Black Panther’s Michael B Jordan pledges to adopt ‘inclusion rider’
Black Panther star Michael B Jordan has adopted a clause which demands diversity on all the films his production company works on.
The ‘inclusion rider’ will be used by Outlier Society Productions, the production company run by Jordan, who plays Erik Killmonger in Black Panther.
The clause is used by actors to demand that projects use a diverse cast and crew.
Announcing that the Outlier Society would adopt the rider, he wrote that he was doing so “in support of the women and men who are leading this fight.”
Sharing on Instagram, Jordan wrote: “I’ve been privileged to work with powerful woman & persons of color throughout my career & it’s Outlier’s mission to continue to create for talented individuals going forward. If you want to learn more about how to support the cause – link in bio. #OutlierSociety.”
The share included a link to the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, a think-tank which studies diversity in entertainment.
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The term ‘inclusion rider’ was used at the Oscars by Frances McDormand when she accepted the gong for Best Actress, and the concept of it is supported by various other stars.
At the Academy Awards, picking up the honour for Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri, McDormand said: “Look around, ladies and gentlemen, because we all have stories to tell and projects we need financed.
“Don’t talk to us about it at the parties tonight. Invite us into our office in a couple of days — or you can come to ours, whichever suits you best – and we’ll tell you all about them…
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“I have two words for you: inclusion rider.”
The University of Southern California’s Dr Stacy Smith, a media researcher, coined the term.
According to the University of Southern California, an inclusion rider is: “A-list actors can incorporate a clause in their contracts that stipulates that inclusion, both on camera and behind the scenes for crew members, be reflected in films.
“The rider states that women, people of colour, people with disabilities, and members of LGBT and marginalised communities who are traditionally under-represented be depicted on screen in proportion to their representation in the population.”
The critically acclaimed Black Panther film has brought with it many conversations about diversity in Hollywood.
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Last week the Hunger Games star Amandla Stenberg said she had turned down a role in the movie, saying it is because she felt uncomfortable because she is biracial and light skinned.
Marvel last year moved to quash speculation that two warriors in the film Black Panther would be in a lesbian relationship.
The film, released in February 2018, is about T’Challa, the superhero king and protector of African nation Wakanda, who featured in Captain America: Civil War.
Fans had been excited by the prospect of Okoye and Ayo, two of the titular character’s bodyguards, getting together as Ayo and fellow female warrior Aneka do in the comics.
But they were disappointed and accused filmmakers of queerbaiting and lesbian erasure when it was announced that the pair would not be in a romantic relationship with each other.
Black Panther’s screenwriter has also opened up about the lesbian romance which was cut from the film.
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Roxane Gay has since spoken out about not being invited to the Black Panther premiere in spite of the fact that she wrote one of the Marvel comic book series’ titles.
Gay, who wrote the Marvel comics World of Wakanda series, explored the other characters in the world where Black Panther is set.
Sharing her sorrow at not being invited to the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Twitter, the writer said that her feelings were hurt when she discovered she would not be receiving an invite to the premiere.
