American Horror Story’s Ryan Murphy starts Half Foundation to increase diversity in Hollywood.
Ryan Murphy is known for creating amazing TV show. In fact, his latest production, American Crime Story, has become one of the most talked about shows on TV with Twitter going crazy ever since the show first premiered.
This episode of The Kardashians on FX is my fav #ThePeoplevOJSimpson
— Jasmine Waltz (@jazzywaltz) February 3, 2016
But now Murphy is trying a new venture, diversifying Hollywood. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy has started a foundation within his 20th Century Fox TV-based production company.
The mission of the foundation is to have 50 percent of all director slots on his shows filled by women, people of color and members of the LGBT community.
By the end of 2016, he is committed to having 50 percent of all director slots on his shows — Scream Queens, American Crime Story and American Horror Story — filled by either women or minority candidates, which he defines as people of color or members of the LGBTQ community. The prolific producer, who plans to hire someone to co-manage the foundation with him, will also create a database of names and contact information to share with other showrunners who are also looking to challenge the status quo.
In fact, Murphy plans on working with colleges to find aspiring filmmakers looking for mentors.
Additionally, Half will begin extensive outreach efforts at colleges and universities, beginning with visits to AFI, UCLA and USC before expanding around the country later this year. The foundation will then align candidates with mentors within Ryan Murphy Productions, as well as with internships and shadowing opportunities around Hollywood. The goal, per Murphy, is to let young people know that there is a place for them in Hollywood. “The industry has always been about, you come to us,” he says. “There’s not a lot of effort and inclusion, and I’m saying, ‘No, we’re going to go to you.’” He already has enlisted a cadre of top names, including Dede Gardner, Nina Jacobson, Supergirl‘s Ali Adler and American Crime Story director Anthony Hemingway to assist in Half’s outreach.
Murphy tells THR that: “I personally can do better.”
While Hollywood is continuing to point fingers as who is to blame, Murphy is one of the first Hollywood producers to stand up, take accountability, and create the change America has been asking for.
