Barriers to Diversity in Film – A Research Review – Aug 07

employment option. Culture, media and sport are most popular with
African Caribbean boys and girls at 16, compared to other minority
groups, although Pakistani girls are also expressing interest, along
with white girls. The finding that well over one-third or two-fifths of
African Caribbean girls and boys respectively would love to enter this
sector is interesting (Bhavnani 2006). These young women also show
they have high ambitions to succeed; more Bangladeshi girls attain 5
or more A*-C grades at GCSE level than white boys (DFES 2007). Black
Caribbean girls are more likely to work full time (Platt 2005) and three
minority groups (Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Caribbean) in work are
more likely to be graduates than white workers. (EOC 2007).
First Light
First Light is a project funded by the UK Film Council that provides
funding for young people aged 5-18 years old to make short films. Its
budget is £1 million a year and, since it started in 2001, more than
500 films have been made by 7,500 young people, according to a
recent evaluation (Annabel Jackson Associates 2004). The young
people reported they had learned technical expertise and had gained
an insight into the complex, multifaceted approach to filmmaking. The
projects often had experienced filmmakers working with the young
people, who also mentored them. Filmmakers reported that they
benefited from the projects too, because it gave them an opportunity
to experiment.
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