This panel at ScreenSkills’ diversity conference discussed practical tips on how productions can meet film and TV diversity targets, with a case study discussing how the producers of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie achieved this. The session was chaired by Fiona Thompson (RTS) and featured Babita Bahal (Channel 4), Julia Brown (BFI), Cat Marshall (producer) and Miranda Wayland (BBC).
You can watch more videos from this conference here.
About the speakers
Fiona Thomson, chair of the RTS Yorkshire Centre, has been a TV producer and a senior academic leader in the university sector. As a lesbian, she always fights for equality, liberation and representation for all.
Babita Bahal is Head of Creative Diversity at Channel 4. She has delivered growth and improved performance for large TV and media brands for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Channel 4 as creative diversity lead, she was diversity and inclusion specialist at the BBC.
Julia Brown is diversity standards manager/certification specialist at the BFI. She has been a video game and film certification analyst since 2015 and diversity standards manager since 2018. Before joining the BFI, Julia worked in creative industries policy at DCMS.
Cat Marshall is the associate producer of Sheffield-based Warp Films’ musical feature, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. She is also production supervisor for Warp, working across high-end TV and film.
Miranda Wayland, head of creative diversity at the BBC, is responsible for overseeing the overall on-air, on-screen diversity and inclusion strategies across output.
About the event
The UK screen industries need to be more inclusive. People such as women and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are under-represented across the sector. People from disadvantaged backgrounds also often struggle to break in.
ScreenSkills organised a half-day conference in Leeds on 11 March about the practical ways in which the industry can improve diversity and inclusion in screen. The conference was supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funds as part of its Future Film Skills strategy.