Jesse Jackson seeks more diversity in Hollywood

JESSE JACKSON SEEKS MORE DIVERSITY IN HOLLYWOOD
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Carl DiOrio]
On Tuesday, Rev Jesse Jackson met with Universal Studios President Ron Meyer about increasing diversity in the industry. Jackson's Tuesday meeting with Meyer and his planned sessions with various studio heads, talent agency executives and others are part of a continuing campaign by the civil rights leader's Rainbow Coalition to press for greater diversity in Hollywood's casting process and studio hiring. Citing data like a recent UCLA report showing low numbers of minority-oriented film roles, Jackson aims to convince industry elite that increased casting and hiring of minorities will broaden the creative scope of Hollywood entertainment and thus its revenue base. "We must go to each of the companies and agencies and urge them to make the industry open up and expand the market and the opportunities," Rev Jackson said Wednesday. "After all, we once did not know how big baseball could be until everyone could play. Right now, with the system (in) Hollywood, we don't know how big the entertainment market can be until everybody is able to participate."
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