FILM - Netflix Called Out By Gina Prince-Bythewood Netflix Explains

                                                                            Gina Prince-Bythewood

Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps & Gina Prince-Bythewood

Director and Screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood is completely beside herself. The outstanding Love and Basketball artist has voiced frustration about the manner in which her most recent project Beyond The Lights has been handled by Netflix. She took to social media to express her dissatisfaction and is aghast that her film has been deliberately categorized with ONLY other black films instead of being marketed as a romantic drama for everybody regardless of race. 

Ms. Prince-Bythewood feels Beyond The Lights has been stereotyped and suggests that whatever algorithm Netflix relies on is inaccurate and deeply flawed. Viewers who watch Beyond The Lights are, for instance, directed to watch other films with black actors.  In a chain of tweets, the Director and Screenwriter expounded further.

In the end the matter is explained by Ted Sarandos, CCO of Netflix who took the time to phone Ms. Gina Prince-Bythewood to explain matters further. This was done to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. 

1/3 the "more like this" on @netflix speaks directly to the issues we face in hollywood. #beyondthelights is a love story and a music film.

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 5, 2015

2/3 where is the notebook, notting hill, walk the line, dreamgirls? what algorithm do they use? the same that is used by studios --

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 5, 2015 

3/3 if there are black actors in it, only black folks will want to watch it. got to stop.

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 5, 2015 

.@1Life_DreamBIG filmmakers have to fight marketing and publicity until we are heard. market by genre not by race.

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 5, 2015 

issue is bigger than my film. look at "more like this" for FRUITVALE, MISTER & PETE, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, GIRLHOOD... https://t.co/0moI16hB6H

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 6, 2015 

1/6 Ted Sarandos CCO @netflix gave me a call. Good conversation. He broke it down like this:

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 6, 2015 

2/6 the banners on the home page, where most viewers find movies, reflect what we are fighting for which is films grouped by genre not race.

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 6, 2015 

3/6 I looked at "critically acclaimed films" and "romantic dramas" as examples to confirm and they indeed have a diverse slate. So props.

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 6, 2015 

4/6 In regards 2 "more like this" he says it is strictly statistical based on audience not human -- people who watched beyond the lights...

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 6, 2015 

5/6 also watched these films. Over time, as more people, i.e. broader audience watches, the titles will supposedly broaden.

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 6, 2015 

6/6 Maybe instead of "more like this" it should say "viewers also watched this" which is more accurate...

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 6, 2015 

7/7 Most folks in his position would not take the time to reach out. Good look.

— Gina PrinceBythewood (@GPBmadeit) August 6, 2015 

All's well that ends well.

(c) JuicyChitChats 2015 [Sunday 9th August]

TAGS: JuicyChitChats-Film. Gina Prince-Bythewood. Beyond The Lights. Netflix. Ted Sarandos. LiveTalkLearnProsper
HASHTAGS: #JuicyChitChats-Film #GinaPrinceBythewood. #BeyondTheLights #NetflixLiveTalkLearnProsper #JuicyChitChats-LiveTalkLearnProsper