VarietyIn recent years, TV and film industry behavior has been placed under a blinding spotlight as part of wider social movements. Whether it’s #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, toxic behavior on shows like “Ellen” or COVID-19, it’s clear that huge problems have been ignored and sometimes enabled by the chaotic framework in which producers work.
It is with these principles in mind that the Coalition for Change was formed. For the first time, key stakeholders in the U.K. TV industry — broadcasters, indies and freelancers — have come to the table with the sole aim to do something about widespread problems in the industry. While “culture change” and “culture reset” have been buzzwords permeating talks and webinars for quite some time, the Coalition demonstrates a positive step forward in making industry-wide improvements a reality.
The truth is that no single group or organization can solve these problems; the onus is on all of us to tackle these issues. Whether it’s role-modelling culture, putting people on equal standing as productions, or just the knowledge that we are stronger together, the organizations who have signed on are all leaning in to this urgent need to create a professionalized working environment. The potential for the CFC to create a space that makes a significant industry change is immense.
While there are specific aims in the Coalition agreement, the overarching mission statement can be broken down into key themes:. By formalizing certain practices and reducing the casual nature of our work, we can ensure a solid foundation upon which robust principles can be built.. Our industry thrives on creative individuals, but there is a tendency to see those people as disposable and replaceable — often in favor of those with privilege.