Barriers to Diversity in Film – A Research Review – Aug 07
Barriers to Diversity in Film – A Research Review – Aug 07
Barriers to Diversity in Film – A Research Review – Aug 07
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Recruitment practices are a deeply entrenched part of the film<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustry’s culture and chang<strong>in</strong>g them is key <strong>to</strong> mov<strong>in</strong>g the diversity<br />
agenda forward.<br />
3.3.2 Freelanc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
The film <strong>in</strong>dustry is dom<strong>in</strong>ated by <strong>in</strong>dependent production companies,<br />
mostly micro bus<strong>in</strong>esses and many are set up <strong>to</strong> make a s<strong>in</strong>gle feature<br />
film. Almost half of the film and video production workforce was<br />
freelance <strong>in</strong> 2006 (ONS, Labour Force Survey). Nearly half of all<br />
freelancers <strong>in</strong> the audio-visual sec<strong>to</strong>r had only ever worked on a<br />
freelance basis (Skillset 2005). Freelanc<strong>in</strong>g is more common among<br />
older men, be<strong>in</strong>g high <strong>in</strong> commercials, corporate production and<br />
animation. Freelanc<strong>in</strong>g may legitimate <strong>in</strong>formal methods of<br />
recruitment.<br />
The problem of an <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> freelancers and a rapid advance <strong>in</strong><br />
technology means there is less take-up of tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, s<strong>in</strong>ce freelance<br />
workers f<strong>in</strong>d it difficult <strong>to</strong> take time out of work and lose <strong>in</strong>come<br />
(Holgate 2006).<br />
3.3.3 Later entry <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Two-fifths of respondents from a black or m<strong>in</strong>ority ethnic orig<strong>in</strong><br />
began work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>dustry after 1999, compared with just over a<br />
quarter (28%) of white respondents. This is probably related <strong>to</strong> black<br />
C:\Documents and Sett<strong>in</strong>gs\mcorless\Desk<strong>to</strong>p\Intranet\<strong>Barriers</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Diversity</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Film</strong>_DS_RB 20 <strong>Aug</strong><br />
<strong>07</strong>.doc<br />
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