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Tessa Thompson has been around the Hollywood block for awhile.
Thompson's first large role was in 2005's Veronica Mars alongside Kristen Bell. Recently, she's become more well known for films like For Colored Girls, Creed, and Thor: Ragnarok.
And now, this Hollywood veteran has a message for her cohorts.
At the Sundance festival, Thompson took a stand when she challenged actors and producers to work with a female director in the next 18 months.
Tessa Thompson Talks 'Time's Up' and Male Power in Hollywood www.youtube.com
.@TessaThompson_x announces committing to @TIMESUPNOW 4% female director challenge. She is moving the needle again! #soproudofyou!!!— Annenberg Inclusion Initiative (@Annenberg Inclusion Initiative)1548474724.0
The "4% Challenge" moniker comes from the fact that only 4% of the top 100 studio films of the past decade have been directed by women.
Thompson is also making sure that all press coverage she receives for her films coming out will have double the press coverage by female and POC journalists than the work she normally puts out.
“Because only 4% of the top 100 studio films over the last DECADE have been directed by women, #TIMESUP is initiati… https://t.co/FXBqwxUkJX— TIME'S UP (@TIME'S UP)1548482155.0
I also committed to Doubling the number of women and POC journalist covering the films I have coming out this year.… https://t.co/q72IT2DHOS— Tessa Thompson (@Tessa Thompson)1548538057.0
Celebrities from across Hollywood have responded to Thompson's challenge.
Count me in @TessaThompson_x #TIMESUPX2 🙋🏼♀️Support #FemaleFilmmakers https://t.co/Kj4FJqTBhs— Reese Witherspoon (@Reese Witherspoon)1548539346.0
You know I’m in!!!! https://t.co/uQaf5h9rzC— Jordan Peele (@Jordan Peele)1548555913.0
At the @sundancefest, #Wounds stars @armiehammer and Zazie Beetz say they accept the #4percentchallenge announced b… https://t.co/Cp9szXSkOn— AP Entertainment (@AP Entertainment)1548550380.0
Hell yes I’m in. 👊 #4percentChallenge https://t.co/rljAhwD15n— olivia wilde (@olivia wilde)1548541415.0
Sorry for previous typo... I'm down. 💯 @TIMESUPNOW #4percentChallenge. https://t.co/q2GIPPufF3— Rosie Perez (@Rosie Perez)1548560070.0
As a female filmmaker and an actress wanting to work with more women directors: I. AM. IN. https://t.co/t6Yhh0Yp9o— Amber Tamblyn (@Amber Tamblyn)1548536067.0
I am a producer, I commit. https://t.co/lrq0eABJet— teri weinberg (@teri weinberg)1548547834.0
@MishaGreen @TIMESUPNOW @JordanPeele @scottderrickson @johnlegend @JoePokaski @janetmock WHO KNOWS if I'll be worki… https://t.co/rYkpB9nxm4— Sera Gamble (@Sera Gamble)1548545304.0
The landscape of inclusion is continually challenged in this day and age.
When Rihanna released her new line of lingerie, Savage X Fenty, she encouraged women everywhere to "be wearing lingerie for their damn selves."
"I can only hope to encourage confidence and strength by showing lingerie in another light. You don't have to stick to one personality with lingerie; it's fun to play around ... I want people to wear Savage x Fenty and think: I'm a bad b*tch. I want women to own their beauty."
I’m thinking of women like Rihanna and Tessa Thompson and Mindy Kaling changing the landscape of representation and… https://t.co/825O43p6Na— Tiffany Vazquez 💅🏾 (@Tiffany Vazquez 💅🏾)1548553739.0
The fact that so many big time directors and other artists are committing to the challenge points to a hopeful success of the landscape shift.
I'm counting TV as well! 🙌🏾✊🏾💃🏾 #4percentChallenge https://t.co/q46MAPzRv5— Misha Green (@Misha Green)1548560838.0
I accept the @TIMESUPNOW #4percentChallenge and pledge to work with a female director on a feature film in the next… https://t.co/iN5Rn22Jhe— Kumail Nanjiani (@Kumail Nanjiani)1548605105.0
excited to be starting 2019 working with a talented female director, @melinamatsoukas. i am with you… https://t.co/qI09qXs12A— Jodie Turner-Smith (@Jodie Turner-Smith)1548551982.0
I’m in! https://t.co/StZF53QRfd— Constance Wu (@Constance Wu)1548607137.0
Love this! @bad_robot is 100% on board! Thank you @TessaThompson_x, @TIMESUPNOW and @Inclusionists! https://t.co/YCvIGqF4I4— JJ Abrams (@JJ Abrams)1548616340.0
Time is waaaay up. As an actor and director, I am sickened by these statistics. This needs to change NOW. I officia… https://t.co/7GzWABHjm6— Bryce Dallas Howard (@Bryce Dallas Howard)1548620040.0
At least, Thompson is hopeful:
We’ve got this! #4percentChallenge https://t.co/qDQlfXXWtS— Tessa Thompson (@Tessa Thompson)1548562815.0
And we will definitely be watching closely to see how people follow through with this.