Minority film, TV writers not advancing

Despite some advances by women and minority writers, white male scribes disproportionately dominate film and TV jobs in Hollywood, according to a study released Tuesday by the Writers Guild of America, West.

More than 30% of the American population is nonwhite, the study noted, yet minority writers accounted for fewer than 10% of employed television writers between 1999 and 2005. In film, the share of minority writers remained at 6%, unchanged since 1999, according to the sixth in a series of reports by the guild examining employment and earnings trends of its members.

“Little progress has been made,” said the report’s author, UCLA sociology professor Darnell Hunt.

Next year’s numbers, he said, are likely to be worse because of the merger of the UPN and WB networks into the new CW, which resulted in the cancellation of several minority-themed shows.

The findings were released earlier than usual, timed to the television hiring season.

“The disturbing problem which underlies the need for this report is matched only by the disturbing lack of change that has been the industry’s response,” said Guild President Patric M. Verrone.

The earnings gap between minorities and white males working in film and TV has widened. The median income of minority writers was $83,334 in 2005, versus $118,357 for white males.

Women TV writers earned virtually the same as men in 2005. The gap was nearly $10,000 in 2004. Nonetheless, the median income for female film writers was $40,000 less than for male writers.

Although older writers earned the most, they were significantly underrepresented on show staffs, the report said.

richard.verrier@latimes.com