICP’s Commercial Diversity Directors Program, Christopher Cegielski (Navajo)’s clients have included ABC, United Airlines, Google, YouTube, Altra, AriZona Beverages and Dig Deep. He also has received fellowships from the Sundance Native Lab’s Time Warner Producers and Film Independent’s Project Involve (where he won the Sony Pictures Diversity Fellowship Grant) and this year co-directed History Channel’s docudrama Sitting Bull . Peshawn Bread (Comanche) developed their mockumentary The Daily Life of Mistress Red through the Sundance Film Institute’s 2014 Full Circle Fellowship and 2019 Indigenous Filmmakers Lab. They are currently developing an Indigenous vampire series and writing a short film in the Comanche language. Amazon Studios Teams With IllumiNative for Episodic Directors Program Rebecca Sun The Hollywood Reporter March 28, 2023 The four filmmakers of the inaugural cohort are Razelle Benally, Daniel Hyde, Christopher Cegielski and Peshawn Bread. From left: Christopher Cegielski, Peshawn Bread, Daniel Edward Hyde, Razelle Benally | COURTESY OF ILLUMINATIVE Press Room Stay informed with the latest updates on press releases, media coverage, and exciting event announcements.

Previous Next The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) has announced a host of new appointments, including seven trustees. The new trustees include Miranda Wayland, head of international DEI strategy and content at Amazon Studios and Prime Video, Labour politician and member of the House of Lords Judith Blake, Oxford University Shakespeare professor Judith Buchanan, Coutts media finance exec Judith Chan, PZ Cussons finance exec Helen Selwood, former CFO Shona Spence and business consultant Caroline Spicer. They join current RADA Council members Lolita Chakrabarti, Chipo Chung, Tim Clark, Paul Clay, Martin Donnelly, Buster Dover, Tanya Moodie, Maxine Peake, John Romeo, Tanya Rose, Tamar Thomas and chair Marcus Ryder. RADA has also appointed Jo Wardle, director of management consultancy Frog, to its development board. “We are incredibly honoured and pleased to welcome our new trustees,” said RADA Chair Marcus Ryder. “Covid-19 hit the entire arts sector across the U.K. incredibly hard, and changes to arts and education funding has forced everyone to look at their financial models again. I believe that our new trustees will not only be able to guide us through these changing times but enable us to shape RADA’s vision and strategy to ensure it excels creatively.” The trustees and board appointments have been selected for their expertise in higher education, social policy, equality, diversity and inclusion and finance to support RADA’s strategic development and bring new skills and perspectives to its council. RADA, which was founded almost 120 years ago, counts Cynthia Erivo, Tom Hiddleston, Jessie Buckley and Taron Egerton amongst its alumni. Amazon Studios Diversity Lead Among New Trustees at U.K. Drama School RADA K. J. Yossman Variety March 2, 2023 Amazon Studios diversity lead Miranda Wayland is among the new trustees at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Miranda Wayland, Head of International DEI Strategy and Content at Amazon Studios and Prime Video Press Room Stay informed with the latest updates on press releases, media coverage, and exciting event announcements.