Julie Ann Crommett at Disney Film Studios

In February 2017, Julie Ann Crommett left her job at Google to take a new role within the Studio Entertainment business segment of The Walt Disney Company (Disney). Crommett was charged with ensuring that content created by Disney&apos;s film studios was culturally competent and authentic. Crommett needed to consider the cultural authenticity of not only new creative content (and characters) but also Disney&apos;s past box office hits, which often led to live-action remakes. She spent her first 90 days in the position meeting with key stakeholders such as studio heads to understand their perspectives. Crommett believed there was a lack of diversity among directors of theatrical-release films across the industry. She also believed that directors with multicultural points of view were crucially needed in the film industry. Crommett thought Disney had an opportunity to fill this gap. In the summer of 2017, new to Disney and the studio film industry, and attempting to rattle long-held mindsets and practices, Crommett needed to plot her next steps carefully.<p>Excerpt</p><p>Julie Ann Crommett at Disney Film Studios</p><p>Images are incredibly powerful. We can create the future through what people see.</p><p>—Geena Davis, actress</p><p>In February 2017, Julie Ann Crommett left her job at Google Inc. (Google) to take a new role within the Studio Entertainment business segment of The Walt Disney Company (Disney). Crommett was charged with ensuring that content created by Disney&apos;s film studios was culturally competent and authentic. How characters, for example, were portrayed in films had implications for how they were portrayed in Disney&apos;s parks or translated into consumer goods. Crommett needed to consider the cultural authenticity not only of new creative content (and characters) but also of Disney&apos;s past box office hits, which often led to live-action remakes. In the summer of 2017, new to Disney and the studio film industry and attempting to rattle long-held mindsets and navigate new terrain, Crommett needed to plot her next steps carefully.</p><p>The Film Industry</p><p>The film industry produced, marketed, and distributed films. Films were either feature length or short. Films were financed and produced at one of the major “Hollywood” studios (i.e., Disney, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.) or at independent (indie) studios. Major studio films tended to cost more to make (up to hundreds of millions of dollars), had broader distribution, and had well-known actors and directors. Indie films were made outside of the “studio system,” had much lower budgets, could have distribution challenges, and often featured newcomers in front of and behind the camera. Raising money to produce an indie film could be particularly challenging. Film production could involve collaboration between one or multiple studios, which led to varying project costs and revenues. Distribution of films in 2017 was primarily through theatrical release (i.e., showing films in movie theaters). With the emergence of streaming services (e.g., Netflix), a shift from DVD sales as a key profit maker for the studios was underway.</p><p>. . .</p>