It’s quiet on the set for female, minority directors

Minority and female television directors continue to be largely excluded from the 40 most popular prime-time comedies and dramas, according to a report released Thursday by the Directors Guild of America. The report lays the blame on the four major networks and the major studios.

The study said that for the third consecutive year, white males directed more than 80% of episodes of the top 40 series. During the 2002-03 season, 13 of those shows did not hire any minority directors, 10 did not hire women directors and three series -- CBS’ “CSI: Miami” and “Yes, Dear” and Fox’s “24” -- hired neither women nor minority directors, the study contends.

“The report reveals that once again, the producers and the networks have failed to fulfill their contractual good-faith obligation to hire more women and minority directors,” DGA President Martha Coolidge said in a statement.

“Although for many years we have challenged the industry to open up employment opportunities for women and minorities, and last year made explicit the hiring records of the top 40 shows, it is clear from this report that the producers’ and the networks’ commitment to diversity is not reflected in their hiring of directors.”

Executives for the networks disputed the findings.

Fox executives pointed out that 25 minority directors directed 75 episodes last season of Fox dramas and comedies, while 13 female directors helmed 29 episodes of Fox shows.

“Our gains across our series for directors of color and women have been dramatic,” said Mitsy Wilson, senior vice president of diversity development for Fox. “While pleased with our efforts, we will continue to push for further increases in the employment of diverse directors.”

Said an ABC spokesman: “We’re extremely proud of the new talent initiatives we have in place to increase diversity, both in front of and behind the cameras, and feel our programming reflects these efforts. We’ve made progress and our commitment is ongoing.”

A CBS spokeswoman said, “Unfortunately, the DGA only looked at the top 40 shows. CBS continues to be committed to diversity, both on and off the screen. With that in mind, we would hope that our efforts for all of our programming be taken into consideration. In particular, the network has made exceptional diversity efforts on ‘The District,’ which has executive producer and director Pam Veasey, one of the only African American female show runners in prime-time dramatic television on the major networks.”

NBC executives could not be reached for comment.

Still, the DGA finds the hiring practices of women and minority directors by the producers and networks to be “deplorable,” Coolidge said, adding: “We are prepared to use all available resources at our disposal by making a good-faith effort now to employ more women and minorities, the producers and the networks can avoid negative public attention by making the right and ethical choice to be inclusive.”

Series that hired no minority directors included ABC’s “Eight Simple Rules,” “According to Jim” and “NYPD Blue”; CBS’ “My Big Fat Greek Life,” “Judging Amy” and “Becker”; NBC’s “Providence” and “Hidden Hills”; and Fox’s “Malcolm in the Middle.”

Shows that hired no female directors include NBC’s “Friends” and “Boomtown”; CBS’ “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “JAG” and “King of Queens”; and ABC’s “My Wife and Kids.”

In addition, shows that demonstrated a three-year pattern of “zero or token efforts” in hiring women and/or minority directors include “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Friends,” “King of Queens,” “CSI,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Judging Amy” and “My Wife and Kids.”

The report praised the female and minority hiring practices of Fox’s “Bernie Mac” and NBC’s “Third Watch,” “Frasier” and “ER.”