By: Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 2/12/23 – Last month Krista Vernoff, Showrunner and Executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, joined a few of her peers, Kristi Korzec (Writer and Co-Executive Producer Superman and Lois), Alena Smith (Creator of Dickinson), as well as board-certified breast surgical oncologist Dr. Carlie Thompson. The group was led by moderator Carri Twigg, the co-founder, and head of development for Culture House Production company. The women’s primary focus was discussing early onset breast cancer in young women, the inequalities in access to risk information and health care services, and the role television creators can take by shedding light on the topic and encouraging social change by creating more storylines on the issues in their programs.
In the current television climate, most of the storylines depict older white women facing challenges with breast cancer. However, approximately 1 in 10 cases in the U.S. are found in women under the age of forty-five. There is also virtually no representation for women of color to relate to. This is why events like The Power of TV: Reshaping Breast Cancer Narratives are necessary because young women, especially women of color need to understand the risk factors, treatment options, and support group information that could aid in prevention and save lives.
During the discussion, Vernoff confronts the viewpoint that a storyline with too much health information can undermine its entertainment value. She stated, “I start with the question, ‘What message are we sending with a story?'” She will be stepping down from both of her shows at the end of the season. “I think there’s a way — the longevity of Grey’s Anatomy would argue — to have profound entertainment and great storytelling that also considers [the message].”
This event was developed in partnership with Hollywood, Health & Society, a University of Southern California Annenberg Norman Lear Center program, and held at the Academy’s Saban Media Center in the NoHo Arts District.
If you would like to get more insight into the panel’s discussion, click the link below:
https://www.emmys.com/video/power-of-tv/reshaping-narratives
