Will Ferrell welcomes honors Adele, Kerry Washington, and more along with the mentors and mentees of the mentorship program at The Hollywood Reporter‘s annual Women in Entertainment gala.
00:05Welcome, everyone, to the Hollywood Reporter 2023 Women in Entertainment Breakfast.
00:13Woo!
00:17This is such a wonderful event where we honor and support and continue to fight for women in all facets of the entertainment world.
00:27Um, but, you know what? Forget about the entertainment world. Isn't it just time?
00:37Isn't it just time for women to run the planet? I mean, I'm not just trying to placate you, I swear.
00:47But I don't know what else to do because we, men, we've been running the show since, what, 10,000 B.C.?
00:57Something like that.
00:59And we're not doing so good.
01:00So, please, can you guys just take over?
01:06Can you?
01:07I think it's time. Sorry.
01:09I'm getting sidetracked.
01:12Where was I?
01:13Yes, I was very excited to speak this morning for many reasons.
01:18One of which is that today I get to sit next to one of my dear friends who has been an integral part of my life, both personally and professionally for over 20 years.
01:33Uh, she started out as my very first assistant, and later, uh, she pitched me the idea of a production company that would focus on female storytelling while supporting women writers, directors, and actors.
01:52To which I said, yeah, I guess so.
01:56Um, yeah, we could do that. I don't know. Yeah.
02:02Um, thus was born Gloria Sanchez Productions.
02:07And that person is Jessica Elbaum.
02:11Jess, where are you? You're out here somewhere.
02:13Yes.
02:15And here's her picture.
02:17Right here.
02:19Power 100, baby.
02:21Right there.
02:23There's Jess.
02:24My children have barfed on her shoulders.
02:32Uh, she's, but can I just brag?
02:35So since we started the company, Jess has had a hand in developing, finding, producing the following slate.
02:42Sorry, this is a little, uh, personal time here.
02:45Uh, bachelorette.
02:47Sleeping with other people.
02:49Dead to me.
02:52Booksmart.
02:53Hustlers.
02:55Eurovision.
02:57Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar.
03:01Theater Camp.
03:04Quiz Lady.
03:06And May, December currently on Netflix.
03:09So, um, I'm, I'm so proud of you, sister friend.
03:18And, uh, it's been all you.
03:21I've literally done nothing.
03:22So, um, let's please give a hand for the amazing Carrie Washington.
03:27Carrie.
03:31You will be receiving the Equity in Entertainment Award in recognition of your work, amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities in the entertainment industry and beyond.
03:42Beyond.
03:43Beyond.
03:44Beyond.
03:44Beyond.
03:44That means, like, the space station.
03:47Like, that's how powerful her reach is.
03:50Um, Carrie, you've always been amazing in everything you've ever done.
03:54And, uh, uh, uh, and incredible advocate for so many different things.
03:58So can you just run for president, please?
04:02Can you just?
04:03We'll pay you.
04:05We'll pay you.
04:08We'll do a GoFundMe right in this room, and that'll launch you.
04:15Adele is here.
04:18And we'll be receiving the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, which recognizes trailblazers and philanthropists.
04:25Adele and I have also worked together.
04:28You probably don't remember me, but I sang back up on Rolling in the Deep.
04:34You're going to wish me never had met me.
04:38Tears are going to fall rolling in the deep.
04:43You're going to wish you never had met me.
04:47Now do you remember me?
04:49Okay.
04:50You had me fired.
04:53And now you're probably feeling pretty stupid.
04:55So enjoy your award, Adele.
04:59I also want to take time to acknowledge the Hollywood Reporter Mentorship Program in partnership with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, which was founded 13 years ago.
05:13This program pairs high school girls from underserved communities in L.A. with female mentors who are top executives in the entertainment business.
05:24Every female studio and agency head has been a mentor in this program.
05:29Over $15 million in scholarships have been given out to graduates of this program.
05:35The young women have gone on to attend colleges at places like Harvard, Berkeley, and Northwestern, but not Oxford or Cambridge because of Adele's unjust firing of Will Ferrell off of Rolling in the Deep.
05:50And I didn't, that was written for me.
05:53That's just part of the program.
05:57So with that little tidbit, I would again like to say congrats to everyone in this room.
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