Tessa Thompson Challenges Hollywood To Hire More Female Directors & People of Color – Celebs Respond

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson Challenges Hollywood To Hire More Female Directors & People of Color – Celebs Respond

Actress Tessa Thompson has a new challenge for all of Hollywood for the next 18 months. The Creed II actress, Thompson, 35, announced at the Sundance Film Festival that she would like to see the lack of women behind the lens grow from the current low rate of 4%. She states,

“Because only 4 percent of the top 100 studio films over the last decade have been directed by women, Times Up is initiating a challenge, the 4 percent challenge, and I intend to take it,”

Thompson continues,

“I commit to working with a female director in the next 18 months.”

“Because only 4% of the top 100 studio films over the last DECADE have been directed by women, #TIMESUP is initiating a challenge, the 4% challenge, and I intend to take it: I commit to working with a female director in the next 18 months.” –@TessaThompson_x #TIMESUPX2 pic.twitter.com/GjsuqeryKj

— TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) January 26, 2019

Many of Thompson’s peers in Hollywood from actress Reese Witherspoon, Rosie Perez, and director, Jordan Peele come in support of her new 18 month challenge via social media. See their responses below.

Count me in @TessaThompson_x #TIMESUPX2 ?????Support #FemaleFilmmakers https://t.co/Kj4FJqTBhs

— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) January 26, 2019

Sorry for previous typo… I'm down. ?@TIMESUPNOW
#4percentChallenge. https://t.co/q2GIPPufF3

— Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) January 27, 2019

https://twitter.com/jordanpeele/status/1089348572657504256?s=21

.@jurneesmollett you already know. I accept the @timesupnow #4percentChallenge y’all with it @JeniferLewis @TheBrettMahoney @octarell @leedanielsent @BrianGrazer @MarioVanPeebles? https://t.co/qwBLrzj7RG

— Jussie Smollett (@JussieSmollett) January 26, 2019

https://twitter.com/kerrywashington/status/1088936721725702146?s=21

To add, Thompson isn’t just restricting the challenge for only the empowerment of women, she is also asking for the support of more people of color to cover these and other films. In a tweet, Thompson announced her commitment to see the number of Female journalists of color to double.

I also committed to Doubling the number of women and POC journalist covering the films I have coming out this year. (One in April and in June). TimesUpx2 https://t.co/WFFSXSwuhB

— Tessa Thompson (@TessaThompson_x) January 26, 2019

Would you agree with Tessa more women and POC women need more jobs in Hollywood? Let’s us know in the comments!