Penthouse Global Media steps in as Hollywood abandons many of today’s best female directors and cinematographers. On the heels of yet another year where the Academy Awards snubbed female filmmakers, Penthouse makes an offer.
“The mainstream film industry prides itself on telling the truth about the human condition,” says Penthouse CEO Kelly Holland. “But when it comes to sex—the most fundamental human condition—they pull down their petticoat and scamper away like a shamed Victorian debutante.” Holland continues, “It’s disappointing that the largest demographic on Earth is professionally overlooked by movie studios and awards ceremonies.”
Demonstrating their strong desire to do more than just talk, Penthouse is offering mainstream female filmmakers the chance to work on its major adult releases that will be viewed by millions each month. Penthouse broadcasts content over 10 channels in over 100 countries around the globe, reaching an audience significantly larger than many Hollywood studios will ever capture.
“To all of you talented women out there,” Holland announces, “not only do we have work for you, but we also offer equal pay.” Holland quips, “At Penthouse, we like to think everyone has XXX chromosomes, which explains why equality is so deeply embedded in our brand DNA.”
According to a recent report by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University, the percentage of female directors working on the 250 highest-grossing new releases from Hollywood actually declined from a paltry 9% in 2015 to 7% in 2016. And it gets worse from there. The number of female producers working on the top 250 films is down 2%, while the number of editors declined 5% as well. In fact, only 4% of the year’s top films employed a female cinematographer. This in an industry where the majority of consumers are women.
“The fact that 40% of the adult films nominated for industry awards last year were directed by women says a lot about the disparity between what we do and what the mainstream is up to,” Holland adds. “There is no longer an argument about whether or not adult entertainment is more balanced than Hollywood. It’s statistically proven.”
Penthouse has a long history of disrupting the mainstream entertainment space. In 1979, Bob Guccione famously produced Caligula, the classic XXX film written by Gore Vidal starring Helen Mirren, Sir John Gielgud, Peter O’Toole, and Sir Malcolm McDowell.
