Each team analyzed publicly available industry data to understand who is working in creative, technical, and leadership roles. The film study reviewed the top 100 highest-grossing films of 2025 using IMDb credits and compared the findings with leading industry research, including the SDSU Celluloid Ceiling Report and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. The television study analyzed popular TV series from 2025, while the theater study examined backstage and production leadership roles across the 2024–2025 Broadway season.

Together, the three studies looked at where women are represented, where they remain underrepresented, and how opportunities differ across roles. The research also explored patterns in leadership, hiring, and career advancement to better understand the structural barriers that continue to shape the entertainment industry.

The findings provide a current snapshot of gender representation behind the scenes and help inform Open Stage Project's work to expand access, opportunity, and career pathways for women and non-binary individuals pursuing careers in entertainment.

The 2026 fellows Ane Hayes, Jolie Padilla, Juliet Grace Grochowski, Molly Sample, Rachel Kelly, and Sumi Kangbai represent the next generation of stage managers, designers, technicians, producers, and filmmakers. Through mentorship and real world training, Open Stage Project continues its mission to close the gender gap in behind the scenes entertainment careers while creating greater access and opportunity for young women and gender-expansive students.