MUMBAI: A study released by the “Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego University” reveals that female representation behind the scenes in film and television industry has reached an abysmal low.
 
Shocking figure reveals there were more female directors in late 90’s than we have today. Since 1998, the number of women directing any of the top 250 highest grossing films has dropped by two per cent. Which shows why we had to wait till 2010 to break the deadlock for a female director to win an Oscar for direction (Kathryn Bigelow, won the title for her film The Hurt Locker in 2010).
 
Music composing and sound designing witnesses the poorest results, one per cent of all composers and only five per cent of all sound designers are women. Only three per cent of the movies had more the 10 female employees and 38 per cent of the films choose not to employ a woman in the crucial behind the scenes role.
 
The production field gives us a better figure as we see women having little stronger representation as producers (23 per cent) and executive producers (19 per cent) compared to other behind the scenes roles.
 
In 2011 – 12, female representation as editor in documentaries and narrative features increased to 25 per cent from 23 per cent in 2008- 09 but unfortunately the percentile dropped to 20 in 2013 – 14.
 
The study also reveals that the representation is much stronger when it comes to independent posts in documentaries and narrative features and hence this woman under employment crisis cannot be termed as lack of intent or quality, and the forging forward industry should ensure better results.