Dr Shelley Cobb, Professor Linda Ruth Williams and Dr Natalie Wreyford from Film and English have authored a report that finds that men still occupy the vast majority of key production roles in the UK film industry.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project Calling the Shots: women and contemporary film culture in the UK has found that only 20 per cent of people working as directors, writers, producers, exec-producers, cinematographers and editors on films in production in the UK during 2015, were women. It also reveals that of all British films in production in the same year, 25 per cent had no women at all in any of the roles.
Dr Cobb comments:
“This is the first report on gender inequality in the UK film industry that goes beyond the director to look at other key roles. The small bit of good news here is that women producers are punching above their weight by bringing on women in other roles. However, it shows clearly that the problem is widespread, from producer to cinematographer.”
Professor Williams says:
“This report promises to have real impact on the employment of women in the film industry, and the kinds of stories and characters we see on screen. Responses so far from industry personnel and stakeholders recognise the significance of this research for improving diversity.”
You read more about the project and report here.