The Film and TV Charity are to pump a fresh £1m into diversity initiatives after a report co-authored by Brunel University London’s Prof Sarita Malik found that structural inequalities had led to a “denial of opportunities for Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers, directors, producers, and other key positions.”
The money will be invested over the next three years in anti-racism groups as part of wide-ranging plans to tackle racial discrimination in the film and television industry.
The report was one of two commissioned by the charity – Racial Diversity Initiatives in UK Film and TV by and Brunel’s Prof Malik and Dr Clive Nwonka of the London School of Economics, and Think Piece on Anti-Racism in the Film and TV Industry by Sasha Salmon, a senior public policy advisor.
Prof Malik and Dr Nwonka’s report reviewed the principal policies, schemes and initiatives that have run in the film and television industry over the past 20 years, with the pair concluding that traditional concepts of diversity have sought to address racial underrepresentation in the industry rather than engage with structural racism.
The report made five key findings:
- There are problems with the evaluation and accountability of diversity outcomes and reporting within the sector.
- The language of ‘diversity’ within UK film and tv has evolved over the past twenty years.
- There is an over-emphasis on quantitative data over qualitative data, and tremendous scope to increase the knowledge-base with qualitative-led research that examines how racism affects individuals personally and professionally.
- The film and TV sectors share a concern with diversity and inclusion, but neither has invested in addressing the structural dimensions of exclusion and inequality that remain the underpinning factor in film and TV diversity.
- Diversity initiatives and schemes tend to focus on young, emerging talent.
On announcing the funding, Film and TV Charity Chief Executive Alex Pumfrey, said: “Our ultimate intention is to catalyse industry-led action. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the unequal impacts of the pandemic we heard the clear testimony of people of colour working in film and television – our beneficiaries – living with both interpersonal and structural racism in our industry.”
The money will be administered from early 2022 via an Impact Partnership Scheme, open to anti-racism, industry-focused groups led by people of colour. Applications will be invited later this year.
The charity will also invite industry leaders to take part in a series of roundtables to agree an anti-racism action plan by summer 2022. Invitations are being sent to individuals at broadcasters, production companies and community groups who can help introduce and measure initiatives to tackle racism.
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