Gold House and CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) are partnering for the newly launched spin-off of the Gold Open initiative called the #OneOpen campaign that further bolsters the opening box office numbers for films led by multicultural and diverse voices in front of and behind the camera — and it starts November 5 with the release of Marvel Studios’ Eternals.
Joining Gold House and CAPE in the intiative are NALIP, RespectAbility, and Color Of Change.
“Humanity has never progressed from building only for ourselves. While the origins of each of our community’s struggles are distinct, the paths to greater, more authentic representation are similar. It’s incumbent on all of us to celebrate the elements we’re proud of while also critiquing where we need growth–together. We account for over 50% of the box office, are the fastest-growing populations in the U.S., and make up a majority of the world. And yet, these truths are not reflected in the entertainment we consume. One Open forms a singular, unified strength that rebalances representation to be more inclusive, more affirming, and everywhere,” said Bing Chen, President of Gold House.
#OneOpen’s establishment comes on the heels of Hollywood’s slow progress towards representation within its top films. The latest Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study reported that only 34.3% of all speaking characters in top films were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. Even more dire, only 1.4% were LGBTQ and 2.3% were depicted with a disability.
For those of y’all who don’t know, Eternals is a brand new set of heroes in the Marvel Cinematic universe — and they are ancient aliens clandestinely living on Earth for thousands of years. Picking up after Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected event forces them out of the shadows and they reunite to protect mankind from their most ancient enemy, the Deviants. The film is directed by Chloé Zhao and stars Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, with Kit Harington, with Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie.
Coinciding with Marvel Studios’ Eternals introducing the first deaf MCU Super Hero (played by Lauren Ridloff), Gold House is launching an official fundraiser to provide open caption screenings for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community to provide opportunities to see themselves represented on the big screen without inaccessibility issues. The page can be found at GoFundMe.com/Eternals and will also feature all major Marvel Studios’ Eternals buyout campaigns.
“There are more than 15 million adults in the U.S. with a hearing disability and enjoying a movie in theatres often has been cumbersome due to less than satisfactory experiences with limited accessibility options in theatres. We hope the expansion of open caption screenings led by the release of Eternals marks the beginning of a more inclusive moviegoing experience for all,” said Delbert Whetter, deaf producer and RespectAbility board vice chair.
To further solidify the movie’s opening weekend success, engage as many passionate fans as possible, and generate positive word of mouth, Gold House will host two #OneOpen Premieres in partnership with CAPE, Color of Change, NALIP and RespectAbility with the film’s cast and over 1500 super-VIPs in Los Angeles and New York City.
Click her for more details about the Eternals One Open.
