Event Highlights BME Under-representation In Film & Television

A cross-industry initiative spearheaded by BECTU, took place on Monday June 18 at the TUC in Central London.
The BBC's Director General Mark Thompson, PACT Chief Executive John McVay and Director of Equalities at the Greater London Authority Lee Jasper took part in the initiative to help address the under-representation of black and minority ethnic (BME) workers in film and television.
Move On Up Film and Television saw around 700 one-to-one meetings between 100 top executives and nearly 300 BME participants attend. One-to-one meetings were held with executives from the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Endemol, Tiger Aspect, Working Title, the UK Film Council and the British Society of Cinematographers.
Delegates were also be able to attend workshops and seminars, providing vital information on writing for TV, how to get film funding, pitching programme ideas, doing business with the BBC, and how to make it as an independent production company.
Speaking prior to the event Janice Turner, organiser and chair of the Federation of Entertainment Unions' Equalities Committee, said: "This is a hugely important event and the fact that we have such high profile partners and speakers gives a very positive signal to the industry that the under-representation of BME workers in film and television is something that urgently needs addressing.
"We also have guests from Swedish television and the US film and television union who have organised special visits to observe how Move On Up can inform their own diversity strategies with a view to developing similar initiatives in their home countries."
The event as the fourth Move On Up so far and over 2,000 contacts already have been made in television, film and radio.
Bectu is organising a further event to assist BME workers wanting to break into TV and radio news, on 21 September 2007, which is being fronted by newscasters George Alagiah and Sir Trevor McDonald.
BME workers make up 5.4% in production, 2.7% in camera, 4.7% in sound and 4.4% in post production.
The industry is notoriously difficult to break into and the aim of the event is that the contacts made at Move On Up will lead to greater opportunities for employment and commissions in the future.
(SP)