AI reveals even more about Hollywood gender bias

“Using machine-learning, sentiment analysis and natural language processing, StoryFit’s approach demonstrates new ways to break apart narratives and character personality.”

Here’s what we know about how women are portrayed in Hollywood cinema: Male characters speak far more often than female ones. Men talk more about achievement, whereas women tend towards positive and emotional language. The majority of best picture winners at the Oscars since 1929 fail to pass the Bechdel test.

AI analysis of characters’ personalities from StoryFit tells us more: Women are portrayed as very agreeable — compassionate but not strong-willed. They’re low on neuroticism (making them cool-headed but not expressive) and openness (guarded and not a rule-breaker). And their personalities onscreen demonstrate less range than men.

The Austin-based company revealed research at SXSW that analyzed more than 2,000 film scripts and 25,000 characters from between 1930 and 2018. Using machine-learning, sentiment analysis and natural language processing, StoryFit’s approach demonstrates new ways to break apart narratives and character personality. The company says it asks more than 10,000 queries of every script, focusing on what characters say and how they say it.

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