Why Diversity in Film Isn’t Just Important—It’s Essential

(And how we live it at West America Film Company)

At West America, we don’t hire diverse teams to check a box—we do it because everyone deserves opportunity, representation, and a seat at the table. Period.

From our films like To Matter to our latest project Red Flamingos, we make it a point to hire inclusively on and off set—not because it’s trendy, but because it makes the work better. Real stories come from real people with real experiences.

What Diversity Actually Brings to the Table

We’ve seen firsthand how a diverse team changes everything:

• Better storytelling – more perspectives = richer characters and deeper worlds

• More authentic sets – when people feel seen, they show up fully

• Fresh ideas – culture, background, and identity shape creativity in amazing ways

• More opportunity for rising talent – everyone should have a shot to grow in this industry

How We Show Up

On To Matter and Red Flamingos, we made intentional choices—bringing in voices from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and communities. And it’s not about perfection. It’s about effort, intention, and respect.

We want our sets to feel like safe, creative spaces where people can be real, speak up, and do their best work. Because when you build your team with that kind of care? The story hits different.

Bottom Line: Diversity isn’t a trend—it’s the heart of great storytelling. And at West America, that’s exactly what we’re here to do.

Michelle Vogel & Chinnaly Norasing on the set of To Matter