Prime Video celebrates women trailblazers in film and TV at inaugural event in London

BySSZee Media

Oct 2, 2024 #Bryce Dallas Howard, #Hollywood, #London, #MGM Studios, #News, #News Entertainment, #News Of The World, #Octavia Spencer, #Prime Video, #priyanka chopra, #Television, #Women

Prime Video hosted its first-ever Prime Video Presents: Trailblazers event at London’s South Bank Centre, shining a spotlight on the women shaping the future of film and television at Amazon MGM Studios. Hosted by Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon MGM Studios, and Kelly Day, VP of Prime Video International, the event featured discussions with leading women both in front of and behind the camera.

Attendees included actors Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Octavia Spencer, and Bryce Dallas Howard, alongside directors Charlotte Brändström and Louise Hooper, and producers such as Amy Pascal and Lindsey Weber. The event, held at Queen Elizabeth Hall, also welcomed top female executives from Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video.

The showcase delved into topics like building global franchises, appealing to younger audiences, and the rise of action heroines. Priyanka Chopra Jonas, star of Citadel and the upcoming film Heads of State, spoke candidly about her experience with Prime Video. “I was wanting to get out of the box and here with Amazon is where I got that,” she shared, adding, “it takes huge courage to back local stories,” she said.

Octavia Spencer, during a fireside chat, reflected on her journey in the industry. “For me, there weren’t a lot of female executives. So, to see how vastly different the industry is, how many opportunities are made available to us, I think it’s imperative that we come into the industry with as much in our arsenal as we can give,” Spencer said.

The event also previewed upcoming Prime Video content, including Citadel: Diana, The Devil’s Hour Season 2, and the highly anticipated Australian adaptation of The Office. Felicity Ward, star of the Australian The Office, revealed that Ricky Gervais was “very excited about a female lead,” while Laura Osma of Pimpinero: Blood and Oil discussed the importance of female representation in storytelling: “So many stories have been hidden for so long, but now we can delve into them.”

Prime Video also used the occasion to announce key developments, including the greenlight for The Untitled Neagley Project, a spinoff of Reacher starring Maria Sten, and the unveiling of the first-look clip for Citadel: Diana.

Jennifer Salke emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering women in entertainment. “We’ve had a mission to be a destination for women all around the world, and we’re starting to see progress with that,” she said. Kelly Day added, “We’ve expanded the storytelling so much for women, and it’s brought so many new customers to the service and ignited a lot of passion for our female viewers.”

Looking ahead, Prime Video plans to continue fostering female talent across the industry, with women playing a central role in its global expansion. “From the millions of viewers globally, to the women running the Prime Video and Studios teams in Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the US, Prime Video is being shaped by trailblazing women,” Day noted.

The event capped off with a focus on Prime Video’s £10 million skills and training initiative in the UK, which has seen 64% of all available spots go to women, particularly in traditionally male-dominated areas like sound, camera, and lighting.