As the overseer of Showtime’s growing slate of original unscripted and documentary programming, Malhotra has scored some big “gets” in the last year. He and his team shepherded documentary films “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,” “16 Shots,” upcoming Rick Rubin documentary “Shangri-La,” and “The Fourth Estate,” making Showtime a solid competitive player in the documentary world. The self-proclaimed hip-hop fanatic says, “The content that we acquire and produce should be a reflection of the multicultural world we live in.”
How can diversity be better incorporated into the recruiting process?
It’s important to actively seek out diverse talent – filmmakers, directors, producers, writers, actors—to bring stories to life. The content that we acquire and produce should be a reflection of the multicultural world we live in. Investing in diverse talent from all walks of life is pertinent to reaching all audiences and moving the industry forward.
What questions is the industry not yet asking in its efforts to be more diverse and inclusive that it should be?
How can we ensure that an inclusion-driven approach to recruitment spans all levels within the corporate ladder and in creative roles of power? How useful are the resources that are available to diverse talent?
Which current television show/s best embrace diversity?
At Showtime, we embrace diversity in a variety of content with talent and storylines including the recently Emmy-nominated docuseries “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men” and documentary films “Hitsville: The Making of Motown,” “XY Chelsea” and “16 Shots,” as well as the upcoming scripted series “The L Word: Generation Q” and “The Good Lord Bird.” The network’s first-ever late night program “Desus & Mero” also lends a fresh perspective to the genre.