Age Discrimination Possible Due to IMDb's Database According to Writers Guild of America

The Writers Guild of America is putting pressure on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) to have them remove the birthdates from the profiles within the database. The IMDb is the largest collection of information in the entertainment industry. The database includes movies and casts, writers, director's television shows, and just about anything connected with the entertainment industry. The database is used by millions of fans to get the scoop on things that are interesting to them.

However, the Writers' Guild of America feels there is a potential for age discrimination because the entertainment industry uses the IMDb database as well. IMDbPro allows subscribers to update their profiles, add pictures, and to use the IMDb to help further their career.

The conflict between the two arises from the potential of age discrimination based on the fact that the IMDbPro also receives information from other sources to complete their database. If a writer or an actor does not supply their date of birth, but the information is found on another source, then the birth date is added to the database, even if the information is wrong. Getting the information corrected is next to impossible due to the overwhelming size of the database.

The potential for age discrimination arises when casting directors look for someone of a particular age group and eliminates those who do not fit the profile. Acting, by its very nature, should preclude the use of the database for this purpose as many actors can play characters that are much younger, or much older, than the person's true age.

Women are often subject to discrimination in the entertainment industry. During a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg explained to Oprah Winfrey about why she chose to do "The View." There were no scripts coming in and she wanted to work. "The View" was a way for her to continue working as was her recurring role on "Star Trek: TNG." One has to wonder if the scripts stopped coming due to her age or everyone believing she was too busy and expensive to work with. Whoopi Goldberg has been one of the most powerful figures in the entertainment industry and it is through her perseverance that she continues to work today.

Should the IMDb remove the birthdates from their database? If only things were that simple. In the information age, that same information is available from countless other databases and internet and print resources. What needs to happen is for the entertainment industry to literally grow up and realize that age discrimination is a crime and that just because a star reaches a new decade in their life, that they are artists and their fans still want to see them.

Entertainers need to embrace their ages and fight for what they want in this world and the legions of fans will support them as they age right along with the stars they love.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5514326/why_the_writers_guild_is_wrong_in_pressuring.html?cat=9

New York Daily News: Actors' age listing provoke feud between Writers Guild of America and IMDb.com