In a world where we’re inundated with unrealistic images of women in the media, it’s our corporate duty to show women in a positive light – especially on International Women’s Day.
Women don’t always get the upper hand when it comes to positive representations on screen.
They are often shoved into corners and made to fit into tiny narratives of what mainstream media perceives them to be. Virgin Marys. Primadonnas. Subservient wives. “Bad girls”. The overworked single mother. The ambitious career woman. The list goes on and on.
But what if we diversified the playing field a bit?
They are so much more than accessories in film and video content. Historically speaking, we’re only now seeing more diverse representations of female characters in film and television. Though the progress is moving at a glacial pace, we’re inching towards a wider spectrum of full-fledged characters. And when it comes to women of colour onscreen, we’re slowly getting better at representation there, as well.
Creating nuanced, well-thought-out, and three-dimensional characters means getting into the mind of the person onscreen. What would they do in certain situations? What are their internal and external goals? What is their trajectory in a long form body of work?
In film, a writer and/or director must answer these tough questions. But when it comes to corporate video (which obviously follows a much different format) how can we combat these stereotypes?
Well, we can start by being creative with the types of videos we create. If our video relies on traditional narratives, we can think outside the box on how to spice things up. Doing a video campaign about kitchen appliances? Think of new ways to tell that narrative that borrows from, subverts, or plays on traditional roles. Doing a PSA on women’s beauty products? Create ways of challenging societal beauty norms through the arts. Allow female actors to discuss a wide range of topics and ideas. Showcase the beauty through female representation.
Here at Key West Video, we aim to represent all demographics and backgrounds. For more information on the services we provide, visit our website today!
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