STARZ Receives Trailblazer Award for #TakeTheLead Initiative | Raising Our Voices

1 year ago
#takethelead

The Hollywood Reporter held its third annual Raising Our Voices luncheon, celebrating some of the industry's most powerful advocates for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. THR co-editor-in-chief Nekesa Mumbi Moody presented STARZ with the Trailblazer Award for its #TakeTheLead initiative — the network's commitment to amplify narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences with authentic storytelling on and off the screen — and brought STARZ president of original programming Kathryn Busby to the stage.

Transcript

00:00Good afternoon, everyone.

00:09I am honored to present this year's Trailblazer Award to STARS' Take the Lead initiative.

00:16In recent years, the entertainment industry has made strides towards more diverse programming,

00:21but STARS has made being a champion of inclusivity a part of its mission to provide compelling

00:27programming.

00:28From groundbreaking series like Outlander, Power, Key Valley, and its newest series,

00:37Three Women.

00:38Yes?

00:39Let's hear it for that.

00:42STARS has worked diligently to bridge the representation gap.

00:46From internal initiatives to collaborative partnerships, STARS' efforts are having a

00:51direct impact on the company and are contributing to a broader industry-wide push towards more

00:58representation.

00:59Through its Take the Lead commitment, STARS amplifies narratives by, about, and for women

01:07and underrepresented audiences with authentic storytelling and representations on and off

01:14the screen, which is so important.

01:17STARS' commitment to bold, unapologetic stories and characters is inspiring others across

01:23the industry.

01:24Now I am thrilled to present this year's Raising Our Voices Trailblazer Award that STARS' Take

01:30the Lead and welcome STARS' President of Original Programming, Catherine Busby, to the stage

01:36to accept this award.

01:37Wow.

01:56Good afternoon to everybody and thank you so much.

02:00It is a great honor to be here with you and accept this Trailblazer Award on behalf of

02:09everyone at STARS.

02:12Thank you to the Hollywood Reporter for recognizing our ongoing Take the Lead commitment to illuminate

02:19narratives and characters that have been traditionally overlooked in Hollywood.

02:25This award is also a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our partners and the creative

02:33community of showrunners, writers, actors, and countless others who have contributed

02:40to making our stories richer and more inclusive.

02:45Representation matters deeply to us at STARS.

02:48Take the Lead is not just a slogan.

02:52It is our mission.

02:53It is our North Star.

02:56As President of Original Programming, I know I'm in a privileged position.

03:01Every day I get to help showcase talented and diverse creators, new voices who deepen

03:08our appreciation of what it means to be alive in 2024.

03:15Our commitment to diversity is not just in front of the camera.

03:18It's also behind the camera.

03:20It's in the writers' room and in all areas of development.

03:23Honestly, it's what makes working at STARS be so thrilling.

03:29STARS is proud to champion the voices that have too often been sidelined.

03:34As we continue in this movement, we will not slow down and we will not go back.

03:48All of us must work to ensure representation remains at the forefront, that our stories

03:55continue to get their long-deserved time in the spotlight.

04:01The Trailblazer Award recognizes a simple idea, that our industry can reflect, embrace,

04:09and celebrate the full spectrum of the human experience.

04:14I am delighted to be a part of that change.

04:18Thank you again for bestowing STARS with this incredible honor.

STARZ Receives Trailblazer Award for #TakeTheLead Initiative | Raising Our Voices

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