HOME’s Post

Working-class creatives now make up less than 10% of the UK’s film and TV industry—the lowest in a decade! Documentary filmmaker Sam Oddie’s experience encapsulates these struggles as featured in this channel 4 article. Despite his accolades, Sam reveals the difficulty of sustaining a creative career without the financial backing and belief often instilled in middle-class counterparts. New research shows an overwhelming dominance of middle and upper-class individuals in the arts, with significant underrepresentation of working-class people. The disparity extends across all creative sectors, exacerbating the lack of diversity and authentic representation. Talented creatives like Talitha Bella Sewell, Ella Fraser, and Samira Ahmed, supported by Arts Emergency continue to push boundaries and fight for inclusivity. Yet, they face challenges such as tokenism and lack of genuine opportunities. "Everyone has a voice," says Sam. At Spark Opportunity we are dedicated to improving social mobility and empowering diverse talent through our in college programs. We must ensure those voices are heard and supported. There are opportunities to work together to build a more inclusive and diverse world of work that truly represents all voices. ‘Can you help? Talk to us at hello@spark-opportunity.co.uk #DiversityInFilm #Inclusivity #RepresentationMatters #SocialMobility #Mentorship #SparkOpportunity https://lnkd.in/dcMhmugX

This conversation may be happening across the water from us but there is definitely a lack of opportunities and support for working class creatives in Ireland. Maybe not as apparent as we are a small island. As regards working class , you don't need to live or be from the inner city to be working class . Just because you grew up or live in a rural area does not make you wealthy or middle class. I grew up on a rural council estate, very poor. I am grateful to have a local authority house to bring up my young family. I have always struggled with the class thing in my industry. I don't hear too many conversations about it which makes me think there are not enough of us getting the breaks. It's all a little middle class for my liking and there is this illusion that we all have money, support systems, a network of connections to support our creative life force. Couldn't be further from the truth , for most working class artists it's a sacrifice of all the 'nice things' to stay in the creative arts. An uphill daily struggle to survive. We love our creative lives and want to feel seen and supported .It doesn't always feel that way. And I do believe it's a class thing. I don't envy other artists at all. I just want the decision makers, the ones who can champion and help support working class creatives to please do that or endeavour to do it. It means survival for us, thank you 🙏 #workingclasscreatives #artists #actors #classdivide https://lnkd.in/e7Rq3yrX

Great write up Osas Esosa. Addressing this issue is even more pertinent in the middle of a cost of living crisis. We want to make the stories we tell as diverse, creative and interesting as possible. For this to happen we need to address access and inclusion issues both in front of and behind the camera...

Today’s the day! 🌟 Wicked has finally hit UK cinemas, bringing our Wicked Week to an end. We’ve been inspired by Elphaba and Glinda – and have reflected on key recruitment lessons all the way from Oz. From empowering your team to embracing diversity, who knew we could learn so much? We’ve put together our top tips and advice on interview preparation, green flags to look for in candidates, and how to ensure you champion inclusivity. 🔗 Read our full blog here: https://lnkd.in/dGvJtDXV If you need support in making your recruitment strategy magical, get in touch with our team today. 📞 0114 321 1873 ✉ eyup@glurecruit.co.uk Now, onto the important things… Who’s heading to the cinema? #wickedweek #recruitment #retention #sheffield

Top 10 tips on making your recruitment inclusive and fair from the creativediversitynetwork 1. Set yourself a diversity target. Have it in your mind that you want at least 20 per cent of shortlisted applicants to come from under-represented backgrounds. Or challenge yourself to ensure that at least 20 per cent of applicants have never worked with you or the company before. 2. Advertise widely, not just word of mouth to your contacts 3. Have at least two people check the job description, advertisement, do the shortlisting and conduct the interview – this can help to avoid unconscious bias or one person recruiting in their own image. 4. Make sure your job description and advertisement is specific and to the point; easy to understand and doesn’t include language which could appear to rule out people from particular groups. 5. Think about what time you’re conducting interviews – perhaps ensure that they are at a time which would be easier for a working parent 6. Make sure your interview location is accessible to disabled applicants 7. Try to be consistent in your interviews – treat every applicant in the same way, asking them the same questions and setting the same tests 8. Think about using a competency-based points scoring interview technique so you can more easily weigh up the merits of different candidates rather than going on gut feelings or different impressions from each interview. This method will also allow you to give proper feedback and also justify to managers and broadcasters how you have tried to meet diversity targets. 9. Keep proper records of the process. This can provide the evidence when demonstrating how you’ve tried to meet a diversity target which may be part of your broadcaster contract. 10. If you use an agent or headhunter, try a new one! #recruitment #productionservices #tvproduction #diversity #inclusivehiring #inclusion #work #diversityandinclusion #diversity #diversitymatters #inclusion #inclusionmatters #representationmatters #equality #leadership #equity #blacklivesmatter #diversityequityinclusion #community #disabilityawareness #culture #diversityisbeautiful #dei #education #lgbtq #disability #love #antiracism #womenempowerment #genderequality #womeninbusiness #inclusivity #socialjustice #teachersofinstagram #humanresources #repost #inclusionanddiversity https://lnkd.in/efqNWu4G

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"What do you do outside of work?" is a question I ask many of my candidates. I want to know their hobbies and interests as work is only one part of their lives. This allows me to better understand them as a person. Outside of work I read (a lot!), journal, craft, play games with friends and family, and I try to attend as many comedy shows and theatre productions as I can. We are more than our jobs. #BeaumontPeople #Communication #CandidateCare #Recruitment #TemporaryRecruitment #MelbourneRecruitment

A little bit left to my usual positive post. Myself alongside many other upcoming creatives within Film & TV are constantly reminded of how hard this industry is to break into. “You need to earn your stripes”. This is true as it is within any industry. The more experience you gain, the further up the ladder you climb. However, the difference being is that it’s become normalised to work years unpaid before even being considered for paid work - and even then being offered below NLW. You’re told to do it because you love it and for the passion of the art. Of course this is why we all do what we do in any creative space but there are bills to pay. I’ve been rejected three times in the past week because I stated in my application that my rate is NLW, one employer even telling me I have “no chance of that at 21” and that if I “can’t afford time off work, you’re in the wrong place”. This elitist mindset is what’s draining the hope and excitement out of upcoming film & tv cast and crew. It should not be frowned upon nor demonised to speak out on how poor the state of this industry is right now financially and the fact that the go-to response is to turn away from it because you’re not “tough enough” further underpins the problem of freezing out ordinary working people from fulfilling their desired career path. #filmmaking #production #TV #Film

🌍✨ Human Rights Day 2024: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now Today, we join the global community in observing Human Rights Day, an annual reminder of the power and promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Proclaimed on 10 December 1948, the UDHR is a groundbreaking document that enshrines the inalienable rights of all people—regardless of race, religion, gender, language, or background. Translated into 577 languages, it is the most translated document in the world, symbolizing its universal significance and impact. This year’s theme, "Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now," emphasizes how human rights can be a transformative force for good. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres reminds us: "Human rights are the foundation for peaceful, just, and inclusive societies." At the HII, we believe human rights are not abstract ideals but practical pathways to solutions. They empower individuals, strengthen communities, and guide us toward a more equitable, sustainable future. Progress is only possible when we work collectively to protect and promote these universal values and create a world that is peaceful, just, and inclusive for all. https://lnkd.in/eesk6Mbm #HumanRightsDay #UDHR #OurRightsOurFuture #HumanitarianImpact #Sustainability

"It's not what you know, it's who you know" - yeah, ain't that a pisstake? This article broke my heart for several reasons. I'm going to be honest and frank here, when I was trying to get into the industry I never really let it bother me, constantly trying to prove to myself that it doesn't matter how many bedrooms you had in your house growing up, it doesn't matter how many council houses surround you or how low the prospects are in your area. It didn't matter. Until it did. There came a point where I woke up; I had been knocking on every door in the industry, just trying to get a toe through the door, never mind a foot and it just didn't seem worth it anymore. "You're going to have to do unpaid experience" erm, one slight problem there pal: can't exactly afford to do that. So I did about 18 months in a Primary School as a behaviour specialist and a content creator (random) and I sort of had an epiphany that I shouldn't give up just because I can't do the unpaid work like others can, I should just go for it. I mithered every production company, studio, anyone who would listen with my CV for weeks until one morning I got an email from a certain Gordon Ramsay look-a-like asking to come down for a chat. So on and so forth, I got the job! Buzzin! Happy Days! Winner winner...not necessarily; that's when it really hits you. The imposter syndrome. Now, it'd be remiss of me if I didn't admit imposter syndrome comes from within; but it doesn't help with an accent like mine, I can tell you that for nout! Now I'll even go as far to admit myself, Wiganers don't sound too bright, that's just the Lancashire accent but I felt as if I had to prove myself double time to combat how I sound. Was that an internal worry? 100%. But when there are people surrounding you who sound well put together and you're dragging out your 'noooos', it does start to make you think you don't belong. I can't thank The Gate Films enough for nurturing and allowing me to grow in this industry in production and then creative. I never once was made to feel as if I was out of place. That's massive. I want more people in this industry to sound like me. So, if you or anyone you know comes from an underpriveledged background and you want an 'in'; drop me a message or give me a shout and I will do my upmost best to help. That's a promise.