US federal officials are investigating Hollywood movie studios over allegations of widespread gender discrimination.
The entertainment industry has come under close scrutiny in recent months, as civil rights activists along with many Hollywood stars, including Patricia Arquette and Meryl Streep, have come out fighting for equal pay for women, who in many cases are paid significantly less than their male counterparts.
In May, members of the American Civil Liberties Union asked officials to take a closer look at working practices in Hollywood and punish any companies which are found to be breaking employment rules by paying female workers less than men.
On Tuesday, editors at Deadline.com reported chiefs at the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have launched a probe into the matter, with plans to interview dozens of female directors in an effort to see what action, if any, they should take to fight discrimination.
The site's bosses report a letter from the EEOC was sent to around 50 female TV and filmmakers, and the questioning is slated to begin next week.
