Launched during a virtual summit hosted by BEATS , the British Film Institute and ITV, the BEATS Test measures on-screen representation for British East and Southeast Asians in U.K. film and television productions. The initiative is fashioned after the Bechdel Test, which evaluates portrayals of women in media, and the Riz Test, a measurement of Muslim representation inspired by Riz Ahmed’s rallying 2017 speech about diversity.
“We want this test to become the standard for the industry to achieve,” explained BEATS member and actor-writer Rebecca Boey, noting that in order to pass the test, BESEA presence mustn’t feel tokenistic — where a character’s presence feels more like a symbolic gesture or a box tick. The test also has a keen U.K. focus, with characters expected to be British or living and/or working in the country.
Earlier this week, BEATS took aim at the BBC for the lack of representative casting in its hit Netflix co-production “The Serpent,” about serial killer Charles Sobhraj, played by “A Prophet” star Tahar Rahim, a French actor of Algerian descent. “The numbers are pretty bleak for anyone who is not white, but when it comes to East Asians, they were so insignificant, they were redacted,” said Ko. “When we say BESEAs are working with zero inclusion in the TV industry, we are not being impressionistic or metaphorical — we are being literal.”
BeatsOrg The community has come together to create an addendum to addresses concerns raised. Excited for the next steps — manori_r
BeatsOrg You could at least give Henry Golding a caption and Monsoon a credit in the image. That would help representation for a start. He was stellar in that film.
BeatsOrg Broadcastnow robinparker55
BeatsOrg simonbg12 DianeKemp1 marcusryder LennyHenry
BeatsOrg Not just British too. But here's a first step: campaign for more representation on the bridgerton series. (cc: chrisvandusen) 🙏🏻