Where are all the Women YouTubers?
Lesson 2: Don’t be afraid to take those bigger entertainment roles
Consider this:
- Kathryn Bigelow was the first ever woman to win the Oscar for Best Director and Best Film. This happened in 2010 at the 82nd Academy Awards;
- In 2015, neither 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony nor Weinstein Company released a film which had been directed by a female.
Staggering right?
What is it about entertainment that sees women relegated to the sidelines, taking on supporting roles? Is it intimidation? Lack of opportunity? Are women just not interested in taking on these parts?
According to an article by Vulture, the issue certainly isn’t underrepresentation or lack of interest. In fact, they were able to name 100 accomplished women directors who were being overlooked.
Needless to say, unless we start creating our own opportunities, nothing is going to change. And whilst a Hollywood blockbuster is probably off the cards (unless you’re swimming in a vat of money like Scrooge McDuck) there are a few steps you can take to get your work out there.
Crowdfunding
Look, if a guy can crowdfund a burrito, chances are with the right publicity you could crowdfund your ambitious film production. Indeed, this is the way the fabulous women behind The Empowerment Project got their documentary off the ground.
So, if you think you’ve got a great idea that strangers will invest in, why not set up a crowdfunding campaign today on one of these sites:
Collaborate
Collaboration can benefit you in many ways. For one, it allows you and the other artists to pool your resources.
Additionally, No Film School cites creative benefits as well:
“We will benefit from the creative power of the collective consciousness.
When we can truly collaborate collectively, we will actually increase the artistic integrity of our projects.”
Display your talents on YouTube
The growth and growth of YouTube cannot be underestimated. As current statistics stand:
- 1 billion people use YouTube;
- There are 4 billion video views on YouTube each day;
- 81.9% of US teens between 14 and 17 watch YouTube;
- 81% of US millennials watch YouTube.
Therefore, if you showcase your videos on YouTube, chances are someone is going to see them — maybe even a studio executive with a generous chequebook.
And as long as YouTube remains free, it’s a budget friendly means to promote your work, especially if you know the SEO tricks to score views.
Join SushiVid
If you’re an influencer, the best place for you to expand your sphere of influence is SushiVid! It’s an opportunity for you to gain exposure and earn some cash to keep your career going.
Even better, at SushiVid we want to empower women influencers, to grow together regardless of age, ethnicity, background, religion, race or colour. If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that our vision is to create a flourishing shoal of Asian YouTube talent — a community that gives back to its creators.
When you’re ingrained in such a supportive network, there’s no room for fear. So, what are you waiting for? Strive for those bigger roles and get yourself noticed!
Don’t let the man get you down.
