A Contractual Tool for Driving Change
An inclusion rider, or equity rider, is a legal provision that moves the commitment to diversity and inclusion from a well-intentioned goal into a binding contractual obligation. Developed by Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the rider is an addendum that A-list talent with significant negotiating power can add to their contracts. It stipulates that the production must make a good-faith effort to hire a diverse workforce, both in front of and behind the camera.
The concept burst into the public lexicon in 2018 when Frances McDormand concluded her Best Actress Oscar acceptance speech with two words: “inclusion rider.” This moment sparked a global conversation and prompted many influential figures in Hollywood to publicly commit to adopting the rider for their projects.
How It Works in Practice
The goal of an inclusion rider is not to enforce quotas for unqualified candidates, but rather to disrupt the industry’s default hiring patterns and counteract unconscious bias. The specific terms of a rider can vary, but they generally require a production to:
- Broaden Auditioning Pools: Mandate that the pool of actors auditioning for smaller, supporting roles reflects the demographics of the real world. For example, it might stipulate that a certain percentage of the auditioning actors be women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, or people with disabilities.
- Widen Crew Interviews: Apply the same principle to below-the-line crew positions, ensuring that a diverse range of candidates are interviewed for jobs in various departments.
- Data Reporting: Often includes a requirement for the production to track and report on its diversity and hiring data.
The power of the rider is that it forces a conversation about diversity at the very beginning of the production process. When a major star demands it, producers and casting directors are contractually obligated to expand their search beyond their usual networks.
Impact and Ongoing Debate
Since 2018, many major production companies and influential artists—including Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society and Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment—have adopted the inclusion rider as standard practice. The impact is seen as a crucial step in creating a more equitable industry, providing opportunities for talented individuals from underrepresented groups who have historically been excluded.
Challenges remain, including questions about how to best enforce the rider’s terms and measure its success. However, its primary power lies in its ability to leverage the influence of the industry’s most powerful players to create systemic change from the top down, turning a moral imperative into a contractual one.