Inclusivity has become a buzzword that often lacks much impact on change. However, it’s important we take an unfiltered look at our history and recognize the voices left out of storytelling in the entertainment industry. Understanding where we’ve been helps us acknowledge where we are now and what we can do as an industry to be more inclusive. It’s imperative that we allow storytellers to share stories from the perspective of a lived experience rather than a Hollywood fabrication.
Jay Zabriskie is a film instructor at LAFS and says there is no magic formula to become a more inclusive filmmaker. “What I do tell many students is how much their personal experiences would make interesting films. I emphasize that they must not create clones of what is already in the theatres and streaming. They must write unique stories stemming from their imaginations and lives lived not from the last movie they saw from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”