SAG-AFTRA has announced the recipients for the sixth biennial SAG-AFTRA American Scene Awards, honoring producers who realistically portray the American Scene by employing union talent from misrepresented or underrepresented groups. The winners are:
- Music & Sound Recordings Award: Mickey Guyton and the Country Music Association for "Love My Hair," performance by Mickey Guyton featuring Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards at the 2021 CMA Awards.
- Belva Davis News & Broadcast Award: PBS SoCal/KCET for Lost LA: From Little Tokyo to Crenshaw.
- Entertainment: ABC, Warner Bros. Television, 20th Television for Abbott Elementary.
Winners were selected for work that exemplifies equal access and full inclusion of diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities, women, seniors and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender as well as other misrepresented or underrepresented groups. Moreover, the American Scene Awards recognize diverse employment in three main contract categories covered by the union: Entertainment, Music & Sound Recordings, and News & Broadcast. The American Scene Awards are the only awards given out by SAG-AFTRA that recognize employers that value diversity in all its forms.
“Want to know what audiences want? They crave stories that reflect the true, beautiful, diverse nature of the world we live in,” said SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher. “The projects recognized by the American Scene Awards dismantle stereotypes and raise the bar for inclusivity. I’m thrilled SAG-AFTRA is recognizing these projects, and I look forward to seeing what’s next for these producers. The goal ultimately is to normalize tolerance, inclusivity and diversity so the recognition of these actions is no longer required because it has become the standard. Congratulations to all the winners!”
Said Jason George, chair of the SAG-AFTRA Diversity Advisory Committee, “When you look at the sheer number of phenomenal projects that were in the running this year for the American Scene Awards, one thing becomes clear: Tokenism is dying. The days when our industry could make minor, symbolic nods to diversity are gone. The modern business model actually requires that the most successful projects have authentic diversity and inclusion in order to serve the full viewership of our incredibly diverse nation. I love that we have the American Scene Awards to both celebrate and encourage that.”
“Authentic representation in media is essential to building equity and inclusion in society,” said SAG-AFTRA national executive director & chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “Though there have been positive gains in recent years in regards to accurately depicting the diverse reality of the human experience, there’s still so far to go. The American Scene Awards play an important role in moving our culture forward by recognizing those making inclusive projects that amplify historically underrepresented experiences. These stories are vital, and I encourage everyone to do their part to acknowledge and amplify this year’s American Scene Award winners.”
The recipients said they were honored to be selected.
“We are thrilled that this very special performance has received such a high honor,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA’s CEO. “Each November, the CMA Awards allows us the opportunity to work alongside our deserving and talented nominees to create unforgettable moments, and this performance is one that will live in the history books. Congratulations to Mickey, Madeline and Brittney for this impressive recognition.”
“It’s an honor to have been selected by the American Scene Awards for our efforts to provide inclusive viewpoints of Los Angeles with its diverse culture through our show, Lost LA,” said Angela Boisvert, the series’ producer. “Part of the success of the series is our community’s need to understand our history and inform us for the future. We’re proud to have Nathan Masters lead the audience on adventures, bringing the untold and forgotten histories of Southern California to light.”
“All of us at Abbott Elementary are proud and appreciative to be selected as the 2023 SAG-AFTRA American Scene Awards recipient. The diversity of our cast and crew is reflective in our storytelling and is the driving force of what makes our comedy a success. Thank you for this tremendous honor,” read a joint statement from Quinta Brunson, Patrick Schumacker, Justin Halpern and Randall Einhorn, executive Producers of Abbott Elementary.
The American Scene Awards are overseen by SAG-AFTRA’s Diversity Advisory and Honors and Tributes committees.
Among the finalists were Atlantic Records’ "Skate" music video by Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak), RCA Records’ "Never Gonna Not Dance Again" and "Trustfall" music videos by P!nk, CBS New York’s Breaking the Stigma, KCRW’s The Blacker the Cherry: The Abolitionist History of the Black Republican Cherry, Apple TV+’s Little America, and FX’s Reservation Dogs.
