Aninclusion rider orequity rider is a provision in an actor's orfilmmaker's contract that provides for a certain level ofdiversity in casting and production staff. For example, the rider might require a certain proportion of actors or staff to be women,people of color,LGBT people or people with disabilities.^[1] Prominent actors or filmmakers may use their negotiating power to insist on such provisions. The term is derived from the "rider", a provision in the contract of performing actors to ensure certain aspects of a performance such as personal amenities or technical infrastructure.

The idea was developed by Stacy L. Smith, professor at theUSC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism,^[2] in a 2014 op-ed forThe Hollywood Reporter^[3] and in her 2016TED talk.^[4] Together with the film executive Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni^[5] and the commissioner of theEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionKalpana Kotagal^[6][7][8] Smith created a template for an inclusion rider.^[9]

Inclusion riders became more widely known at the2018 Academy Awards, when actressFrances McDormand said at the end of herBest Actress acceptance speech, "I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: inclusion rider!"^[10][11][12]

Still, in June 2019, theNew York Times reported that inclusion riders remained rarely used, although studios pursued other diversity policies.^[13] In March 2018,Netflix CEOReed Hastings declined to adopt an inclusion rider for Netflix productions.^[14]

The following people or institutions have committed to using inclusion riders or inclusion policies:

Filmmakers

• Ben Affleck^[15]
• Matt Damon^[15]
• Paul Feig^[16]
• Michael B. Jordan^[17]
• Brie Larson^[18]

Talent agencies

• William Morris Endeavor^[19]

Entertainment companies

• Warner Bros. Discovery:^[20] The first film made with an inclusion rider isJust Mercy (2019).^[21][22]

• Inclusion rider template on theAnnenberg Inclusion Initiative website

• Contract law
• Acting
• Affirmative action

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from April 2018