The Push for Pay Parity in Hollywood
Let's talk about something that's been a real thorn in Hollywood's side for way too long: the pay gap between men and women. Stories of unequal salaries, like the recent buzz about Claire Foy and Matt Smith’s differing paychecks on "The Crown," have become frustratingly common. But guess what? The tides are slowly turning, thanks to the powerful movement known as Time’s Up and its incredible supporters. A shining example of this positive shift can be seen at HBO, where the network has taken proactive steps to tackle its gender pay gap after meaningful conversations with Reese Witherspoon, a leading advocate for Time’s Up and star of HBO’s blockbuster hit "Big Little Lies."
A Closer Look at HBO's Commitment
In a candid chat with the Hollywood Reporter, HBO's president of programming, Casey Bloys, opened up about the changes inspired by Time’s Up. "One of the key things that emerged from reflecting on the [Time’s Up] movement and some enlightening discussions with Reese, who's truly leading the charge, is a significant step we've taken recently," he shared. "We've gone through all our shows with a fine-tooth comb to ensure there were no inappropriate pay disparities. And if we found any, we made sure to correct them moving forward. This is a direct result of the Time’s Up movement," Bloys emphasized.
Ensuring Fair Compensation
Bloys didn't get into specifics about which shows had salary adjustments, but he assured that the initiative would ensure that everyone was "getting what they deserve." Now, this doesn't mean that men and women will automatically receive the same paychecks across the board. In any industry, salaries need to reflect experience and specialized skills. However, Bloys did highlight that HBO would actively work to adjust salaries when a star's popularity grows or when a show hits it big, just like what happened with "Big Little Lies," where the cast negotiated unprecedented pay raises after the show's success.
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A New Approach to Pay Structures
Bloys explained, "When you're into Season 2 or 3 of a show, and it's a runaway success, it becomes tough to justify paying people vastly different amounts. That's where you need to reassess the numbers, ensuring they haven't just stayed on the path set during the pilot stage." He went on to say, "What's fascinating about this entire [Time’s Up] movement is that it's reminding everyone to do the right thing, and it's retraining all of us to think differently about fairness and equality."
This insightful piece was crafted by Katie Rosseinsky. It originally appeared on our sister site,Grazia Daily.
