Women Navigating the Film Industry: Insights from ASCEND's Industry Professionals Focus Group

"Who's the operator?"

African American women directing a shoot.

When a female camera operator arrived on set, that was the first question she heard.

Their success comes with challenges that their male colleagues do not always face. 

"You're looking at her," she replied.

The exchange lasted only a few seconds, but it reflected a challenge many women in film and television continue to face. The ASCEND Industry Professionals Focus Group revealed the experiences of women working behind the scenes in an industry built on creativity, storytelling, and collaboration. Their stories revealed a common reality: women in film frequently encounter gender bias, struggle with feelings of belonging, and often find themselves creating space in environments where they remain underrepresented.

While many have built successful careers, their journeys often include challenges that their male colleagues do not always face.

Gender Bias in Film

One of the environments where women in film continue to face barriers is the camera department, where many roles have traditionally been dominated by men.

A camera operator in the industry focus group recalled arriving on set and immediately being questioned about her role. Moments like this may seem small, but they reveal a larger issue. Gender bias still shapes assumptions about who belongs behind the camera and who is expected to lead in technical production roles.

Despite years of experience and proven qualifications, many women shared that they continue to be underestimated. One camera operator who worked her way up from Craft Service PA spoke about repeatedly being doubted throughout her career. Rather than allowing those doubts to discourage her, she adopted a mindset that helped push her forward:

"F*** you, watch me."

Her words captured the pressure many women face to constantly prove themselves in order to receive the same level of trust and respect that others are often given automatically.

For women of color and LGBTQ+ women, those barriers can feel even heavier.

A Black queer woman working in production described how intimidating it can be to enter a room where, as she explained, "traditionally nobody wants you there."

When representation is limited, entering a new environment can feel isolating. It can also create an added pressure to fight for acceptance while simultaneously trying to establish yourself professionally.

The Emotional Labor of Belonging

Beyond proving technical skills and qualifications, many women described the challenge of managing how they are perceived in professional environments.

Several participants shared that they often feel pressure to carefully balance confidence, leadership, and communication styles in ways that their male colleagues may not experience.

One camera operator explained that when directing others on set, she sometimes worries that people will think she is "being a b****" simply for doing her job.

Experiences like these reflect what researchers have described as "belonging uncertainty," a pattern in which people adjust their behavior in response to signals about whether they fit into a particular environment.

For many women in film, this can mean constantly evaluating how they communicate, lead, and interact with others.

It also highlights the double standards that women frequently encounter in professional spaces. Confidence in men can be viewed as leadership, while confidence in women may be labeled as "too emotional," "aggressive," or "difficult."

Despite these challenges, women continue to lead productions, manage teams, and create opportunities for others entering the industry.

Fighting for Space in the Industry

Although the focus group highlighted many challenges, the conversation repeatedly returned to one theme: the importance of mentorship, support systems, and women creating opportunities for one another.

Participants emphasized that mentorship remains essential because women entering the industry today continue to face many of the same barriers that previous generations encountered.

Industry Voices Shaping ASCEND

A camera director in the focus group described how women in the industry can help younger creatives "level up" by creating opportunities to network, gain hands-on experience, and build confidence in professional settings.

Many of the women participating in the discussion are actively working to create the support systems they wish they had earlier in their own careers. Rather than simply navigating barriers themselves, they are helping open doors for the next generation.

Programs like ASCEND are part of that effort by providing access to mentorship, professional guidance, industry exposure, and creative workforce training in spaces where representation matters.

Looking Ahead

The women who participated in ASCEND's Industry Professionals Focus Group made one thing clear: while gender bias continues to shape experiences in film and television, women across the industry continue to challenge assumptions, create opportunities, and support those coming behind them.

They are not only creating space for themselves.

They are helping create space for the next generation of storytellers as well.