UK survey reveals film industry remains a 'man's world'

Women working in the film industry earn less than their male counterparts, despite being better qualified, according to the most in-depth survey of the UK’s film production workforce ever published.
The Feature Film Production Workforce survey, conducted by the UK Film Council and Skillset, found that women make up 33% of the workforce and on average earn less than men: 35% of women earn less than £20,000pa compared to 18% of men, while in the higher salary brackets 30% of men earn over £50000pa compared with 16% of women; women are also more likely to be qualified to graduate level than men (60% compared with 39%), and while 17% of men had no qualifications, this was the case for only 5% of women. Women working in film were less likely than men to be married or living as part of a couple (44% compared with 69%) and less likely to have dependant children under 16 (21% compared with 39% of men), and there were almost no women in the camera, sound, electrical and construction departments while the majority of those working in make-up and hairdressing were women.
Film production is also predominately white, with only 1 in 20 from a minority ethnic background, representing just 5% of the workforce. In London, where the survey found the majority of the workforce was concentrated, minority ethnicity groups make up 24% of the working population.
The survey also found that incomes vary hugely in film production - 25% of survey respondents reported a gross income of £50,000 or more from all their audio-visual work, yet 23% earned less than £20,000. Almost half (48%) of all 16-29 year olds surveyed earned less than £10,000 in the past year; and unemployment rates are high with 71% having been unemployed at least once over the previous year and more than a third (35%) having spent more than 10 weeks of the year unemployed.
Dinah Caine, Chief Executive of Skillset, said: “Film has a highly qualified workforce but one which faces a multitude of difficulties keeping their skills levels apace with the changing needs of the industry. The industry also has, on average, an older workforce with few structured, equitable routes in for new talent from a diversity of backgrounds. [Skillset's strategic plan] 'A Bigger Future' was introduced last year to address many of the issues highlighted by these results. It’s a five year strategy but is already making a positive impact and with skills development firmly at the top of the industry’s agenda, can only go from strength to strength.”
John Woodward, Chief Executive of UK Film Council, said: “While the UK has benefited hugely from its highly qualified film production workforce there are still many barriers facing people who want to get in and stay in the industry. Developing the film production workforce must be underpinned with a commitment to diversity as well as training.
These findings show that if we are to attract the brightest and the best into the industry, and make the most of our existing talent we need to make significant progress in opening up more concrete career paths into the industry and opportunities for advancement for those already working within it.”
The 'Biggar Future' scheme will support a range of initiatives including the creation of centres of academic excellence for film in the form of a national network of Screen Academies, the establishment of a new film business academy to raise the level of business, leadership and management skills in the industry.
Mentoring programmes and a new industry approvals scheme for film courses will also form part of the scheme.
(GB)